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  1. #1
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Default The health merry-go-round

    Back in March I did 2 solid days of gutter cleaning and tackling the rampant bougainvillaea on the top of the shed. A neighbours vine had also jumped the fence and gone up into our ceiling cavity and I had to spend a few hours up there pulling it all out. These two days of constant ladder work near wiped me out and I seem to go down hill from there. Maybe I had a flu as well I was just too tired to know what I had.

    The net result of all this was the daily long dog walk exercise program went out the window, and I started driving the dogs to the park. I developed increased pain, and loss of balance and weakness in my feet and lower legs. Going up and down stairs or ladders a couple of times really wiped me out. Standing up in the shed has been a problem.

    At first the docs thought it was related to my type II diabetes but my sugars are well controlled and my circulation is OK. He ordered a CT scan and a bunch of blood tests but could not find anything conclusive so he sent me to a neurologist who thought i was probably my back (because the CT scan showed some back issues) and he sent me for more blood tests and an MRI. Then he went on holidays.

    In the meantime I decided I had to do something so I started a morning and evening stretching routine which really seems to be working. I'm slowly gaining strength and have less pain so have started walking the dogs again.

    Saw the neurologist yesterday and the MRI shows there's nothing wrong with my back in terms of pinching leg/feet nerves etc. The neurologist did some nerve function tests and these also did not show anything significant. The more I think about it the more I reckon I had just got run down and was seizing up which the stretching has been able to counteract. I was actually feeling a bit stupid about the whole thing.

    However, just before I left, the neurologist told me that the MRI has shown up some enlarged lymph glands in between my heart and spine that I needed to see the GP about.

    Back at the GP, he did a physical examination could find no surface glands that were enlarged. He's ordered more blood tests and a whole body CT scan. He wants to do a biopsy of an enlarged gland but their location requires major surgery so they are hoping to find a more accessible enlarged gland to sample - if they find one it's good and bad.

    Starting to feel a bit like a pin cushion here. Have also been watching a sibling go through a lymphoma chemo round for the 3rd time. Not something to look forward to.

    At least now I feel less foolish about the tired legs and feet bit, because if I had got through the gutter and Bouganvillia episode and not gone to the doctor I may not have picked up on the lymph gland problem - if it is even a problem. With my luck it won't be but then they'll find something else.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
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    Default

    Not good feeling physically down, hope is just over working mate, all the best
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    moonbi nsw Aus
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    Default

    Gee Bob that is not good news. I just hope that you are OK though. You will have a very good idea of your whole body with all these XRay type scans
    Just do it!

    Kind regards Rod

  5. #4
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Default

    I'm not feeling too bad about the lymph glands bit - maybe it hasn't really hit me yet.
    The bit about the back and nerves being OK has perked me up no end because at one point it was looking like I would ever be able to lift a chainsaw again.

  6. #5
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    Jun 2000
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    Western Australia
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    Hope all goes well for you Bob,with the prognosis for a healthier future a better result.
    Johnno

    Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don't have film.

  7. #6
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    Nov 2013
    Location
    St Georges Basin NSW
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    8

    Default

    Men are notoriously bad at looking after their health issues and going to a doctor. Good on you for following through.
    Touch wood...I got a second chance with kidney cancer in 2009 And prostate cancer in January this year only by following through.
    All the best with your tests.

  8. #7
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    Dec 2013
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    San Antonio, Texas, USA
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    Sorry to hear of your problems Bob. Best wishes for a full recovery. Nothing apparent in your blood work and counts?
    Innovations are those useful things that, by dint of chance, manage to survive the stupidity and destructive tendencies inherent in human nature.

  9. #8
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    Perth
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    Quote Originally Posted by rob streeper View Post
    Sorry to hear of your problems Bob. Best wishes for a full recovery. Nothing apparent in your blood work and counts?
    Had the tests on friday so awaiting results today or tomorrow.

  10. #9
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    Feb 2006
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    Lindfield N.S.W.
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    My Mum (84 years young) is going through a similar issue with lymph glands being enlarged some 5 years after a cancer scare. My thoughts are with you too.
    Cheers

    Jeremy
    If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly

  11. #10
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    Dec 2013
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Had the tests on friday so awaiting results today or tomorrow.
    Hope everything checks out positive for you.
    Innovations are those useful things that, by dint of chance, manage to survive the stupidity and destructive tendencies inherent in human nature.

  12. #11
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    Jul 2009
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    inverloch
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    Good luck with it all BobL. Hope you get good results and you are back to normal quickly.

  13. #12
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    Western Australia
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    Fingers crossed for a positive light in your life Bob.
    Johnno

    Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don't have film.

  14. #13
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Well 2 CAT Scans, an MRI and yesterday a PET scan, plus 3 rounds of blood tests and the docs reckon it's either Lymphoma or something called Sarcoidosis, or both.

    The scans show dozens of small (2 to 8mm) nodules in my lungs, chest cavity and some in my abdomen. Blood tests show don't show elevated white cell counts but only biopsies of the nodules can determine if there's any lymphoma present. Sarcoidosis usually reduces lung/organ function which I don't have although my general fatigue prevents me from telling if my lung function is poor or I am just generally unfit.

    The causes of Sarcoidosis are unknown. Although it is not a auto immune disease it is like an auto immune disease resulting in over active immune cells attacking some sort of bug that has entered the body and causing inflammation and then forming nodules at the inflamed sites. The inflammation become fibroid and even calcified. It can affect most organs of the body and if enough of these nodules develop it may cause organ failure. In most cases it goes away by itself but in a few cases it may even require organ transplants and a few % of sufferers can even die from it.

    One cause is thought to be combustion products with poorly ventilated wood burning stoves, fireplaces etc suspected. Firefighters in general and the firefighters who were at the world trade centre collapse in particular have one of the highest incidences of it. One cause I keep thinking of is being constantly bathed in two stroke smoke from using a chainsaw in the last few years.

    Bugs that grow or travel in or with green wood have also been implicated hence the higher than normal incidence amongst timber millers, while cabinet and furniture makers using dry wood are much less likely to get it.

    I also have in mind the time back in 2002 when I lost my sense of smell for 6 weeks while working with MDF outside.

    Another know cause is the bacteria that grown in coolant lube used in metal workshops and as I have spent a more time in the metal working end of my shed in the last 3 years than using a chainsaw, so I’m wondering if this might be the cause. I have always used the antibacterial lube and always over pumped it to aerate the fluid to reduce the growth of anaerobic bugs .

    Anyway was just wondering if anyone else knew others that might have this.

  15. #14
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    Oct 2013
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    Can't offer any further info but wanted to send my best, really hope they figure things out for you soon mate. Keep us posted.

  16. #15
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    Dec 2013
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    Very sorry to read the news Bob, best wishes.
    Innovations are those useful things that, by dint of chance, manage to survive the stupidity and destructive tendencies inherent in human nature.

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