A few days ago I posted a brief story about a medical emergency I experienced this past Monday. Hopefully my sharing this can prevent anyone else form going through what I have been experiencing these past few days. I think things actually started going wrong on Thursday after having lunch and experiencing a sever upset stomach followed by the usual biological event associated with digestive issues.  I didn't vomit but visited the bathroom several times.  Over the next couple of days I felt a little nauseous and didn't each much but continued to have the stomach issues.  Sunday night while preparing dinner, I felt faint and had to lay down.  I skipped dinner and went to bed.  When I woke up Monday morning I was unable to walk.  My balance was so bad that I couldn't take a single step without hanging on to someone or gripping a door frame.  I asked my wife to call my primary care doctor and get me in to see her as soon as possible.  Fortunately she is only about a half a mile from our home and was able to see me at 9:30 the same day.  My wife assisted me into her car and through the parking lot at the doctor's office and into the waiting room, where I took a seat.  Within about 5 minutes I was unable to sit and needed to lay down.  As I was being walked to a very near examining room, my doctor walked out and had a horrified look on her face and told the staff to call 911 and get paramedics and an ambulance to transport me to the ER at San Ramon Valley Medical Center, about 10 minutes away.  The Paramedics arrived in about 2 minutes and began monitoring my vitals and inserted an 18 gauge IV needle in my arm and started fluids. (that's a huge needle)  My heart rate was good but my blood pressure was pretty low and dropping.  My doctor later told me she feared I was in cardiac arrest and needed the care that could only be provided in the ER.  I was determined to be severely dehydrated and suffering from Vertigo as a result.  I was also really cold and couldn't stop shaking.  My teeth were chattering uncontrollably.  I had an EKG, a chest x-ray and a full blood panel and urinalysis.  All of the tests came back normal and by that time I had received 3 liters of IV fluids.  My blood pressure was getting back to normal but the Vertigo was still pretty extreme.  I spent about 5 hours in the ER and ended up getting 5 liters of fluid.  The doctor said he had never seen anyone need this much.  I was finally producing urine after the 5th liter.  Some of the coldness I was experiencing was from the refrigerated IV fluids being pumped into me.  I was released and have spent the last few days doing pretty much nothing but my strength is coming back and I have learned to love Gatoraid.

The moral of the story is:  Drinking water or other fluids (beer doesn't count) is absolutely essential to your health.  I didn't consciously stop fluid intake but apparently I did.  I always take water with me in the kayak but don't always drink it.  Don't learn the lesson the way I did.  I have never been severely ill or been to the ER in my life until this happened.  I was very lucky to have quality medical facilities and personnel nearby.  This could have been a real disaster in a remote location. WATER  WATER  WATER!

I'm almost back to normal after nearly a week of extreme rest and actually took a short walk with my dog this morning.  I'm on a very restricted diet called the BRAT diet for a few more days.  That's bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.  Not too appetizing or satisfying but it's supposed to allow the digestive tract to heal.
I had my annual physical just a week prior to this happening and everything was good.  It's amazing how fast you can go from feeling great to being very sick!

I have a set of Thule Hullavators that I am no longer using.  They're a few years old.  I believe they are 2nd generation which corrected the old issue of the racks going up without the release triggers being pulled.  I plan to use my trailer which also holds all of my gear.  I'm looking to cover the cost of having a hitch put on my Outback which will cost $250.00 so the first $250 takes the Hullavators.  They're located in Danville.  SOLD!


Martin 

I ordered a set of Bearing Buddy Bras (model 17-B) and they're too small for the bearing buddies on my yak trailer.  Amazon issued me an instant credit and said they did not need to be returned.  I'll throw them in my Man Van and bring them to GSX.  If they fit your trailer, you can have them for free.  I can already hear the "too small bra" jokes.

Martin

I purchased these straps from Amazon and they are by far the best lashing straps I have used.  The extra width and very strong buckles make these great for car-top lashing and strapping the yak to the Wheeleez cart.  The straps don't slip back through the buckles like all the others I have tried. There's no need to tie a knot behind the buckle that will ultimately ruin the straps by abrading against themselves.  These hold tight and don't back off at all. 

Keeper (07512) Koastal 12' x 1-1/2" Lashing Strap with Protective Cover, (Pack of 2)
by Koastal Keeper
4.4 out of 5 stars    14 customer reviews 
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Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
300 pounds Working Load Limit
900 pounds Break Strength
12 feet Lashing Strap
1.5 inch Hi-Test webbing
Protective stretch covers on the buckles prevents surfaces from scratches



Martin

A few Loose Screws are gonna be crabbing at HMB Tuesday and Wednesday.  Hobie-Dave, Hobie-Pam and I will be at the Pillar Point RV park Tuesday and Wednesday.  Join us for crabbing or stop by the RV park for a beer in the afternoon. We'll be on Channel 69.

Martin

Good news!  I had my post op visit with the vascular surgeon today and I'm cleared to begin resuming normal activity.  I'm pretty sure that includes pedaling the Hobie.  Now, if we can only get some decent weather and ocean conditions.

Martin

Hey guys,  I recently found out that I need to have a vein ablation procedure on one of my legs.  I have done a lot of internet research on the procedure and it appears to be minimally invasive and relatively painless with a short few day recovery.  My tests indicated that 30% of the blood is not being returned to my heart from my left leg due to a defective valve in a vein.  The ablation procedure uses a heated catheter to collapse the bad vein and the blood is rerouted through other veins.  Have any of you had this procedure, or do you have any personal experiences to share?  I'm waiting for insurance approval before scheduling the procedure, but would like to hear from anyone who has any info to share.

Thanks,

Martin