Not a good day.

[xelasnave]

So I go shopping, see the Doctor, and the computer guy who we buy from to order some laptops and then to Harvey Norman to get some ideas.

I dont know if their prices got to me but I collapsed there and was rushed to Lismore Base Hospital via ambulance ... Turned out just lack of blood pressure, no doubt due to my medication to reduce blood pressure, and fortunately they just now let me go...But no heart problems etc. But sure ruined my day.
Alex

[Hans Tucker]

Sorry to hear Alex, that sort of thing can scare the bejesus out of someone. I have a mate that is having issues getting his BP medication just right .. seems a bit of hit and miss. Thankful my Cardiologist was reluctant to put me on these medication.

[xelasnave]

Thanks Hans, the cancer med has sent my blood pressure thru the roof ...normally I have no problem...

I forgot the good news in all the excitement...I paid the balance on the RASA 11 and the ZWO ... I hope I get to use them.

As I have been feeling rather poorly I see today as a good thing cause presumably an adjustment in my meds will see me back , except for a cancer, to normal..I see the cancer Doctor Thursday and will hear news if the meds has had an impact...I just feel like it will be "that hasn't worked lets try..." Anyways can only wait and see.

But today happily I didn't freak out in the time I was conscious and I could have became concerned as I felt worse than dead..so weak I could not move or even talk drifting in and out wondering if I would get another drift out...could not open my eyes at all.

So no blood pressure meds tonight...and I feel terrific happy and looking forward to another wonderful day tomorrow.
Alex

[Nikolas]

Good to see it was a "relatively minor incident" mate.

[Stonius]

That sounds pretty bloody scary mate. Glad you're still with us. You *have to stick around anyway, you have new toys coming!


Best,


Markus

[glend]

Sorry to hear your having these issues Alex. I have been on a pretty serious blood pressure regime since my heart attack three years ago. It can take a few weeks to get the med balance right. There are a fair number of meds that can be used and some of them are not well tolerated and have a range of side effects.
It is also very important to not let yourself get dehydrated. Watch how you get up and down, as something as simple as bending down to pick up an item of laundry to hang it on the cloths line, can start to give you the spins. In time you learn to manage, and it stabilizes.

[pmrid]

Blame it on Harvey Norman Alex, their prices have that effect on me at times.

[leon]

Not good Alex, but your right Medication can cause issues with BP, glad you came out the other side mate, but a scary position at the time, I bet.

Agreed Peter Harvey can do that to ya.:eyepop:

Stay well Alex.

Leon:thumbsup:

[mura_gadi]

Hello,

"So I go shopping, see the Doctor, and the computer guy who we buy from to order some laptops and then to Harvey Norman to get some ideas."

I'd blame Harvey Norman myself, but that could be bias.

I only say this as someone who has carer duties for the last 10 weeks, it could be that you tried to do too much. One or two things in a day and a days rest in between is my preferred option. (My partner had keyhole surgery and wants to be more active, I have to point out those on the ward who didn't get keyhole had 20 stitches in their heads...)

Wait for the meds to be worked out and try and be patient.



Steve
Ps. Shopping trolleys can be great undercover walking aids around malls etc if you don't like using zimmers and canes.

To all those with a serious illness or loved one with a serious illness. I wish you all the best outcome possible, the curveballs life throws us.

Pps. On a downside to life, you have your PoA sorted? And your "Advanced Care Plan" - that's a really serious document that needs a lot of thought. In the ACT its called the "Advanced Care Plan Statement of Choices", its a little different in all states but they all start with "Advanced Care Plan". It allows you to go into detail on what care/degree of intervention you wish to receive or not receive depending on medically expected outcomes. (We saw one on the wards billboards posted around the hospital and thought it was a good idea)

[Startrek]

Alex,
Hopefully you get your BP gets stabilised soon and you feel more confident moving around
Exciting news about the RASA !!!
In regard to your laptop , maybe look at the HP website , that’s where I bought mine from , I didn’t buy from a retailer, you can ask questions on line and they will reply in a timely manner. May save some energy rather than going into town chatting and walking around looking at them
Best
Martin

[JA]

Hi Alex,

Sorry to hear about your scare yesterday. Hopefully your doctors can sort out your BP meds and/or perhaps do some 24h BP monitoring, but in the meantime try to take things a little easier.

Best
JA

[JohnF]

Best Wishes, praying for you. Get well soon.

[xelasnave]

Thanks to all.

I feel a little shaken today as it was a very close call when you think about it...it caused me to think of all the close calls in my life and one realises how lucky one can be...skin diving, racing bikes, car accidents, things happening after you left that place...And my mate who went a month ago..his story was he had "a turn" and he just died when they got him to hospital..so that was playing on my mind cause I was thinking of the parallels in that he had cancer in the neck ..anyways I survived and he didnt...I think I was feeling his loss cause I later got very emotional.

I have the blood pressure unit and report the results to the doctor.

I was so looking forward to window shopping at Harvey Norman with my daughter but instead put her thru a terrible experience thinking I would die in her arms...but somehow it was nice having her careing for me... I wanted to lay on the floor and everyone said no the ambulance people wont be able to pick you up..but I knew that was what I needed and later when that account was related to the doctor he said...well thats the best thing you can do..next time ( next time???) let him lay on the floor...And man I got so emotional I was crying at the drop of a hat..so unlike me and it was so very confusing but it seemed there was nothing I could do...like it doesnt worry me from what others think but it seemed so odd is all..and Lismore Base Hospital ...what a wonderful place and wonderful people I am so lucky to be able to go there...and surprising the folk who knew me from my last visit..blood tests and something at Casino Hospital today..and my dear X drives me and looks after me ..it is funny when people ask the relationship..the term carer is so handy...what a magnificent human, there is not another like her..so I gave her my bank card and said see if you can spend all of it...thanks for listening you are all wonderful people I love you all.

Alex

[Miaplacidus]

I'm sure that was a pretty scary experience, for everyone involved. You were lucky to have your daughter there. There are obviously a lot of caring and concerned people looking out for you. Take it easy, Alex.

Cheers,

Brian.

[Camelopardalis]

Hey Alex, always remember to cut yourself some slack, you’re going through a few things all at once, and the psychological impact can not be underestimated.

Best of luck with the oncologist, I hope it’s progress. Don’t be reluctant to try another strategy, they usually have a few things up their sleeves these days.

I know this can be misinterpreted, as it is ultimately selfish, but you have such a positive impact on so many peoples lives…hang on in there, we’re all cheering for you :)

(fwiw, in my native English tongue we’d say “we’re all rooting for you!” but that means something totally different here :lol: )

[xelasnave]

Thank you Brian, and thank you Dunk...
Dunk you have made my day to let me think I could be of some use by making a positive impact and I hope thereby helping others. As I said here today I feel guilty being so lucky and no doubt that creates a big need to give back to the world.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Saw doctor today...one cancer is responding and the other is growing... check back in 5 weeks..that tells me I have at least 5 weeks so how good is that...hopefully the one that is growing will respond...and I can boast a higher expectation.
Anyways did not upset me I am so happy cause I am so lucky..the RASA arrives next week not sure about the camera. Eating better. All good.
Alex

[Stonius]

Hang in there Alex. There is still too much universe that hasn't been looked at yet, and you're just the man for the job. I hope the new scope is everything you want it to be :-)

[xelasnave]

Hi Marcus
I may set up a radio scope and actually do something by way of "research" ...I have something in mind actually and investigating if it is doable given what we will have to work with...and I am following up on that to give me another reason to hang on...I dont believe the alternative stuff but helping the mind find reasons to hang on I think may help a little...certainly another reason to jump out of bed each day.
Thanks for your support I always welcome it.
Alex

[Hans Tucker]

Jeez Alex ... you going Jodi Foster on us?

[xelasnave]

Sorry Hans this is entirely lost on me...I did not even know who Jodi Foster was..I looked her up but I could not find anything we had in common that stands out to me. I dont follow actors or movies so I am at a disadvantage here.
Is she getting into radio telescopes or have cancer perhaps.
Alex

[Hans Tucker]

Sorry Alex ... I get carried away and not realize that not everyone is passionate or au fait on movies.

Jodie Foster (Dr. Ellie Arroway)>Movie Contact>Arecibo Puerto Rico

Well that joke went South fast ... it worked for the Thread on the demise of Arecibo.

[mura_gadi]

Hello,

Radio, who's going up the towers with the cables? Or are we talking ground dish?

What about Spectral Analysis? Probably a bit cheaper and just as useful.




Steve

[xelasnave]

I know of the movie and now rolling on the floor.
Alex

[xelasnave]

We are talking small potatoes ...a ground dish...but all this will be taken care of by my assistant who has already had a dish, ...and probably has the required equipment laying around...I dont know anything about it at all but in the short discussion yesterday I feel we can do something ground breaking and win a Noble Prize ...seems rather easy but still worthy of my time.

Spectral analysis??? Yes why not.
Alex

[glend]

Alex, astro supplier Primaluce provide a solution:


https://www.radio2space.com/product/spider-230c-compact-radio-telescope/

It is designed to sit on an astronomy EQ mount (like an EQ8)

:thumbsup:

[xelasnave]

Thanks Glen
Yes I know of this product and I suppose what we have in mind is something like that ... I am thinking a couple of satellite dishes on an old eq6 which we can build this afternoon with whats laying around.
From what I understand you can do a lot with a little compared to years ago...anyways I could not finish the conversation with my "new assistant" yesterday as we were driving home from the medical stuff and went thru a dead zone...I was too busy when I got home to continue the call and he is working today..but its all happening...the main thing is I now have someone to help set up the RASA and work on the grounds etc to get things back to the way they were...and he can fix the shed and instal the 24 volt electricals and the solar panels I have here...all ambitious and stupid given my future but the only way to win is to continue as if I will still live forever...I am so lucky to have someone like this available ... Well I am so lucky with everything when you think about it. And my lady friend in the other place is coming for a visit this afternoon;) the queen of alternative medicine and I expect she will cure me by Monday to be ready to take delivery of the Astrograph.
I may even visit the observatory today as I actually had breakfast and feeling terrific.
Alex

[Constant]

Alex,

Your post brought some light into my day, thanks for sharing!
We're blessed to have a passion that lends itself to thought experiments & let's be frank, some engineering daydreaming. Note, daydreaming is vital, it sustains us, stretches our planning skills. The greatest of projects depends on the germination of "seeds of ideas"
Alex, the best post I've read in an age.

David

[xelasnave]

David thank you very much I appreciate your kindness and honestly I get such a lift when I hear I have made someones elses life happier by simply sharing my thoughts and plans.
Anyways I have been very slack as I have just been playing guitar since my last post..I just picked it up and started an improvisation that just kept going and going..I was chatting with Glen yesterday and he reminded me about using an amp but as could not do that and as Glen also mentioned "headphones" I thought well why not..now I had the guitar amp and headphones handy but I really needed to test the battery in the amp..that put me off but I look up and can see sitting outside sitting on the table with a Raven either side the multimeter so ...lets get off our but and go get it...so I grab the new flash walking stick that has its own little stand and think.."lets take this little baby for a spin and see what it can do" ..very impressed it handles great..so I go out, the ravens leave, and I get the multimeter...mmm this battery won't do..there are two in the draw..the first no good at all..but the last one full charge..see how lucky I am, I just cant lose, ...put it in the amp and after a while find a setting that sounds terrific and then this lead just comes along..it really was brilliant and really such a pity that I did not record it to share it with the world...but its probably gone forever.
Anyways how nice to put down the guitar come back here and find such nice words..thank you David, thank you so much.
Alex