This fricken old age is getting old....

[Krooser]

So I've been working 30-50 hours per week driving 3-5 days per week.

Feeling pretty good... not 60-ish anymore but ok. Sort of tired... getting more sleep than usual but thats not bad.

Then last Wednesday I head for bed at 8:30. I call my wife to the edge of the bed and all I can do is mumble.... gobbledegook...non sense. She asks if I need an amBAlance... NO!. Then Hospital? Yes!

We live 5 minutes from the ER... we are off.

Fast tracked to the ER... two minutes in I get an IV. Then I'm ok again.

The Doc wants me to hop the amBAlance to the big city to get an MRI and other tests then spend the night. My wife and I are beat...it's 12:30am. I sign my release against the Doc's wishes and head home.

Thursday I spent six hours getting an MRI and other tests then I drove home. It was TIA mini stroke #3. The last two were many years ago.

Looks like my trucking career is over. I was phasing out anyway... Christmas was my exit date. 54 years... 5,500,000+ miles. Coast to coast and border to border this Polack was there to deliver your order!

So now I will recover, find another PT job and get my Coronet running.

Stay healthy my friends.

 

[Curiousyellow71]

Take care of yourself, enjoy life and get after that Coronet!

 

[71RRHI]

Glad you were able to get to the hospital in time. Take care of yourself. The Coronet will be good therapy.

 

[Nutso]

Get well and enjoy retirement! Sounds like a great career.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Get well and enjoy retirement! Sounds like a great career.

Retirement is a great career!

 

[1967coronet]

Take care of your health, glad your feeling better.
Congrats on the retirement . Take some time and recharge the battery.

 

[r4sedan]

Time to slow down and take it easy. Get feeling better.

 

[CrazyBoutRacin]

I know exactly what you’re saying. Around my mid fifties it all started to hit me. Now at 67 I believe I’ve had at least one of every diagnosis you can have. My goal post-retirement was travel south and drag race during the winter months. Heart issues and circulation problems ended that. Then I progressed to walkers and wheelchairs. I’ve worked past that but still have to be real mindful of reality. It could be worse and is for others, but sometimes I get angry about what I can’t do. You just can’t outrun age and genetics. I can’t seem to get excited about car shows like heading to the track.

 

[68BabyBlue]

You had an amazing run, people outside the industry can't really comprehend what it takes to go 5 million miles. I'm a relative lightweight, retiring at 69, with 2 million. Your body sent you a message, and it sounds like you are listening to to it, and making a good move going forward. You've earned retirement, don't feel guilty about enjoying it.

 

[davek]

Glad your ok and hope you enjoy retirement.

 

[QuickBpBp]

Glad you are ok and enjoy being semi retired. My biggest fear is not living long enough to do that. I sprayed so many chemicals when I was farming grapes for 25 years. Just one product Round up. I see all the lawsuits. I sprayed about 2500 gallons a year. Many other chemicals I sprayed are not even legal to use anymore… I enjoyed it but don’t miss it…Here is the last of 12 Tons of Chardonnay I grew before going into business for myself 2010.

 

[ckessel]

My wife and I are both retired. Money is tight, but we cut back wherever we can as this is an expensive area to be in. It's amazing to see just how much "stuff" you don't truly need in our lives. We both have part time jobs, under the table. She does pet/house sitting locally, I wrench on classics and hot rods in my garage. That way we both have some money to spend on personal stuff. Even though we're retired, we work almost a full day without leaving home[ unless she's pet/house sitting]. House cleaning[ have pets with lots of fur], poo patrol inside and out[ cats and dogs], property upkeep, dog walking[ me], laundry, take care of Hummingbirds[ we're mobbed, have 11 feeders out], shopping etc. You won't be bored as you will now have time for all the projects at home to take care of. Plus more time with your honey.

 

[threewood]

Enjoy life, even if it means slowing down or retiring. None of us will escape old age. Take care of yourself, enjoy family while you can.

 

[WileE]

Best wishes for your recovery, and a long healthy retirement. Go light on the kielbasy and pierogis !

 

[themechanic]

Retirement is a great career!

It sure is. It's like having 6 Saturdays and a Sunday.

 

[dadsbee]

Be glad you did it home in bed and not behind the wheel! Hopefully the Docs get you all fixed up ...

 

[68BabyBlue]

Be glad you did it home in bed and not behind the wheel! Hopefully the Docs get you all fixed up ...

Greatest fear I had while on the road was the possibility of a bad medical event in the middle of nowhere. Ironically, most of the guys I knew who drove until old age died in a hospital.

 

[Krooser]

This is my third retirement... first two didn't take.

If I go to Florida in January I'l stsy until late February. I usually build up the vacation fund by working a bit more.... this winter will be a bit leaner but we mooch off of my brother in law so we will still have a roof over our heads.

May have to delay the planned Texas dance hall tour on the way home.

I used to be real active in my shop. For several years I had a lot of fabrication equipment out there... vertical mill, lathe, ironworker, sheet metal brake, shear... stuff like that. Built hot rod chassis... bought and sold Ford Flatheads and early Hemis. We did 20-30 swap meets per year.

All gone now for years but I still have some equipent and a lift. I may rehang my "Rick's V-8 Shop" on the door and do some vintage car repairs. Heck my brother is 88 and owns a vintage Jag, MB and Rolls-Royce resto shop!

So life goes on... thanks for the good words. I'm not always the guy posting about his personal struggles but my wife is sick of my complaining!!!

 

[#41]

When they said "you might live to be 80" they never told you that the last 20 years is going to be a battle.
You have to change some habits and just make the most of it. Good luck!

 

[Dennis H]

Scary. Hydration factor? Next time you start talking Hieroglyphics, call 911. I am very familiar with this circumstance. Don’t mess around. Don’t care that you are 5 min from ER.