Great days are here again.

[Mr Jensee]

I don't usually post personal stuff here but I have to acknowledge that today was a great day. Some of you know that I have had some health problems in the past months and for those who don't I will tell you I have been in the final stages of renal failure. Originally I had decided that after spending 20 years transporting dialysis patients back and forth and watching them deteriorate, that I would refuse dialysis and just let it end at age 62 after a really blessed life. 3 months ago my dear mother-in-law passed away while on dialysis. She passed away during the night in our home and my wife found her in bed gone when she didn't get up for breakfast. It was very unexpected. We grieved. Last month, 3 days prior to her birthday my mother passed away. This was another blow I took especially hard. We were very close. One of the last things she said to me was that she had only hoped she would go first before me. I am so glad that happened but I wish she had stayed here a little longer. In the last month my kidneys have nearly shut completely down. I made the decision for my wife that I would go on dialysis and at the end of May I had the shunt put in my arm. Understand that by that time life was becoming nearly unbearable. I was getting fluid in my lungs when I slept flat. When I stood up my legs ballooned out huge from edema in my tissues. There was pain all over in my joints and muscles from toxins building. Last week I had a temporary port put in my upper chest and the same day began dialysis. By this time my weight had ballooned from 215 lbs to 260. The first treatment was extreme to say the least. There wasn't a muscle in me that didn't cramp to the point I wanted to scream. The next treatment on Wednesday went better and the next better. 4 hours a day 3 times a week. The fluid is coming off. Yesterday I weighed in at 245 and still dropping.

Today was the day I waited for. I started the Voyager and for the first time in months I had the strength to take it off the center stand and ride. I rode non stop for 3 hours then contacted a friend and together we rode another 2 hours with me getting home just before sunset. I had no swelling, no pain, only joy. Now I have a second chance to enjoy doing some of the things I do best again. Sorry for the long post but I had to tell someone who would understand what this means. I may never be able to go on long rides anymore but I can ride. I can feel good again and I am thankful. Thanks for reading.

[viper]

You have the right attitude , just do it as long as you can . Best of luck to you .

[Lance McCaw]

I don't usually post personal stuff here but I have to acknowledge that today was a great day. Some of you know that I have had some health problems in the past months and for those who don't I will tell you I have been in the final stages of renal failure. Originally I had decided that after spending 20 years transporting dialysis patients back and forth and watching them deteriorate, that I would refuse dialysis and just let it end at age 62 after a really blessed life. 3 months ago my dear mother-in-law passed away while on dialysis. She passed away during the night in our home and my wife found her in bed gone when she didn't get up for breakfast. It was very unexpected. We grieved. Last month, 3 days prior to her birthday my mother passed away. This was another blow I took especially hard. We were very close. One of the last things she said to me was that she had only hoped she would go first before me. I am so glad that happened but I wish she had stayed here a little longer. In the last month my kidneys have nearly shut completely down. I made the decision for my wife that I would go on dialysis and at the end of May I had the shunt put in my arm. Understand that by that time life was becoming nearly unbearable. I was getting fluid in my lungs when I slept flat. When I stood up my legs ballooned out huge from edema in my tissues. There was pain all over in my joints and muscles from toxins building. Last week I had a temporary port put in my upper chest and the same day began dialysis. By this time my weight had ballooned from 215 lbs to 260. The first treatment was extreme to say the least. There wasn't a muscle in me that didn't cramp to the point I wanted to scream. The next treatment on Wednesday went better and the next better. 4 hours a day 3 times a week. The fluid is coming off. Yesterday I weighed in at 245 and still dropping.

Today was the day I waited for. I started the Voyager and for the first time in months I had the strength to take it off the center stand and ride. I rode non stop for 3 hours then contacted a friend and together we rode another 2 hours with me getting home just before sunset. I had no swelling, no pain, only joy. Now I have a second chance to enjoy doing some of the things I do best again. Sorry for the long post but I had to tell someone who would understand what this means. I may never be able to go on long rides anymore but I can ride. I can feel good again and I am thankful. Thanks for reading.

I dont know if your a Christian man or not but I will keep you in my prayers. God can do amazing things !

[Tonyvdb]

Prayers are very powerful
Your story is painful to read yet has a good outlook and put a smile on my face at the end!
One should never give up, you never know what God has in store.

[Lucasind]

Very glad to hear of this improvement in your health Mr. Jensee !
Our family watched my dad go through this same thing starting at the age of 76, after 18 months he decided dialysis was NOT for him, he volunteered to be a "guiney pig" for the medical field and accepted a donor kidney from a ca-dabber ,cause at 76 you are refused anything else,....
to make a long story short he lived till the age of 85, and only had to take a hand full of pills per day,which (in his opinion) was GREAT ! the operation was a total success and his days were good again. He began eating chocolate and crunching ice cubes after having some other person's organ (a woman) put in his body, that was something he never did before.

again glad you are feeling much better now ,and will be feeling better each day !.........tony

[voyager55]

What a great thing to read! Prayers are answered.
The enemy has been beaten!

[HMB Don]

Mr. Jensee

With a big smile on my face I finished reading your post. Thanks for not giving up. You are taking long rides, you were out for 3 hours. Way to go.

[ekap1200]

That's great Mike, Glad to hear good news.

[cushman eagle]

Mr Jensee,I did not know what you were going through,and am sorry to hear about your health issues,but am glad about your attitude and what the treatment did for you. I will keep you in my prayers.

[Relics]

Good luck!

[Mr Jensee]

Thank you. This is a great place to hang out. Really.

[usmalenurse]

" I had no swelling, no pain, only joy. Now I have a second chance to enjoy doing some of the things I do best again"

Enjoy your second chance....not everyone gets them. Prayers that the rides get longer, the pain stays away and only the joy continues to flow!

[Mr Jensee]

I had a setback last Sunday. I took my grandson to see Fantastic Four but I didn't enjoy it. I was having bilateral arm pain the likes that I have never experienced all through the movie. By the time I was ready for bed I was feeling really lousy. Every time I laid down the pain returned. I tried every way I could to get comfortable but the ache continued. Finally at 2 am, I woke my wife and told her she needed to drive me to the hospital or I was going to die. We got to the hospital after I encouraged her to run a couple of traffic lights and they rushed me right into a cubical. Oxygen, pain meds and blood drawn. After 30 minutes the results came back, looks like I had a cardiac event. The doctor suggested I go straight to the cath lab which I agreed. Several hours later they had inserted 2 stints and admitted me. I found out yesterday reading my chart that I had had 100% blockage in one coronary artery, 80% in another and 50% in yet another. Fortunately it looks like we got to it in time, no heart damage. I have always done a pretty good job of listening to my body and it paid off this time. So I am now resting at home recovering.

[Tonyvdb]

Sorry to hear of this setback but also glad they figured it out and got you in to get the stints put in. Hopefully you will be out riding again soon.

[ekap1200]

Get well soon, We are all praying for ya. Gene and Marie

[Mr Jensee]

I know I have been mia for a week now. I've encountered more setbacks. I just got out of the hospital yesterday (Friday) afternoon where I was once again admitted with more problems. I was admitted with pancreatitis and a staff infection in both kidneys. More severe pain, off foods for 7 days and my poor body looks like it has been through a 4 car pileup with all the bleeding under my skin from lab draws and IVs. I am home now but with chronic hiccups, nausea and flank pain. I am starting to think the end is closer than I first perceived it to be. Anyway, when I feel like it I will log in and read stuff on the AVA but it is getting hard to concentrate on any one thing anymore.

[Relics]

Good luck. You are in my prayers. Try to keep the positive attitude. I think that helps.

[Mr Jensee]

Me thinks I need a complete overhaul. The tuneups just ain't cutting it.

[Me Again]

If most of the stories I've heard about you (all good) are true than you have a lot of interesting miles on ,mostly helping others. Not sure about the complete overhaul ,maybe just replace a few worn out parts.

[cushman eagle]

I am praying, also, for your recovery,Mr Jensee.