How's Your Health???????

[Gary Kadrmas]

Please take the time to read this:

The first part of 2006, I started to experience stomach trouble. The doctor said it was acid reflux. My appetite went from normal to where I could barely eat anything before I experienced that "full" feeling. The fix was a pill. Take one 30 minutes before dinner. No change. Then 2, then 3 pills a day before meals.

As it started to get worse, I started to get concerned. On March 24, 2006, my wife rushed me to the emergency room. My stomach trouble turned out to be two large cancerous tumors in my stomach. Surgery followed, and my stomach, spleen, and a few other organs were removed.

I was in the hospital for 13 days. It appears all the cancer was removed. I have an appointment with the Oncology Department to schedule the Chemo treatments. My strength is starting to come back, but it is a slow process.

Please...........Ask yourself a very important question? Are you as healthy as you think?????

For me, I would have said healthy as a horse. I was wrong.

To everyone reading this:

Please take the time to get a full checkup. Make sure you and all your friends and relatives take the time to do this. Please.

I look at this whole thing as a second chance on life. I will be facing many major changes in life due to the surgery. But I am alive. I am not looking for sympathy. My whole point in posting this information is to get people to realize how important a persons health is to yourself and your loved ones.

For me, I am sure glad I have a loving wife.

Regards,

 

[Randy V]

Gary - What a sobering story and a wakeup call!

I get a full physical annually and I still go back from time to time to have one of the latest middle-age ache's, pains and twinges checked out..

I'm waiting for Cancer to come knocking on my door.. My family has a rich history of it and it's the legacy I was born into.. I've lost my Grandmother, 3 uncles and almost lost my mother to cancer of the Left-Kidney.. Now a cousin has recently been diagnosed. My ultra-sound of the left kidney comes up in 2 weeks....

I think this is also important for others to consider as well.. If your family has had a history in cancer - please consider getting your checkups more frequently..

 

[Ron Earp]

Gary,

I'm at a loss for words. I am glad that you discovered that when you did and wish you all the best while you adjust to the changes you've got coming your way. That is indeed a serious wake up call and I'll certainly heed your advice.

Best Wishes,
Ron

 

[Neal]

Words well spoke Gary. Live Strong!

 

[Doug S.]

So glad you're still with us, Gary! I can only serve to reinforce your comments. 3 years ago I went in to my primary care physician for a small matter and he suggested a routine physical with some blood work. All of a sudden I was under the care of a liver specialist, a urologist, and an endochrinologist, and I wasn't even feeling bad.

Fast forward 3 years. It took me some time to lose the 10% of my body weight the liver specialist said I had to lose, but my liver enzyme numbers are all in the normal range now, the urologist says I only need to visit once a year (at almost 60 years of age we all know what that entails) and the endochrinologist has said he doesn't need to see me any more at all. Who would have thought I'd be under the care of all these specialists? Not me, that's for certain. Other than some slight problem, I had no idea all that was going on in my body.

I mention this to encourage our forum friends to take care of themselves. Who knows what terrible outcomes I avoided by having that one "surprise" physical 3 years ago.

My new motto??? "I'm going to live to be 100 or die trying."

Here's hoping you have a long and productive life, Gary, and the same to the rest of our forum members. Remember to take care of you!!

Doug

 

[Mike Christian]

I am so sorry to hear about your experience Gary!!

Best wishes for a speeedy recovery.

Mike

 

[Mark Clapp]

If I could also add to get regular skin screens. I went to a health fair at work and got a skin screen for the first time from a dermatologist. She saw a mole that she said should be romoved. I asked my doctor for a referral and he said he could do it. It was a very small, mis-shapen mole. He said, "I'll be shocked if it's anything". 10 days later he called and it was melanoma. It was fully removed and I've been clear on six-month screens for five years now. That little lady knew what she saw and most likely saved my life. Please have yourself and your family examined by a real dermatologist.

 

[Gary Kadrmas]

Thank you for all your support.

I know I am not the only person to realize a health related issue has changed a persons life.

Every day, I get a little better. I still would like to think someday, I will be able to reach my goal of owning a GT40. According to my doctor, it will be 6-8 more weeks before I will get my strength back. Doing anything physical justs zaps my energy level to low-low-low. My weight was at 202 at the beginning on March. I left the hospital weighing 159. So I have a few pounds to put back on....at least somewhere around 180.

This forum gives me energy. You people are great. Thanks everyone.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

Gary, thanks for your post a truly wise message. My best wishes for the future. Stay strong.

 

[Gary Kadrmas]

Hello,

Slight correction......This all started in January 2007, and I went into the hospital in March 2007.

Besides trying to get my energy and strength back, I should work a little on my brains too.

 

[Steve Briscoe]

Gary -
I confirmed a physical for myself today. Thanks for the heads-up. Get well quick!

Steve

 

[Dutton]

A wake-up call, indeed. Like the rest, Gary, I'm surprised but pleased to learn you're already deep in the process of beating this one. Certainly you know that you have a large group of friends pulling for you, from all over the world.

Best wishes for a quick and complete recovery,

Tim

p.s. Thank you for the reminder. Will give my doctor a call tomorrow.

 

[David Morton]

A speedy recovery Gary. You've been given another chance.
I heed your advice and though I had a check up every 6 months while I was flying, the particular Doc I used to go to said it only proved that I was there in his surgery on that particular day.
Eyesight tests are, apparently, a great barometer of general health and ECG's reveal all.

 

[Gary Kadrmas]

Thank you everyone!

With each day, I get a little better. I have had some ups and downs, but it has not been as a result of the surgery. The thing I am trying to get in order now is my diet. I am restricted from red meat, pasta, potato chips, beef jerky, and the list goes on. What I need to eat is healthy food as in fruits and veggies, and things that have fiber. Although I still have to take some pain meds because of the surgery, I have to be cautious about not taking too much....because it causes constipation. Not funny!

All of your support and comments are greatly appreciated. Thank you!