Sometimes your passions can lead to stress levels that can kill you, I know!
I think most folks that know me also know I have had serious heart problems over the last few years.
Thanks to the care of some great doctors and the Baylor Healthcare System, the heart problems are, more or less, under control after the last procedure and the medications I now take.
I still see my doctors on a regular basis for checkups, the A-Fib has been a concern and they have monitored me closely, well, 6 weeks ago my family doctor didn’t hear the A-Fib when he was listening to my heart so he orders an EKG and what do you know, the A-Fib is NOT there, beats are strong and steady, but he heard something different when he checked my carotid arteries, an irregularity of sorts so he orders a CT scan.
The CT scan revealed that I have a 90% blockage on each side so I was sent to a surgeon that specializes in vascular surgery. He checks further and sure enough, no A-Fib in the heart but a 90% blockage in the carotid arteries.
My cardiologist has done the preliminary tests to clear me for surgery and I am set to have a chemical stress test very soon. Once that is done I am set to have the left side cleaned out just before Christmas and to go back for the right side a month later.
I guess you all know, I love writing this blog, it is a labor of love but it’s a labor, a stressful labor, and one that the doctors believe is adding a lot of stress me, my heart and my all-around health.
I do get worked up about politics, guns, illegals and the bastards that are destroying our nation, but it is slowly killing me my friends, and until such time as I get both carotids cleaned out and am back to feeling a lot better the hard-assed political blogging will come to an abrupt end.
I hope this is only a brief setback but the idea of having a stroke scares the hell out of me, the heart issues have been a concern but they never frightened me. The idea of having a stroke, especially one induced by stress, well, that got my attention.
I want to see my grandkids grow up and writing about politics and such is not nearly as important to me as they are.
I’m not giving up, I am just backing down for a while, cutting as much stress from my life as I can, following my doctors’ orders and taking care of ME for a change.
If I post to the blog it will be simple stuff, happy issues, fishing and hunting stories, things that help take the stress levels down, so, to those few that are going to go there with all the “But Fred, we NEED YOU and your strong voice” BS, just hold off, OK?
Much more of this crap I am going through and there won’t be ANY voice but if/when things get better, I will be posting the serious commentaries once more. Until then, thanks to ALL of you that have made The TexasFred Blog a success, I appreciate you one and all.
Your health is your first priority and your friends care more about that than what you may write on any political topic. We’ll happily wait to hear that you are feeling just fine again after all the medical care.
I knew that you, of all people, and my very immediate family, would see it that way too… Thank you Alan, you are a true friend, on line and off…
Best wishes from me too. Your choice is best for your family as well. I’ve had mild stroke and cared for Mom with hers, gone on now. Go easy and take care. Us’ens will be checking your site ’til you return.
Thank you Sir!
God bless you Fred, do what you have to do and need to do. Family and self must come first.
I have been quantified as “morbidly obese” (hence the “Zeppelin” portion of the blog) but I have also had consistent massages over the years, to include the neck, specifically in order to keep the carotids clear of plaque. I have also been on an oral chelation regimen. At 64 I am not diabetic nor am I on blood pressure medicine, but I am still on occasional chemo meds. I know what you’re going through and how challenging it is.
I’ll take up your slack if you’ll allow it, if it needs to be, if you truly subsume for a time.
And I’ll always ensure that, financially, you have access to your blog, to my dying day.
BZ
Thank you BZ, you my friend are a scholar, a gentleman and a true friend… My hiatus is only from stress topics, I am backing away from politics for a while but I am sure there will be some topics that pique my interest.. 😛
Do what you need when you need to do it.
BZ
Fred, your health is your wealth. Take care of yourself first and everything else will fall into place. Your’e in our prayers.
I am so sorry to hear of all of your trials right now. Know that you will be missed, and I will be thinking of you and praying for your quick return to a super great blog. But health comes first. Take care.
Fred,
Sorry to hear that your health is bad but I’m sure than within a few months you will be feeling much better. I’ll be sending prayers your way!
Blogging is stressful, I had to stop working on mine so much because of health issues [COPD and RA]….I’m ok now, just don’t want to go back into politics on the blog, never intended that to be…But somehow it just happened.
People are saying that 2015 is gonna be bad - but who knows? Only God. Just enjoy the calm while it is here and get yourself healthy.
In case you don’t get back soon, Merry Christmas to you and yours, Fred, and to all who post here.
Politics and conservative thinking are important issues, but not nearly as important as your health. You need to take it easy so your grandchildren will know you as they grow up. Take care of yourself, Fred. That is a must for us all.
And anyways, it might be fun to read some of your fishing and hunting stories.
Let us know if you and Becky need anything, Fred, you know I’m right there.
I don’t know if they want to hear your “hunting” stories…