Bitter pill to swallow
 

I was supposed to be in Kansas right now with Kenny Graft( SXS Ohio) and his buddy Steve, but I am still at home--Dr's orders. During the second week of my UP hunt, I was getting very wore out, and felt I couldn't get enough oxygen. Thought I had a walking pneumonia, and eventually left a day early.
My office is in a hospital, so my first day back, I saw my family doc in the physicians lounge, told him what was happening, and he listened to my heart and lungs there in the lounge. He looked at me incredulously, and said I had a significant heart murmer that he had never heard before. Well, many tests later, the cardiologist is telling me that I have a very serious mitral valve prolapse/disfunction, and my tricuspid valve is also not functioning properly.
Bottom line, I will soon be having heart surgery at Ohio State. I meet with the surgeon this Friday and will be told when and how they will do the surgery.
I was a marathon runner for25 years, finishing in the top 25% of the Boston Marathon at age 50, and at 55 ran stride for stride with Australia's Iron Man Masters champion. I play tennis 3-4X per week also.I have never spent a day in a hospital, and never been on any medication. My blood pressure is still
90/60, pulse rate in the 50's, and my coronary arteries are running like fire hoses. How this could happen so suddenly is beyond my comprehension, but I will be back out there next year. Hopefully being in good shape will hasten my recovery. Heart valve surgery is very common these days--I bet some here have had it. So God willing, I will see you all at the Southern and at Hausmann's this spring.

good luck Harold

as you say, common surgery these days, if its for someone else

follow orders and stick to small bores

seriously,, our prayers are with you

I hope all goes well buddy. My grandmother had a valve replacement, cow parts. She wasn't in very great health to begin with but had no problems with the surgery whatsoever and a quick recovery.

Sorry to hear the news. Hope your recovery goes well

Doc our prayers are with you. Attitude is half the battle. Jimmyd102

Harold, Wishing you the very best ...

For years, I hunted with a heart doc. He did a lot of valve replacements, said they were fairly routine. That said, I think all surgeries are serious, especially heart surgeries, so we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

Sending good, healthy vibes your way for a speedy recovery.

All the best Doc. Speedy recovery and hope to hear ya out shooting soon

Harold
You are in my thoughts and prayers. I have been thinking about this since we spoke the other night.
Probably brought on by too many grouse flushes! Cumulative, what is it something like 34-35 years in the UP? Nobody could keep up with you before, nobody finds more grouse than you. Bit of a speed bump, and you'll be good for another 30+years.
Don't be charming all the nurses playing your guitar till all hours of the night.

You Got This!

Best of luck. Had a bypass 21 years ago and am going strong. you will be in my prayers.

Get well Harold. In my thoughts....

Harold my hunting partner had a valve replacement a few years ago ...and I will pay the man who could outwalk him on the barrens today ,
best of luck !

They have come a long way in treating heart conditions and repairing things with less invasive procedures. Sounds like you have some incredible access to first class medical care and hopefully you don't need any luck, but wishing it for you anyway. I think the real luck is having caught it quickly. There is so much good news with what they have done and are doing, but sounds like you are in medical field so you probably know more than most. All I know is that it used to be the longer your under general anesthesia the more it can mess up your sleep patterns and restlessness. I guess the alternatives are worse but still.

That is cool about your running pursuits. With your long distance runner experience, you will be on your feet walking everyone into the ground again before you know it.

Harold, Join the club, I had to cancel my UP week hunt this year two days before I was scheduled to leave due to my eyes acting up and when I called the Dr she said no go on the trip and be in her office the next day. Guess as we get older we just have to roll with the punches. Be glad that you noticed it now instead of collapsing in the field ! Sending best wishes for a rapid recovery.

Harold, I will remember you in my thoughts and prayers. My wife's father just had a quad bypass and he was home and feeling decent within a week. I also have been an endurance athlete for a number of years, marathon and Ironman finisher. There have been studies regarding endurance athletes and cardiac issues indicating that extensive endurance training can actually cause cardiac issues. Get well strong!

Godspeed my friend. You will be in my prayers for a full recovery in time for the Southern and Ernie's.

Damn Harold I’m sorry to hear that. Being in good shape will help speed your recovery. I’ll keep that in my prayers.

Harold, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I also have a heart valve problem and my cardiologist is watching it carefully. You have many friends here, take care and keep us informed on your progress.

Kansas...the good, thebad, and the ugly...(-:
 

We miss you Harold!!! First 1/2 day here was nice. Moved some birds and killed a nice wild rooster and three quail. Day two, Sunday. It was a loss, spent the day with a good friend who owns some of the areas we hunt. Drank some tumblers with him and had a great visit...(-: The back roads were so drifted we returned to the motel. Pup resting up in her happy spot. Day three is about to start, 15 degrees and 6 mph wind. We have some good spots picked out to hunt. It will be warming up and the back roads will be the UGLY in my above description. When the snow melts today the mud roads will have a good 2" slim gook the will stop all but the best off roader rigs! Updates will come, SXS Ohio in Kansas

You just never know how or why something goes awry. Good luck and get well soon. There are a few setters awaiting your recovery.

Sorry to hear this Harold. I hope the surgery goes smoothly and with the least amount of discomfort and disruption to your life as possible. I look forward to seeing you again at Hausman's. I hope to hear you tell us you feel like you are a young man again when we get there.

Good luck, Harold. I remember a long ago pheasant season with a new setter puppy that was sidetracked by a spinal nerve problem. It was 1969, the year and month I was released from the Army. I recovered and so will you.

Harold, sorry to hear of your heart condition. Stay positive! I am sure you'll get right back in your groove after you recuperate.
All the best!
Buddy

Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune and the poor timing. Best of luck to you Sir !

Hoping and praying all goes well and you'll be back in stride without skipping a step.

Possibly the result of a tick bite so you'll need to stay out of the woods from now on (and we'll all have more grouse to shoot at) :bigbye:






.

Hope you are able to come to the Southern, but understand if you are not. Get well!

Harold, have you ever been tested for (or been confirmed for exposure to) Lyme disease? The latent and delayed effects of it can be devastating, particularly in late-onset cardiac anomalies.

I dodged a major bullet years ago by being tested (immunoassay) the day after I pulled a tick off me and saw the telltale 'bullsye rash' forming. I never contracted the disease thanks to a quick-acting doctor who put me on the doxocycline 31-day cycle, but the blood panel done for my annual complete physical always shows me as 'sensitized' to the organism but not carrying it.

I can sympathize with your having to cancel your trip; in 2011 I developed "floaters and flashers" in my vision just befor my annual eye exam and a scheduled trip to Canada to duck hunt. My eye doctor said he would not shoot a gun "on a bet" until the condition had passed, an estimated 6-8 weeks, due to the possibility of a detached retina from recoil.

I was so pumped for the trip I went anyway and did not shoot, satisfied myself with calling and watching the ducks decoy and my shooting companions display their waterfowling skills. It was worth it!

Best wishes!
OSU is an excellent hospital!!!
Hope for your fast recovery.
Jim

Wish you a speedy recovery. I just had a woman friend have the operation and is doing great. Thomas

Harold,
I will be seeing and shooting with you in June, in pa. best of luck to you!!
scott

Harold I'll be praying for you! Give em heck!

Harold,

I am so sorry to hear your news! My Grandpa had one valve replaced and one repaired at the Cleveland Clinic over 20 years ago, and he did very well with his surgery way back then. I'll certainly be keeping you in my thoughts. Hoping for a good surgery and speedy recovery!

I'll be looking forward to seeing you at the Southern and Hausmann's!

Sara

My best to you, Harold, and I'm sure you are correct and that your being in good shape will allow you to come back very quickly.

You're probably in the top one per cent of hunters re condition. That's an enormous head start to recovery. I was taken to hospital on stretcher (misdiagnosed heart attack) 50-some years ago. The cardiologist felt my carotid artery and asked if I smoked. When I said no, he said, "That's the best thing going for you." I'm a zealot about smoking. Every school friend who smoked is dead.

Harold, your a lucky man, your problem was discovered in the lounge not in the ER. I was sitting in a chair eating hospital food talking to my family 24 hrs. after surgery and went for a short walk later that day. Take the rehab classes ( it may save your life or someone else ) and get off the opoids as soon as possible ( they destroyed my ability to sleep ). My surgery was on Tuesday PM and went home Saturday at noon. Best of luck to you!

Harold,
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Attitude is, in my mind, 90% and listening to the doctors is the rest. Take care and hope you have a speedy recovery. Anything I can help with all you need to do is call, the distance is no problem.
Tom

wishing you a speedy recovery harld.....charlie

Harold, Hope you are back in the field soon!, being in good condition never hurts. You will sail through this and You will be in my prayers, think positive, Gary