Off The Grid

[BigRed66]

Hey guys, I just wanted to let you all know that I'll be out of commission for a while....I am going into the Cleveland Clinic tomorrow morning for a lobectomy. I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis last month...it is not life-threatening, for the most part, but it'll be with me for the duration; until they plant me. It is a pulmonary disorder that causes your lymph nodes to swell up...I'm not very effective at telling people what it is, so if you care to, here's a link: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/sarc/sar_whatis.html

I had gone to the ER on New Year's Eve with an incredible pain in my neck (insert "So, your wife drove you?" jokes here) and when they put that thing on my finger that reads your pulse oxygen, mine was low, like 88%, so, they ordered a chest x-ray in addition to the CT scan of my head and neck. It was then they saw a dark spot on my right lung, and referred me to a local Pulmonary Specialist. I chose to go instead to the Cleveland Clinic for world-class care. The doc looked at my films, ordered a bronchoscopy (looking into your lungs with a fiber-optic camera, and taking cell samples). When I woke up from it, he told me about the carcinoid tumor they found. About the size of a lima bean, but steadily growing. They biopsied it, it was benign, but it needs to come out. The problem is that it's blocking an airway...like trying to suck that lima bean through a straw. Not good.

So, tomorrow, I show up at 5:15 a.m., get prepped, and go into the OR. When they open me up, on my right side, rib cage on down, about a 7-8" incision, I'm told, my thoracic surgeon will remove the tumour (<~ for my Canadian friends), but has to also remove about 15% of my lower right lung. I'll probably be laid up for 5-7 days in the hospital, and it'll be another month, at least, before I can even think about going back to work, which is where I do a large portion of my dc.com activities.

So, just keep me in your thoughts. I look forward to seeing some of you at various shows this summer.

Matt Wetherholt, a.k.a. BigRed66

P.S. If Karma is everything I believe it to be, the surgeon will be scrubbing in, and operating to, the Green Day discography. 

[RECHRGD]

Sorry to hear that.  At least the tumor was benign.  Still sucks to loose part of your lung though.  Hope all goes smooth fo you.   Bob

[dodgecharger-fan]

All the best for a successful procedure and speedy recovery.

[WingCharger]

P.S. If Karma is everything I believe it to be, the surgeon will be scrubbing in, and operating to, the Green Day discography. 

Careful, you will incur the wrath of C_stripes.

Hope you have a safe procedure and a speedy recovery man.

[RD]

well i am glad they found it early and are able to get you well.  my prayers are with you for a safe and speedy recovery.

i know you may be anxious at this point so, if you are a Godly man or not, please read Phillipians 4:6-7 -

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

God bless!

Jamey

[bigred68]

 Matt, please keep us posted. My thoughts will be with you. Besides, you gotta get better, we still gotta get a beer in g-ville! Good luck, Get healthy, Get strong.
Take care, Salute 

[Manfred318]

I hope all goes well and you get to feelin better real soon
Take it easy and keep on keepin' on
--John

[69bronzeT5]

Take it easy and I hope you feel better soon!


Cody

[skip68]

We hope you have a successful surgery, and recover quickly!  Maybe after you are feeling better, someone can bring you a laptop so you could still chat with your Mopar family!  Good luck!

The Skip68's

[tan top]

yikes .....    good luck man hope everthing goes ok     

[Brock Samson]

 Blessings. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say we all are anxiously awaiting word on your complete and speedy recovery.

   

[Chad L. Magee]

I hope you get to feeling better soon and a speedy recovery....

[captnsim]

Hope all works out well

[The70RT]

Hang in there man and glad they caught it early  My father had that happen and they took a 1/4 of his lung. Hopes for a speedy recovery.

[bull]

Dang, that's going to suck to get opened up like that but a guy's got to breathe. I'll hope and pray everything goes well.

[Dans 68]

Hope to hear from you soon! Best wishes on the surgery. 

Dan

[TeeWJay426]

Best of luck with the surgery. I hope your recovery is quick, complete, and as pain free as possible!

[Charger_Fan]

Geez, what's with all these member's trips to the doctor these days?
I hope the operation goes well & recovery is fast.

[Magnumcharger]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
If it's any consolation, my mother had half a lung removed last month, and it only took her three days to revert completely back into the bitch she was.
So you should do as good or better!

[BigRed66]

YO!!

Well, I made it to the other side; not without a few glitches, but here I am. The operation was a success, but they removed an entire lobe, and my scar is about 12-14", but I am doing well. I get winded pretty easily, but it's getting better by the day. ( I HATE you, treadmill!!) I was in the hospital for 6 days, came home for 4, then had some heart problems and went back in for 3 days. The heart problem was swelling of the lining of my heart, but, it was treated, and I was told it was an anomaly, and not to worry. The only thing is, I have to have these bronchoscopies every six months for the next 3-5 yrs., so they can monitor the healing process, and make sure nothing else is growing, I guess. All this crap has been sobering, to say the least; being faced with one's own mortality...but, I'm here, so...thanks for all your kind words, thoughts, and prayers.

Matt

P.S. No Green Day was in the O.R., thank God. 

[Magnumcharger]

Welcome back!
Live life to the fullest! Then post the pictures of your experiences here!!

[mikepmcs]

Glad you are feeling better.  I haven't seen this thread until now and glad you made it through. 

I knew I hated lima beans for a reason. 

Stay well!

Mike

[bigred68]

 Hey Matt,welcome back. Glad your well. When I met your pop the other day I forgot to ask him how you were! He did tell me about the huge party/carshow July 25th. I was only able to speak with him breifly at the Harley shop and check out the '66. Damn, what an amazing car. Wish I would've had a camera to take pics of the two "bigred" Chargers parked side by side. I look forward to meeting you and your father (again), at the car shows this summer. Take care man, tell your pop Jeffery says hello!

[Tilar]

I missed this the first time around, Glad you're doing alright. I went through a similar operation back in 91 where they took out 30% of my right lower lobe due to a screw up when someone read a cat scan wrong but that's another store... Anyway, If yours is anything like mine was, You'll become very accurate with weather changes for the next 4 or 5 years.