RaYzerman19
Go Wings!
Sorry, this will be a longer post than normal as I struggle with this life-changing circumstance.
You may or may not have noticed that I haven't posted up much here lately, as I've been going through some physical and mental struggles. Exactly one month ago it was my 64th birthday and I received the bad news about some test results. I have always wondered as I creep up in age when I will have to give up motorcycling, as it is likely to happen sooner or later, but I was not expecting it would be sooner than later. I was not hoping for this soon, obviously, but I have always been more on the private side and not wanting to bother anyone with any of my troubles. Everybody has troubles now and then, sometimes life just deals you a different set of cards.
I have a good friend and former riding buddy in WV who, following an accident where he was t-boned on his bike and spent a couple of years recovering (still limps), has developed a condition where he starts out on a ride on his old Goldwing and a half hour later he doesn't know where he is or how he got there. And other sorts of memory problems where he might know your face, but for the life of him doesn't know who you are, including close friends he sees more often. His 'dimentia' has been diagnosed as Altzheimers, he lives alone, has had to retire to a not-so-fancy cottage down by the river. I and others have been keeping in touch and trying to keep his spirits up...... but unfortunately it is sinking in deeper with me lately.
Anyway, I have been struggling with some 'dimentia' issues as well, forgetting stuff, the shortest to-do list always seems too long lately, not remembering what day it is and what was on the calendar, needing more afternoon naps. The tests so far are ongoing and not conclusive as to exactly what it is, could be lots of things, Altzheimers, dimentia, MS, shrinking of brain tissue in key areas, etc. or a combination of more than one, and the medics won't likely know for sure until it gets more advanced. I'm sure there's effects of aging mixed in there too. Last year, I may not have appeared too bad, kinda kept to myself a bit more, but there's going to be no hiding it at some point, might as well fess up now.
Along with all the mental stuff is some physical stuff, again, deterioration. My hormone levels are fluctuating, some too high and some too low. Diet has to be changed to avoid things like not enough potassium and too much calcium...... my bones are getting brittle, and will shortly start to crack or break at the slightest strain. Already have problems in my right thumb and forefinger, which has affected the ability to control the slightest gripping tasks, like turning a throttle on my bike. I even have trouble typing as my fingers seem to be stiffer than normal and the key I hit is not necessarily what ends up being on the screen. I have three bikes and it looks like they will all have to go at some point. Guess my dream of a GenIII is kinda out the window, very disappointing as I was looking forward to that one day.
It didn't help this was a depressing and brutal winter that is lasting too long for everybody, but I'm sure there is some effect of the winter blahs. But at this time of year, I'm normally out riding by now and this year I can't even get out the driveway for all the ice even if I could physically muster up the gumption. The doctors have a name for part of it (encephaliticlirpaloof syndrome) and see a much larger number of cases at this time of year, some affected very mildly so you don't really notice and others to a greater degree. Chances are you may not have caught it (yet).
So that's it in a nutshell.... you're going to see less and less of me as time goes on, I'll check in once in a while to see what's going on for as long as I can. I've given up on beating this thing simply because there is no cure in sight. I've been fortunate to have had a decent life, it's all been good, and I'm not looking for any sympathy. I've had a lot of fun, thanks for putting up with me...... I'll check in once in a while to see what's going on.
You may or may not have noticed that I haven't posted up much here lately, as I've been going through some physical and mental struggles. Exactly one month ago it was my 64th birthday and I received the bad news about some test results. I have always wondered as I creep up in age when I will have to give up motorcycling, as it is likely to happen sooner or later, but I was not expecting it would be sooner than later. I was not hoping for this soon, obviously, but I have always been more on the private side and not wanting to bother anyone with any of my troubles. Everybody has troubles now and then, sometimes life just deals you a different set of cards.
I have a good friend and former riding buddy in WV who, following an accident where he was t-boned on his bike and spent a couple of years recovering (still limps), has developed a condition where he starts out on a ride on his old Goldwing and a half hour later he doesn't know where he is or how he got there. And other sorts of memory problems where he might know your face, but for the life of him doesn't know who you are, including close friends he sees more often. His 'dimentia' has been diagnosed as Altzheimers, he lives alone, has had to retire to a not-so-fancy cottage down by the river. I and others have been keeping in touch and trying to keep his spirits up...... but unfortunately it is sinking in deeper with me lately.
Anyway, I have been struggling with some 'dimentia' issues as well, forgetting stuff, the shortest to-do list always seems too long lately, not remembering what day it is and what was on the calendar, needing more afternoon naps. The tests so far are ongoing and not conclusive as to exactly what it is, could be lots of things, Altzheimers, dimentia, MS, shrinking of brain tissue in key areas, etc. or a combination of more than one, and the medics won't likely know for sure until it gets more advanced. I'm sure there's effects of aging mixed in there too. Last year, I may not have appeared too bad, kinda kept to myself a bit more, but there's going to be no hiding it at some point, might as well fess up now.
Along with all the mental stuff is some physical stuff, again, deterioration. My hormone levels are fluctuating, some too high and some too low. Diet has to be changed to avoid things like not enough potassium and too much calcium...... my bones are getting brittle, and will shortly start to crack or break at the slightest strain. Already have problems in my right thumb and forefinger, which has affected the ability to control the slightest gripping tasks, like turning a throttle on my bike. I even have trouble typing as my fingers seem to be stiffer than normal and the key I hit is not necessarily what ends up being on the screen. I have three bikes and it looks like they will all have to go at some point. Guess my dream of a GenIII is kinda out the window, very disappointing as I was looking forward to that one day.
It didn't help this was a depressing and brutal winter that is lasting too long for everybody, but I'm sure there is some effect of the winter blahs. But at this time of year, I'm normally out riding by now and this year I can't even get out the driveway for all the ice even if I could physically muster up the gumption. The doctors have a name for part of it (encephaliticlirpaloof syndrome) and see a much larger number of cases at this time of year, some affected very mildly so you don't really notice and others to a greater degree. Chances are you may not have caught it (yet).
So that's it in a nutshell.... you're going to see less and less of me as time goes on, I'll check in once in a while to see what's going on for as long as I can. I've given up on beating this thing simply because there is no cure in sight. I've been fortunate to have had a decent life, it's all been good, and I'm not looking for any sympathy. I've had a lot of fun, thanks for putting up with me...... I'll check in once in a while to see what's going on.
