NYC Journal

The sedation was wonderful. I feel refreshed.

At times very disturbed sleep getting up every hour or hour and a half.

One month of just nothing is not a bad thing.

Can’t even drive until I get the cathera removed.

They say 3-6 months for a full recovery…

I’m now 67 and slowing down and kinda really living.

Pretty much I think I could be 85 and still be active and independent. That might be enough, but we shall see.

I saw the decline and people like my dad living in pain just existing.

As long as I sty lucid I figure I’m alive. I still have potential to live past 85 because of my small body size and other factors. I kinda get the idea of aging is all about quality of life. Aging out in a care facility is not living…

Cal
 
It is almost 4:00 AM, and I am up after 7 hours sleep. Went to bed close to 8:00 PM.

After the surgery I stayed up late reading. The sedation was a 4 1/2 hour deep nap, but that first night after the surgery there were these blood pressure cuffs around my calf’s that compression an alternating manner every 2-3 minutes. Pretty hard to sleep, and I woke frequently.

So last night in my own bed and not having to get up to pee allowed a restful sleep that was beautiful. I feel well rested. In the past I would get up around 5 times during the night to pee.

A polar vortex is expected Monday. Elsewhere -30 below, but only -9 degrees in Peekskill. They say snow on Sunday.

My torso is tender, and I can see why I can’t lift anything over 10 pounds for a month. Oh-well.

Over the next 4-6 weeks there is a 1-2% chance of blood clots in my legs. Kinda key to walk around.

A new day for me. Glad I am home.

Cal
 
Hi Cal,

glad that the surgery went well without immediate complications. I keep my fingers crossed that the lab results look good, i.e. that they were able to remove all affected tissue. As for lifting no more than 10lbs ... a friend (in his 80's now) had the exact same surgery, also with the DaVinci system and they had him on the table as long as needed to get a quick lab test result back. So far his tumor marker screenings are all below detection level for now past 2 years after surgery. He plays the saxophone as a pastime and wasn't allowed to blow the horn for a couple of weeks. It's just about avoiding internal pressure on the on the cut areas as these still need to heal which takes more time in the body than on the surface where there is oxygen helping coagulation and healing. Wishing you well and be patient during the recovery. Do follow the recommended regimen of exercises by the book. If you don't you'll need panty liners for the rest of your life. Take care.

Klaus
 
Klaus,

I was awake only for 3 hours and went back to bed. Fact is getting into and out of bed is difficult and fraught. My core is very weak and vulnerable.

No pain, but the cathera is annoying.

“Maggie’s” personal trainer recommended doing start and stop intervals in advance to develope the muscle memory to regain bladder control.

The deep restful sleeping leaves me feeling more alert and alive. Did not realize how I was living with fatigue that accumulated because of frequent awakenings.

So now I have to allow time to pass to recover and heal.

When I cough, it is better to be standing. Sitting and coughing hurts more. My stomach seems to be swollen and bloated.

My urine is less orange and is turning more yellow. Little progress…

Great to hear from you.

All the best…

Cal
 
I just placed a custom order for a set of red anodized Sperzel locking tuners.

On custom colored Fender guitars it was common for the headstock on the neck to be painted the matching color of the body. I kinda honor that tradition with these red tuners to be paired with the Candy Apple Red body.

The neck I custom ordered has a flamed roasted maple neck with a dark rosewood fingerboard and the mod for a LSR roller nut to stabilize tuning. The locking Sperzel tuners with the roller nut will allow a more stable tuning.

Lead time 1-4 weeks.

Cal
 
My agent just put out a new “book” for modeling gigs. I’m in no shape for any gigs.

I forgot about this.

“Maggie” is E-mailing London to my agent.

Did another nap.

I accept a month of weakness. It is hard to stay awake. My red blood cell count is low and I have anemia. I hover near anemia normally because of my Cold Agglutinin condition. It will take a while for my body to rebuild my RBC count.

Oh-well.

Cal
 
Had a plant based protein shake to help boost my recovery.

Back when I had oral surgery performed for gum disease I used Met-REX a protein supplement designed originally for Cancer patients. The oral surgeon inquired about my diet, and reported he never had a patient ever that healed as fast as me.

When I reported about the balanced complete protein I consumed, my doctor remembers a vegan patient that took forever to heal.

So essential amino acids and protein is the basic building block for tissue rebuilding.

I was in my late 30’s riding with guys ten to 15 years younger than me. After tough rides it would take 2-3 days to feel not beat up. When I started using Met-REX, I felt normal and recovered the next day after a tough effort.

So protein for me was like the fountain of youth.

So I know how to speed up my recovery. Also because I don’t eat processed foods that my sodium levels are under the low normal range. I could benefit from indulging in salty foods, but my PCP does not think me being outside the lowest range of normal as being a bad thing.

That 93 over 50 blood pressure reading shows how my small body does not place much stress on my heart. Kinda remarkably low reading for a man of 67. And I don’t feel I am in great cardio shape. These are numbers I would expect if I did a Century every week as maintenance.

Also resting heart rate in the low 50’s or below.

So I might be awake and rested enough for some guitar practice. I might nap-out again. I’m in recovery, taking it easy.

Cal
 
So the next month I expect will be slow progress. I’m cool with that. Pretty much this weakened condition is prolonged, and time is required for healing. It will be 6 weeks till I could ride a bike…

Then there will be the new treatments with hormones and possibly radiation.

In March I already have an appointment with my old geezer hematologist. In April I have scheduled my annual physical with my PCP. By then at least the radiation treatment of 4-6 weeks if required will be done.

The hormone treatment was suggested to perhaps be 18-24 months. This is the “fem-out” or medical chemical castration.

Seems like the newer generation of hormone treatment has less side effects.

So my hope is for the shorter 3 month full recovery, verses the 6 month.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
My agent just put out a new “book” for modeling gigs. I’m in no shape for any gigs.

I forgot about this.

“Maggie” is E-mailing London to my agent.

Did another nap.

I accept a month of weakness. It is hard to stay awake. My red blood cell count is low and I have anemia. I hover near anemia normally because of my Cold Agglutinin condition. It will take a while for my body to rebuild my RBC count.

Oh-well.

Cal
Click to expand...

Good to know you are on the mend? The recovery phase will pass. And you will be your good self again.

Just go with it and enjoy the low key time.

And now. The devil in me makes me ask this.

Is your agent giving you this book with their compliments? Or are they trying to sell it to you?

If the latter, for how much?

May be a message here...

While we are on the topic of modelling and models - are there NYC agencies looking for 'mature' models?

Better to be gigging close to home than across the Big Bathtub. London's expensive and the climate is crap.

And oh, the devil again. Do UK and US model agencies charge the models for prep work?
 
DU,

A “book” is the portfolio of available talent that is represented by the agency. I got this gig through “Maggie,” this was her agent who originally was at Elite, a really big/huge agency with world wide reach.

Then there was a re-org and downsizing, and Vanessa went out on her own.

There has been no cost to me. Maggie put an end to her modeling, and I think very soon my 3 year contract will end. Pretty much we chose to turn down gigs and let possible gigs die. Others were just talk.

Just imagine me driving and promoting a German luxury car. This was a possibility. All first rate travel and accommodations. All VIP treatment at this level, which is the very top.

Originally Vanessa was promoting us as a power couple, but then Maggie dropped out. I just hung in there. I think I stand out in a crowd, and perhaps that is my appeal. Perhaps also I look the part as an artist. Pretty much just a cool look. Not really a fashion model. I can wear my “rags” and look hip and cool. I have the build and body though for sportswear. That’s because I’m both muscular and skinny.

I am perhaps a 67 year old man trapped in a 40 year old fit body.

I’m not wanting the bother, also know that Maggie travels with me, even if it is my coin. The money is huge and life changing. It is one way to fund my 1966 C-10 project, or even building out the second floor garage studio. The money has to come from somewhere…

Pretty much could be a huge pile of cash… Not many get an agent like this that is worldwide and bigger than the New York screen.

Now I wonder if Vanessa will drop me later this year, or if she will keep me in her book.

I kept this open because anything is possible…

Cal
 
Went to bed at ten, and now I’m up and it is 4:30.

I suspect more napping…

Not able to do much with the guitar.

Monday,Tuesday, and Wednesday is an expected cold snap of single digit weather. Looks like a snowstorm Sunday.

Looks like a repeat of yesterday, have a breakfast and go back to bed. Pretty much I feel exhausted just being awake, but the sleep is so restful at the same time.

Cal
 
Expecting a delivery of Strat pickup covers that are aged, and some Strat knobs that are “road-worn.”

This leads to wiring up the body. I await a neck and tuners that are custom orders.

This Strat will be a pretty guitar.

Almost 6:30 and perhaps time for a nap.

Cal
 
Joe,

Get well soon.

“Maggie” had a hip replacement performed over 15 years ago. Those first three weeks are tough. Really important to walk and endure the discomfort and exhaustion to fully recover. This is no time to wimp out. I’m sorry, but this is the truth. Those daily walks around the block will be tough and exhausting.

Anyways good to have a buddy suffering with me to keep me tough.

Know that the technology is much more advanced than 15 years ago, and Maggie’s hip replacement has been admired by the ex Navy SEAL orthopedic surgeon as a remarkable example.

To make you feel better, know that I am having “bladder spasms” and my cathera is leaking. Maggie, AKA Nurse Betty, helped me put on these small men’s diaper underwear to absorb the leakage. My cathera is not clogged, but coughing and constipation is causing these bladder spasms.

So now I am like the almost 2 1/2 year old grandson who has begun to be potty trained. I have not had a bowel movement since Tuesday.

The sweat pants I was wearing are getting washed, and right now I’m wearing some green scrubs, I stole from the hospital where I worked.

I can feel the sphincter on my bladder so I take this as a good sign.

Many decades ago I had a vasectomy. Pretty munch a minor procedure with rare bad outcomes. My luck is that I was one of the rare cases. I had a big jar filled with ice water to limit swelling, but my balls swelled up to the size of jumbo eggs. I walked is a bow legged manner.

Then my pubic area was shaved, and pretty much there was this horrible itch. I would go to the bathroom and scratch to get relief. Pretty much a great torture would be shave someone and restrain them from being able to scratch. A very cruel punishment.

So us Chinese are known for good tortures, but know that the Chinese water torture is a misnomer, and actually it is an American invention.

All the best. Be tough. The pain is good for you. Don’t be a wimp. Also somehow know that after about 3 weeks of torment you will improve. The PT is a secondary form of torture: no joke.

All the best…

Cal
 
I guess a funny spin is that a poop, the first since Tuesday, is a major accomplishment , something to brag about, and a rather big deal.

I feel a lot less bloated.

In my release it was said I could go back to work with of course restrictions, but pretty much it would be too much of a struggle. Mucho glad I am retired.

When I had the vasectomy pooping was like pushing out a baby. Today was not that way.

“Maggie” is out with the “Creature” (daughter) stocking up on groceries. Was able to plug in and do some adjustments and practice.

Cal
 
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