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My Dinner With GG

Breakingnews said:
No doubt - Just drop me a line - Would be great to to get together and have you sample some of the local 'flavor' with some music and sports talk. Keep me posted - I am fairly close to Philly.
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I am hoping it's March. Waiting for my boss to approve a conference for me to attend there.
 








Hey why not meet in NYC for a night out? Let me know if anyone is interested and we can arrange something inexpensive maybe even for lunch.
GG had a stroke? I'll call you sweetie.
 








LEONIDAS said:
Hey why not meet in NYC for a night out? Let me know if anyone is interested and we can arrange something inexpensive maybe even for lunch.
GG had a stroke? I'll call you sweetie.
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Yeah, quite honestly, I think working for my last pharma company nearly killed me. It started as early as training and I knew without a shadow of a doubt I made a mistake. Night before the flight, I was so stressed (dreaming my thesis was going to hard drive heaven) that I leaped out of bed and sprained my ankle. Foot turns black in training. Turns out I needed my ankle rebuilt and an artifical toe. That went great. No pain and never felt better. Went XX skiing three months later and due to my lard-ness, I could not get up once I fell. In trying to get up, since I could not release the skis, I blew out the disc at C6-7. It crushed my right nerve root, flattened the spinal cord and dissected the vertebral artery causing a tiny embolia to go up into the cerebellum and, well, I had a stroke. . . and emergency spinal surgery. No really knew about the stroke for six weeks when I noticed my pupils were two different sizes and one did not respond at all.

You do not ever want to have a stroke. So, I spent all of 2013 recovering from a severe spinal/neuro injury and a stroke. I had to learn to walk, talk - well, choose words, use my right arm that got crushed, balance, see, spell/write and in some ways - think all over again. I still am often at a loss for words (LOL - go figure!) but I joined a gym, lost 40 lbs, swim an average of 20 laps a day, lift weights and was recently hired outside of pharma. So, things are going much better than what they could be.

I would certainly find a way up to Milwaukee or in-between to meet with you. Dinner would be better than lunch - but I could probably cut out early too. I have definitely decided life is way, way too short to put up with 1) stuff you hate and 2) people who treat you like shit. Hey, but, then there's cats.
 
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Believe it or not, like an 18 year old. Have not drank milk in 30 years. Yes, I take a supplement. My toe grew into the implant (total fusion) in just 3 weeks, same with the spine. Both docs said they have never seen anything like it. I am just always stressed and seem to think I'm 30 when it comes to sports.
 




GorgeousGAMS said:
Believe it or not, like an 18 year old. Have not drank milk in 30 years. Yes, I take a supplement. My toe grew into the implant (total fusion) in just 3 weeks, same with the spine. Both docs said they have never seen anything like it. I am just always stressed and seem to think I'm 30 when it comes to sports.
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You are an intelligent person, so I hope this doesn't sound condescending. But have you entertained a second or third opinion? Plus, stress is a drag on the human system. Just ask my wife.
 








Doc Who said:
You are an intelligent person, so I hope this doesn't sound condescending. But have you entertained a second or third opinion? Plus, stress is a drag on the human system. Just ask my wife.
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Unlucky is more like it. . . and I was not taking care of myself - a weekend warrior type who smoked! :)-( I have had more than second and third opinions with my horrid health history. (Try like eight!) The ankle was an old basketball injury from college that caught up to me. The toe, well. . . , I dropped a metal box on it in the garage two years before the sprain. It hurt like a MFer for years and I just thought it was old age. Actually, might have been my downfall as it hurt so much that I quit walking and came home and put it up for years. All fixed now. Ah, the back. . . . lifting those drug cases and stacking stuff, moving, rock climbing - it was a mess and an accident in the waiting. I finally drew the short straw in a lot of ways with that accident or it was a blessing b/c I go to the gym, quit smoking, watch what I eat (lost 40 lbs), keep the BP under control and have had a host of preventative testing - please read: ACCIDENT SKIING INJURY. The illnesses before this were ALL due to one horrible and life-threatening drug reaction. Again, a one in a million. But you know, way back when, I was born weighing only 4.3 and all the doctors told my mom I would die. I guess the reaper is still stalking me after all these years and losing.

I appreciate your thoughts. I did go for genetic testing and came back with one really crazy abnormal gene that could have caused some of my childhood issues, the drug reaction and probably other stuff down the road. I am working to change that but genetic medicine is in its infancy.
 




GorgeousGAMS said:
Unlucky is more like it. . . and I was not taking care of myself - a weekend warrior type who smoked! :)-( I have had more than second and third opinions with my horrid health history. (Try like eight!) The ankle was an old basketball injury from college that caught up to me. The toe, well. . . , I dropped a metal box on it in the garage two years before the sprain. It hurt like a MFer for years and I just thought it was old age. Actually, might have been my downfall as it hurt so much that I quit walking and came home and put it up for years. All fixed now. Ah, the back. . . . lifting those drug cases and stacking stuff, moving, rock climbing - it was a mess and an accident in the waiting. I finally drew the short straw in a lot of ways with that accident or it was a blessing b/c I go to the gym, quit smoking, watch what I eat (lost 40 lbs), keep the BP under control and have had a host of preventative testing - please read: ACCIDENT SKIING INJURY. The illnesses before this were ALL due to one horrible and life-threatening drug reaction. Again, a one in a million. But you know, way back when, I was born weighing only 4.3 and all the doctors told my mom I would die. I guess the reaper is still stalking me after all these years and losing.

I appreciate your thoughts. I did go for genetic testing and came back with one really crazy abnormal gene that could have caused some of my childhood issues, the drug reaction and probably other stuff down the road. I am working to change that but genetic medicine is in its infancy.
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After reading your post with LEO and this one I feel incredibly lucky to only have BP problems. That could be arrested but I do like my wine.

After all you have been through you still have a good attitude. Keep doing what your doing exercise wise. It looks good on you.
 








GorgeousGAMS said:
Yeah, quite honestly, I think working for my last pharma company nearly killed me. It started as early as training and I knew without a shadow of a doubt I made a mistake. Night before the flight, I was so stressed (dreaming my thesis was going to hard drive heaven) that I leaped out of bed and sprained my ankle. Foot turns black in training. Turns out I needed my ankle rebuilt and an artifical toe. That went great. No pain and never felt better. Went XX skiing three months later and due to my lard-ness, I could not get up once I fell. In trying to get up, since I could not release the skis, I blew out the disc at C6-7. It crushed my right nerve root, flattened the spinal cord and dissected the vertebral artery causing a tiny embolia to go up into the cerebellum and, well, I had a stroke. . . and emergency spinal surgery. No really knew about the stroke for six weeks when I noticed my pupils were two different sizes and one did not respond at all.

You do not ever want to have a stroke. So, I spent all of 2013 recovering from a severe spinal/neuro injury and a stroke. I had to learn to walk, talk - well, choose words, use my right arm that got crushed, balance, see, spell/write and in some ways - think all over again. I still am often at a loss for words (LOL - go figure!) but I joined a gym, lost 40 lbs, swim an average of 20 laps a day, lift weights and was recently hired outside of pharma. So, things are going much better than what they could be.

I would certainly find a way up to Milwaukee or in-between to meet with you. Dinner would be better than lunch - but I could probably cut out early too. I have definitely decided life is way, way too short to put up with 1) stuff you hate and 2) people who treat you like shit. Hey, but, then there's cats.
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Glad to hear you are back GG. Sorry I did not know about this ordeal but it sounds like you went through a living hell. I'm sure you are stronger and more driven as a result of what you went through. let's talk.
 




Haha. I love my new job. I just hope I am good at it. . . it is REAL sales and hardcore to boot. I have six bosses and a huge extended clinical team of nurses, CNAs, doctors and social workers. It is my business but I have to learn to be very diplomatic about how to drive business when it is my team that I'm really selling - so it is what they're all comfortable doing. I hope this honeymoon goes on for a long, long time. I also work a lot with outside vendors/distributors and contracting as well as professional networking. There is so much to learn, that I doubt even at the end of one year, I will have touched the surface. Let's just hope I do not fuck it up.
 




GorgeousGAMS said:
Haha. I love my new job. I just hope I am good at it. . . it is REAL sales and hardcore to boot. I have six bosses and a huge extended clinical team of nurses, CNAs, doctors and social workers. It is my business but I have to learn to be very diplomatic about how to drive business when it is my team that I'm really selling - so it is what they're all comfortable doing. I hope this honeymoon goes on for a long, long time. I also work a lot with outside vendors/distributors and contracting as well as professional networking. There is so much to learn, that I doubt even at the end of one year, I will have touched the surface. Let's just hope I do not fuck it up.
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My money is on you - Never doubt GG.
 




Oh, my illnesses (depression/PTSD, SJS, GI and the Stroke) when they have happened (except for the ortho stuff) have totally messed with my emotions and mind. I turn into a real nut. Some have seen the result right here on CP, some at work (BAD!). I have no doubt that I can do a very good job but I need to be a lot better with people and I need to NEVER get sick again where they pump me full of drugs that screw me up.

Anyone who has been really, really sick knows what I'm saying: you have trouble relating to people, your attention span is short, you feel miserable most the time and that impacts your work product. You get moody. You talk about how crappy you feel. You get scared if no doctor seems to be able to cure or even allievate your symptoms. Yeah. . . . not a fun place to be. . . .having a stroke is all of the above and then some. Tramatic brain injury is so difficult to go through and there is almost no understanding of the crazy emotions that go with it - one minute laughing the next minute uncontrollable crying. Then the deep dark depression and the waiting for "things to get normal" again. Here's the story for anyone reading this who has had a stroke or has a loved one in that boat: That person died. The person you once were is gone. A new you has been born! Go to PT. Try not to over medicate and go to a gym/rehab center and work your ass off. Push yourself, push your body to be functional. Use adaptions to get by so you can be independent. . . . cry when you need to and DO feel sorry for yourself and then get back on the "bycicle" and learn to ride it sideways if that is all you can do. I will never ride a bike again - so what! I swim now and lift weights. I can ride a stationary bike. I can still ski! I bet I can snowshoe with poles. I plan to get back to Kayaking just as soon as I can afford a trailer or different type of transport that is doable for the new weaker me. . . . I am rambling. If you had a serious illness or brain injury and you rejoined the workforce, hung on to your marriage, got yourself back in shape and found some things that you are still good at - you are a WINNER, A SURVIVOR, AN AMAZING HUMAN BEING! I am so proud of what I have been able to overcome! I could write a book called "From Homelessness to Happiness and Everything in Between!"

So, everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving and I need to put the Turkey in and go visit some hardworking nurses!
 




Very interesting observation about the new person. My Dad had a series for strokes over several years leading up to a pretty bad one. Not totally debilitating, required a cane to walk, help with buttoning and zipping, etc. We finally had some time alone and he told me he wasn't the same man anymore. He was a great player of dominoes and various card games. At dominoes, after hearing the bids and watching each player lay ONE domino, he could tell you what each player had in his hand--really accurate at it. This pretty much went away along with the strategy he honed over the years was gone along with his math skills. In college, I would bring home complex math and physics problems and he usually had the answer by the time I finished reading them--no pencil, no paper--in his head. Not bad for a man with a 10th grade education. He could still play the games after the 'big' stroke and by most standards was a good player, but before, he was an ace, a master..... Odd to say, but he missed himself.
 




Sorry to hear about your dad. . . . I found that I keep myself so busy there is no time to miss my old self. I do NOT look back. I do not think about what I was like or what I could do. Quite frankly, there were a lot of things about the old me that were NOT so good either. I was so fast talking, attention-needy and know-it-all, that I often took over every conversation and plowed through people because I knew, or thought I knew, what they were going to say. I seldom do that anymore. In fact, my verbal skills are so poor that I spend a lot of time listening and nodding. LOL - people now think I am a very good listener. Then, I clarify because half the time I really do not know what they are talking about. Then, usually, I really do not know how to answer so I ask more about them or their problem. Kind of funny, I guess BEFORE, I was not a very good sales person aside from my people-pleasing desire. You know who I miss? I miss little Mole, NYCTROLL. He was such a crazy guy. Anyone know what happened to Palehorse and SilkTieGuy?
 




GorgeousGAMS said:
Sorry to hear about your dad. . . . I found that I keep myself so busy there is no time to miss my old self. I do NOT look back. I do not think about what I was like or what I could do. Quite frankly, there were a lot of things about the old me that were NOT so good either. I was so fast talking, attention-needy and know-it-all, that I often took over every conversation and plowed through people because I knew, or thought I knew, what they were going to say. I seldom do that anymore. In fact, my verbal skills are so poor that I spend a lot of time listening and nodding. LOL - people now think I am a very good listener. Then, I clarify because half the time I really do not know what they are talking about. Then, usually, I really do not know how to answer so I ask more about them or their problem. Kind of funny, I guess BEFORE, I was not a very good sales person aside from my people-pleasing desire. You know who I miss? I miss little Mole, NYCTROLL. He was such a crazy guy. Anyone know what happened to Palehorse and SilkTieGuy?
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Pale Horse got banned right after he said he 'knew where I lived' and was going to 'beat me half to death' if I got one of those religious whackos banned' (can't remember which one it was - LOL). It's a shame because I really liked P Ho and miss him too. I think he had probably been drinking Crown and just used an expression which was a common expression growing up and not taken literally. Still, the mods don't take kindly to that stuff. Silk Tie Guy? Vaguely remember him - he didn't like me either - LOL. Don't remember him getting banned though.
 








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