Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > Sponsor Forums > Tampa Bay Saltwater
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 12/30/2017, 03:22 PM   #1
rustyjames
EMT-B
 
rustyjames's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Virginia
Posts: 879
Hey Richard

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.


__________________
I see your Schwartz is as big as mine.

Current Tank Info: 20 long
rustyjames is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/30/2017, 03:42 PM   #2
liverock
RC Sponsor
 
liverock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tampa
Posts: 3,836
Quote:
Originally Posted by rustyjames View Post
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
Thanks mucho....is a long road....and I have decided that getting old really bites.....but hey...diving this time of year is not fun......summer will be a wonderful thing!

Thanks!


__________________
Rock-On!
Madelyn & Jocelyn

www.tbsaltwater.com
Find us on Instagram tbs_liverockrocks

Current Tank Info: mixed reef
liverock is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/30/2017, 03:50 PM   #3
bobt2
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: long island NY
Posts: 1,835
??? did I miss something?


bobt2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/30/2017, 04:53 PM   #4
saf1
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: California
Posts: 2,259
Yeah - that is what I'm trying to figure out. Not being nosy but just read the TBS portal's message. Wish I was closer to lend a hand if anything is needed. Living on the wrong/left coast I'm afraid but I hope all is well.


__________________
-saf1

Current Tank Info: 210 gallon mixed reef
saf1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/30/2017, 05:19 PM   #5
Misled
RC Mod
 
Misled's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa
Posts: 11,440
Blog Entries: 11
Richard, heal well.


__________________
Jesse
I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.
Misled is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/31/2017, 08:04 AM   #6
pauldrapeau
Registered Member
 
pauldrapeau's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MA USA
Posts: 17
My tank you provided the package for two months ago is doing great. I just wanted to drop a line and add to the voices wishing you a speedy recovery!

-Paul


pauldrapeau is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/31/2017, 09:01 AM   #7
liverock
RC Sponsor
 
liverock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tampa
Posts: 3,836
This is going to turn into a PSA, and worth a read

Quote:
Originally Posted by Misled View Post
Richard, heal well.
Thanks....working on it...and a word to the wise here...

If you are over 40, it is time for a colonoscopy. Is a painless procedure and can save your life if you have it done and then have it done as the doctor prescribes.

I had my first about 15 years ago. Needless to say I was the polyp poster boy, I had 22 polyps. The doctor was like "what made you come in"?

I told him the insurance company told me to as I was just over fifty years old. Took their advice and took the 'plunge'. Five of the polyps were at the stage where they would have become cancer in a few more months. Doc told me,

"good thing you came in as I can save you now but in a few more months you would have had colon cancer." They could not get them all the first time around as some of them were so large, so I had multiple procedures. He scheduled me for yearly check ups, which I adhered to.

The next year, had more polyps which they got. Seems I grow them like mushrooms. Same thing the next year, more. It is no big deal as they just snatch them out, is a painless and fast procedure. Repeat this scenario for a few more years.

Then about 1.5 years ago had the usual screen, and I grew something special this time, a tumor in my colon. This was not your regular polyp, but a tumor. They tried to get it conventionally but it was not happening.

Went to several specialists as the thought of having 1/2 of my colon removed as they said I had to have done was not on my bucket list, as my best friend had it done and in the long run ended up killing him. Went to Mt Sinai hospital in Miami to one of only three docs in the US that do a procedure called EMR.....where they inject fluid under the polyp to raise it up off the colon wall and then it is taken out in little pieces endoscopically.

Well that did not fly as this little bugger is what they call a clam shell polyp. It is a flat tumor that wraps around the 'ribs' of the colon wall. The only way to get it out was called a hemicolectomy like this

https://www.google.com/search?q=righ...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Needless to say I put it off as long as I could as all the doc's told me that this type of tumor always turns into cancer, eventually, and the doc told me sternly "you don't want colon cancer"

So I finally talked myself into it and was wheeled into the operating room at two pm on 11/29/17...and here is the kicker, I was HOME at 2pm on friday 12/1/17. The nurses and staff at the hospital were like, "we have never had anybody recover from this surgery so fast!"

Yes it hurt but they give you enough meds the first night where you don't care. I blew though the whatever they had in the IV that you could push the button and administer it to yourself as needed. Next day doc came in and said no more of that....so went on oral pain meds. He said soon as your system starts functioning again you can go home. So I was up and doing laps in the hospital to get things 'flowing' again.

I quit taking the pain meds that morning as they prevent your system from 'passing'. Later that day.....the magic happened, we were functioning again, I was amazed. Is amazing they can rip out your guts and put you back together again and be back to 'normal' in two days. I had a wizard of a surgeon and excellent care there.

Recovery is the bear, as they do the procedure laparoscopy , but you get a slice from your navel up, where they take out the colon, do their magic and then stuff it back in and sew you up. The abdominal muscles that have to be cut is where the biggest issue is, you just can't lift or do anything for a few months.

So long story short....as much as I dreaded it, in reality was not that big of a deal. They took the colon/tumor and 81 lymph nodes for pathology. No cancer in anything, except a small 1mm node in the middle of the tumor that had just started, but they docs feel that they got it in time, as it had not spread outside of the tumor or into the colon wall.

I go lucky, so far...should have done it a year ago as they told me to, but I was just to apprehensive of the whole thing and took a while to talk myself into it. My advice is if you have this issue, listen to the docs and do as they say, I should have but was hard headed.

So I have a new 'zipper' on my tummy, little less colon and lymph nodes, but am on the mend. This got long winded, but hopefully will help folks who are facing the same situation as I was. I don't mind sharing this story as colon cancer is 100% preventable if caught in time and addressed.

So guys and gals...get your screening done, start at 40 and listen to your doctors!


__________________
Rock-On!
Madelyn & Jocelyn

www.tbsaltwater.com
Find us on Instagram tbs_liverockrocks

Current Tank Info: mixed reef
liverock is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/31/2017, 09:02 AM   #8
liverock
RC Sponsor
 
liverock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tampa
Posts: 3,836
Quote:
Originally Posted by pauldrapeau View Post
My tank you provided the package for two months ago is doing great. I just wanted to drop a line and add to the voices wishing you a speedy recovery!

-Paul
Thanks Paul!


__________________
Rock-On!
Madelyn & Jocelyn

www.tbsaltwater.com
Find us on Instagram tbs_liverockrocks

Current Tank Info: mixed reef
liverock is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/01/2018, 10:27 PM   #9
saf1
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: California
Posts: 2,259
Glad you are recovering and caught it when you did. Very true about the abdominal muscles cuts. Difficult recovery. I'm still not sure which is worse that or cracking or breaking ribs. I've had both along with abdominal cuts and not a fan of either.

I'm over 50 and haven't had my checkup yet. California does things differently of course depending on the provider. So while I thought 50 was the new magic number and the doc would order one, she didn't. I do have a physical I need to schedule and now that the holidays are past I'll get on that. So thank you for your words of wisdom. I have had checks over 40 when in the military but it was not a colonoscopy of course. Just the quick check by the medical but still uncomfortable although not as thorough.

So thank you again and I wish you a speedy recovery.


__________________
-saf1

Current Tank Info: 210 gallon mixed reef
saf1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/03/2018, 10:51 AM   #10
cincyjim
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,147
I hope you will feel better soon Richard!!!


__________________
Jim

Current Tank Info: SCA 150G, 5 inch sand bed, 2 Tunze 6095s, ReefBreeders v2+ 50" with 2 all Blue Reefbrites, and Continuous Water Change System
cincyjim is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/03/2018, 12:46 PM   #11
liverock
RC Sponsor
 
liverock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tampa
Posts: 3,836
Quote:
Originally Posted by cincyjim View Post
I hope you will feel better soon Richard!!!
Thanks!


__________________
Rock-On!
Madelyn & Jocelyn

www.tbsaltwater.com
Find us on Instagram tbs_liverockrocks

Current Tank Info: mixed reef
liverock is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/03/2018, 12:50 PM   #12
gamerunr
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 90
Great advise. I hope you have a speedy recovery!


gamerunr is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/03/2018, 04:11 PM   #13
liverock
RC Sponsor
 
liverock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tampa
Posts: 3,836
Quote:
Originally Posted by gamerunr View Post
Great advise. I hope you have a speedy recovery!
Thanks...working on that!


__________________
Rock-On!
Madelyn & Jocelyn

www.tbsaltwater.com
Find us on Instagram tbs_liverockrocks

Current Tank Info: mixed reef
liverock is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/03/2018, 06:49 PM   #14
dickeybrazil
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 69
Richard, that's a great message that really hit home with me. Thanks and speedy recovery!


dickeybrazil is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/04/2018, 11:20 PM   #15
biecacka
Registered Member
 
biecacka's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 6,361
Richard, get well soon sir. I wish I was closer to you, I would love to lend a hand.

corey


biecacka is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/06/2018, 10:54 AM   #16
reefteaser
Convince'em or confuse'em
 
reefteaser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: S FL
Posts: 341
My mother-in-law had a hemicolorectomy three years ago at 84. She’s done very well since, still living on her own in the house my wife grew up in.
Wishing you well.


reefteaser is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/06/2018, 11:39 AM   #17
moondoggy4
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: menifee So cal
Posts: 11,042
Lots of people go to Florida to relax for the winter, I guess it is your turn. Get well soon, and thanks for sharing, I will take your advice.


moondoggy4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/30/2018, 12:19 PM   #18
liverock
RC Sponsor
 
liverock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tampa
Posts: 3,836
Tampa Bay Saltwater...Rock and Roll baby!

Ok folks....getting back at it. I have activated the webpage so orders can be placed now.

Folks that order will be shipped in the rotation as orders are received. I am still a couple of weeks out from shipping as I need to re-stock, but when you order I will let you now it was received and you are put on the list. The card will not be charged upon receipt.

I will charge your credit card a few days before shipping and contact you so we both be on the same page for delivery.

Now talk to the weather gods, as it has been the worst winter for diving I have seen in ten years!

But I am soooo ready to go diving and get the best live rock on the planet again!

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com


__________________
Rock-On!
Madelyn & Jocelyn

www.tbsaltwater.com
Find us on Instagram tbs_liverockrocks

Current Tank Info: mixed reef
liverock is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/31/2018, 01:46 PM   #19
Misled
RC Mod
 
Misled's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa
Posts: 11,440
Blog Entries: 11
Glad things are getting back to normal for you.


__________________
Jesse
I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.
Misled is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/31/2018, 02:38 PM   #20
liverock
RC Sponsor
 
liverock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tampa
Posts: 3,836
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misled View Post
Glad things are getting back to normal for you.
abby-normal....lol....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inqdiNVzQcc


__________________
Rock-On!
Madelyn & Jocelyn

www.tbsaltwater.com
Find us on Instagram tbs_liverockrocks

Current Tank Info: mixed reef
liverock is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 01/31/2018, 03:21 PM   #21
Misled
RC Mod
 
Misled's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa
Posts: 11,440
Blog Entries: 11



__________________
Jesse
I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.
Misled is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/07/2018, 11:12 AM   #22
CuzzA
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Palm Harbor, FL
Posts: 2,997
Quote:
Originally Posted by liverock View Post
Ok folks....getting back at it. I have activated the webpage so orders can be placed now.

Folks that order will be shipped in the rotation as orders are received. I am still a couple of weeks out from shipping as I need to re-stock, but when you order I will let you now it was received and you are put on the list. The card will not be charged upon receipt.

I will charge your credit card a few days before shipping and contact you so we both be on the same page for delivery.

Now talk to the weather gods, as it has been the worst winter for diving I have seen in ten years!

But I am soooo ready to go diving and get the best live rock on the planet again!

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com
Let me know if you need a hand, boss! Water should be warming up soon. I gotta connect with your nephew too about LineX'ing the deck of my boat.


CuzzA is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 02/07/2018, 11:46 AM   #23
liverock
RC Sponsor
 
liverock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tampa
Posts: 3,836
Quote:
Originally Posted by CuzzA View Post
Let me know if you need a hand, boss! Water should be warming up soon. I gotta connect with your nephew too about LineX'ing the deck of my boat.
Thanks bud!

Brian is at https://www.facebook.com/sarasotalinex/

give him a shout!


__________________
Rock-On!
Madelyn & Jocelyn

www.tbsaltwater.com
Find us on Instagram tbs_liverockrocks

Current Tank Info: mixed reef
liverock is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:14 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.