wake up call

[mother]

Gosh Murdock, it must be scary! I think you're doing the right thing slowing down a bit, and taking the time to enjoy the people around you. The more you relax, the less chance of a heart attack. Good luck! When you seeing the doctor again?

Murdock, is it the CV Disprin you're taking or the regular one? You know the CV is specifically for this purpose? My mom had thrombosis once, and now has to take Disprin CV for about a week everytime before she flies, to prevent clotting. Oh, and PLEASE remember to eat something with the disprin, otherwise your next problem will be an ulcer!

And I'm gonna offer my previous advice again: BANANAS!!! Seriously, it's a scientific fact that bananas make you feel happier. And the happier you feel, the easier it becomes to tackle difficult things like changing your habits.

[murdock]

goods news and bad news...was feeling really down today stressed about the quack visit...i was running late so i decided to take the stairs to the 3rd floor...thought well if i am gona have a heart attack...no better place than the hospital...so i ran up the stairs by the time i got to the top i thought i was gona pass out...cut a long story short...the heart specialist did a few test which included a scan like they do when a women is pregnant except on my heart...ran on a tread mill...was told if it was for an insurance assessment i would get the go ahead to be insured...still dont know what the pains in my chest are from...but am relieved it not my heart...he said the test are only 80 % accurate...so next step blood tests....loose some weight and carry on eating healthy food....waht a relief


bad news is it looks like you are stuck with me a while longer...

the thing that scares me most is leaving my little 3 year old without a daddy...she was cryiing this morning...calling for me...i think she had a bad dream...i went into the room touched her on the forehead spoke to her and gave her one of her fluffy toys and within minutes she was sleeping again...my wife lost her dad at 12 years old...and i can see how it affects her.

i hear "men" bragging about things like never changing a nappy etc in their lives...like i use to...man you just dont know what you have missed out on...i feel i was given a second chance with my little one...and boy i have taken it with both hands...in all my life i have been spoilt with most material things...nice cars...fast super bikes...boats etc etc...wasted lots of money thinking i was living the life...parties...holidays etc....if you havent got a connection with your kids and family you actually have nothing....just my opinion.

[Just Gone]

Hey murdock you look after yourself now. I am very similar to u with the weight issues etc etc so lets just both stop this kak eating during the day just cos we are on the road. Lets start to pack the proper healthy lunches at home!

[murdock]

ditto...

trust me since last week when this started...i changed my eating habits the same day...went back to my old eating plan...just been waiting for the all clear from the heart specialists to start my walking again...my excuse is always i need something i can eat while i am driving...so 2 pies and a coke....samoosas....chips...cheesie vienas at spar and so the list of life threatening food goes on....there is never time for breakfast...and good food is expensive...a salad at woolworths is over R20 more like 30 and there is no time to stop and make something during the day...and then you still need a sanwich etc for the vooma...so food becomes the least important part of my day...and so the stress levels rocket....cholestral goes thru the roof and next thing BAM...lucky for me a wake up call...for some its a heart bypass (which by the way cost over R200 000 nowdays) for some 6 feet under....just a warning if you are over weight and a diebetic...the sister was telling me at the hospital this morning that if my results indicate that i have become a diebetic from being over weight...most patients dont even get pains in their chest they just have a heart attack without even knowing it...that was rather interesting...i dont know how true it is but as a sister ina hospital i am sure she knows better than most.

went for the blood tests this morning...so i decided not to walk because i couldnt eat until i had done the tests.

from tomorrow morning i start...just short 10 minute walk to get me started...then i will increase as i feel up to it...and then start the hill.

as a person who always manages to think up excuses why i cant walk...be it rain...forgot to put out the shoes and clothes...i make sure before i go to bed everything is ready for the morning....

shoes....check
shorts...check
sock...check
undies...check
earphones...check
cellphone set for music or radio...check
tear gas...check
remote...check
water...check
all ready then go to bed...i find doing this just makes it so much easier...it is just tooo easy to wake up and cant find the earphones for example...good enough excuse not to walk...oh well do it tomorrow and so everyday becomes a problem until eventually i stop it all together....which is what happened last time.

having people to walk with also motivates me to ge tup and go...my walking partner moved so now i need extra will power.

to start
5 am up and go.
5.30...pick lettuce...strawberries...paw paw and stuff out the veg garden for lunch.
make lunch...
2 slices of brown bread
chicken salad
peel fruit and cut to bite sizes for the road
yogurt which i mix some fruit in with it.

wake up and dress my daughter for school...hold her hand and walk to the car with her...put her in the car seat and wave goodbye...highlight of my day believe it or not...this i believe is the most import thing i do everyday...nothing else is as important...in fact i have left site at 6 am after working a 23 hours shift just to make sure i am home for this ritual in the morning...and will continue to do it as long as i can.

by 6.30am i am ready to go to work...the only thing i have changed since last week is waking up a little earlier to fit in the aditional tasks...so when you think you dont have the time all you gotta do is wake up a little earlier...and go to bed earlier...instead of playing on the internet or watching tv

hold onto what ever is important in your life and makes sure you look after yourself because as i believe if you dont look after yourself...how can you look after other people who just want to be with you or need you in their life.

[City Adults SA]

Murdock, I had to read this a few times to let it sink in and get a grip on my own emotions. It almost felt like I was reading a legacy from my own past that had come back to haunt me. Back in 1991 I was engage to be married to this girl I was hopelessly in love with and sadly she was killed after a drunk driver T-boned her car after running a red light. This was a week before we were going to get married. I was devastated and lost my will to live and dreaded each and every sunrise. If it wasnt for an older sibling that insisted I join him in the US I probably would have outed myself! I'm glad I did'nt and I am glad you have'nt done so either. Point of fact is that no matter how teribbly disconsolate, depressingly sad and cruel life can be you never know what the next day brings and there are lessons to learn, a purpose and a reason.

I am glad you have been to see a specialist and I sincerely hope that this new regime and diet will change your life for the better my friend! When you take your dispirin in the morning, why not dilute it in a glass with fruit juice and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder or get the capsules from a health shop. I'm not pulling your leg! Go google turmeric health benefits.

Stay well my friend.

[murdock]

update on my medical condition...4 trips to hospital...3 ecg tests..treadmill marathons...a small fortune in bills...to find that i have damaged ribs...called slipping rib syndrome..the bottom ones are dislodged from an incident with a machine(which i didnt even think twice about)...which apparently can cause the same symtoms as a heart attack...in the past week i had to return again from more pains in my back and chest...to find a red spot on one of the shaved areas where they fitted the suction for the ecg...i now have shingles...to top the pain of the ribs...from taking a disprin every now for the last 10 years...to a full tray of medication for all this kak...and i am prpeapring for shutdowns...which means hard work...so it looks like i am gona be living on pain killers for the next 6-8 weeks.

[AndyD]

Sorry to hear about the shingles, hope you're on the road to recovery soon.

[Dave A]

Amazing how these things can blow out like that.

I had a rep stung by a bee at a client's premises on Tuesday (no, she wasn't there about bee control). Turns out she's allergic.

Fortunately I had other members of staff there providing technical assistance for the quote she was working on. So they rushed her to the nearest medical assistance - a Medicross Clinic. Turns out they won't accept WCA IOD claims, so I get a call to authorise payment direct by the company.

"No big deal" I thinks to myself - go for it. Shouldn't be much of a bill.

Famous last words

[Newretailer]

Murdock, just don't get addicted to pain meds now, OK lol? I believe shingles is really painful.

Dave, that really sucks

[daveob]

shingles. Been there. Done that.

Pain : moderate

Wife gets chickenpox ( same family as shingles )

Pain : eish. You DON'T want to know.