I have followed a few of the medical problems that Swaylocks people have had over the years... Cleanlines' stroke, Bill Thrailkill's heart attack, Kokua's cancer, Dale Solomonson's heart attack, all kinds of tool related injuries, etc.
I had some stuff of my own recently and decided the "Surfer's Over 50" blog would be a better place to tell the story. Assuming the younger folk on Swaylocks likely aren't interested in another post about old people with medical problems, I stuck it up over on Huckleberry's blog.
Just a minor correction, I did not have a heart attack. Though the cardiologist and surgeon both said the couldn't understand why I hadn't. Of the five major vessels to the heart, I had blockages of 50%, 95%, 95%, 95%, and 100%. my longtime friend Dr. White opined that surfing at the level I did, for as long as I did, built up collatoral vessels that prevented a major event, and saved my life!
John, you may be luckier than a lot of us. I had a heart attack at 39 while surfing Courts during a good size summer swell. I was supposed to get a 3 way bypass, but with a Cardiologist in the family, I have been lucky to avoid open heart surgery.
Twelve years later, I have 8 stents in the heart and have to work to keep from ending up with more, or having the open heart.
I’ve found the hardest thing is going out on really big days, which for me are when the south shore is at it’s biggest, and that’s maybe 2 times a year. Waves can get to be almost 3 times over head, and the water moving in get pretty close to how the North Shore is.
I find that it is important for the initial paddle out to get through with as little hassles as possible. Then I need to sit outside and relax a little to get the heart rate down. After a couple of set waves and a good wipeout, everything becomes easy. I think knowing that I can get through the sets and handle a wipeout on a setwave really helps to calm me down.
From there the heart rate doesn’t seem to be an issue, that’s when stamina becomes the problem.
My body is a mess these days, I have a problem with my left hip that makes it hard to jog or wlak long distances, I have a bad disk in my lower back so carrying heavy things usually means pain in a day or so. Now I have an upper back pain. I think it’s a pinched nerve.
I’m not going to let these problems keep me out of the water for too long. Surfing is my exercise, my mental and physical release, and the only reason I’m making boards. I don’t think I’d have much enjoyment out of making boards if I couldn’t ride them.
Howzit John, As being a survivor I can only wish you the best as far as overcoming this problem and I will send you mucho healing vibes. When we are young we never really think about these things happening to us but only to other people. As we grow older we don't even realize it because we are still kids in our hearts, then we get hit by a serious health problem and have to deal with it. I am still dealing with the trauma from the radiation and the loss of my teeth but I am alive and hope to be around for at least a few more years. Right now I am trying to just get things together to go to the Big Sur get together and be comfortable. I will say that after what I have gone through I have a different outlook on life and do my best to look at the glass being half full. One thing is in this day and age the advances in the word of medicine are truely amazing and I hope that your problems can be helped by these. I must say I went to the over 50 site and saw hucks post but couldn't find anything with your name on it and I really want to see what you wrote. Are you still going to make it to the Big Sur thing since we can hang out and talk story. I have a good feeling about your outcome and just keep thinking how you are going to be surfing again soon. The things we over come just make us stronger. Take care my friend and know that your sway brothers are behind you in this you will come out OK. Aloha,Kokua
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I must say I went to the over 50 site and saw hucks post but couldn't find anything with your name on it and I really want to see what you wrote.
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John Mellor's posting name on the over 50 blog is "goomba271". Not sure why that is, it took me awhile to figure it out, too. I wrote John awhile back and told him I'd like to hear from him on the blog, and he told me he was already there - oops! His heart-felt brush with death is the top story on the page right now. - Huck
Howzit Mr. Clean, Those are for old people ,ha,ha. But really i feel those are for people who live alone or are by themselves a lot of the time. They can be a life saver but I think I will pass on getting one.Aloha,Kokua
Great shot of the elephants. Getting older is an adjustment. The tough part is knowing when it’s time to pull the plug on the whole thing. We just celebrated my grandmother’s 101st B-day. Problem is there isn’t much of grandma left. She cant’ hear, see, or walk. She can still taste her food. She’s a bit demented. Tough to see from an intelligent woman. She’s outlived all her friends, her husband, and one son(my uncle). She told me, “Michael, I lived too long.” But can’t seem to die. mike
And, we had to take my 86 y/0 mother in law to the hospital for the 3rd time this year. She’s demented, too. She lives in a granny unit with us. Problem is she needs full time help now and were all working. Nursing homes are a horrible way to finnish your life. She’s survived lung cancer, emphysema, and the God damned Nazis. She’s a survivor, but may have survived too long to finish her life with dignity. It’s not only an age equation either. I just lost a buddy to ALS this summer. 54 y/0. How can you tell when it’s time to end it? After a while you are not capable of ending it and nobody can do it for you. Where’s the dignity? I’ve been thinking about this shit a lot lately. There’s something to be said for going out with a massive heart attack after a good surf. At what point does the quality of life erode and the dignity and autonomy disappear and it’s time to say enough? I’ve been wondering. Nothing makes me feel more alive than surfing. Well, sex is right up there, too. Even if I have to cut back to 3 times per day. Mike
My dads been gone now for 12 years. I drove him to the hospital after his second heart attack. He was in the hospital for 6 days . Haited it said he wanted to die at home. The docs gave him a pile of pills. Said they could keep him alive for another 5 or 10 years. When I picked him up to take him home he dumped the pills and perscriptions in the trash out side the door. On the way home he told me he wanted to die at home in his own bed. Said for me to take good care of Mom. Three nights laiter he passed away at home in his own bed. Bless him!!
