I quit drinking

[mash rookie]

Thanks for your kind words and concern guys. I am not dying on you. Not yet anyway.
Bushman I filled that shirt when my daughter bought it for me 18 months ago. It would not have fit 3 or 4 years ago. Good to see you my friend.

Coyote it may have something to do with my neck. My recent surgery was to remove pressure on nerves in my neck that travel to my shoulder and arm. It didn't help. Throw in the weight loss and it is starting to look like a bigger picture. My primary care Doc has done all the standard blood work without finding anything and has referred me to the neurologist. I dont think anything has been ruled out.

Wacabii, it is a season of change for me. Breaking up with my girlfriend of six years, firing my shop guy and loosing my top glass blowers to attrition. Change is part of life. This likely will be an interesting year for me. My goals for 2013 were just to improve my health. There will be business changes too.

As mentioned, if this is chronic alcohol myopothy, I can recover with abstinence and good diet. There are worse neurological diseases that are not curable.
I already have a pretty good diet. I have not had a soda pop in 15 years, dont eat junk food, fast food, sweets or beef. I try to eat lean protein and not much starch carbs. Alcohol, Really good alcohol was my main vise.

I read last night acupuncture may help too. Funny, I have a friend that is an acupuncturist. Good looking, single woman that has always had a soft spot for me. Hmm..... needles..

Rad, I figured some good girl got a hold of you! If you lost weight hopefully your type 2 can be managed with diet. Good luck! The gal I just broke up with was an ER Nurse. Although beautiful with a nice figure, ( and F-ing Crazy) I was more in to diet and exercise. A few years ago she pushed me to insist my HMO do a colonoscopy. I likely saved my life. They removed 2 dozen pre cancerous polyps. Dont be afraid of that one. You wont even know what happened.

For now I plan no fermentation or distilling for awhile. Either way, I will make more UJ at some point for family and special friends.
I will likely hang out around here while I am getting my act together. Drinking or not. Spring will be a good time to ride my bike, read some books work on my boat and chase a few girls.

When it is time to reload another girlfriend all bets are off. With any luck I wont have time for you knuckleheads.

I will let everyone know what I learn. Thanks again guys!
Scott

[ThrownOlive]

Good luck MR! I hope you can at least put a name to all this sometime soon. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help.

[carnica]

Perhaps you might be interested in acquiring one of these (or build a better one yourself):

http://www.billiecoffee.com/roaster0.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I bought one directly from them in Taiwan and use a propane gas burner. It is almost as fascinating as distilling, and I never knew that coffee could taste so good.

[mash rookie]

I saw the neurologist this morning. I was concerned that he would jump to conclusions quickly. He was thorough and concerned. Very concerned.
The examination lasted over an hour. When I told him I quit drinking just in case it was alcohol myopothy he didn't seem to jump to that conclusion but did say that if it is only that, at least that is recoverable from.

He stated this is definitely not Thoracic outlet syndrome. Which means the surgery I had a few weeks ago and will be paying for many months from now was bullshit. Thats becoming pretty obvious to everyone.

He ordered new blood tests, an MRI on my neck, EMG electrical nerve tests and an X ray on my right shoulder to start with. He has more tests planned after those. He gave me a good feeling that he will be aggressive in determining what is wrong.

I will let you guys know when I know something. Chin is up.

[jholmz]

good luck mash wish you the best

[HookLine]

Real sorry to hear this, MR.

Hope it turns out okay for you.

[Bushman]

Thanks for the update, hopefully some of the tests will let you know what's happening at least for me it's not knowing that is tough.

[Navy vet]

I'm sorry you have to deal with this unknow illness. I can only imagine how unsettling it must be. A lot of changes all at once.
The thing about this form of communication is total anonymity, or what degree you chose. Just because you haven't met someone,or only know them by screen name doesn't mean anything less. It may seem like your going threw this rough patch alone or with your tangiable family and friends. Not so.... You have well wishers from AROUND THE WORLD,thinking about you during their day, putting themselves in your shoes,trying to understand how your feeling about things, hoping the next time they log on they will have good news to read. It's quite impressive when you think of it. The Mash Rookie fan club is world wide! We're all members and continue wishing you well everyday.

N.V.

[rgarry]

Do you see any muscle twitching (fasiculations)? The emg will help r/o ALS which is what I would be concerned about. Other possibilities include cervical spinal stenosis which can cause weakness in muscles below level of lesion. There are a whole bunch of heridetary ones but obviously relatives would have it. Then there are muscle related process and they usually have an elevated cpk, specifically mm fraction. If you want me to review some of your stuff PM me.

[junkyard dawg]

Sorry to hear about all this.

It does sound like this doctor is going to get you straightened out tho.

Best of luck!

[Gaztops]

I hope everything turns out great. Wishing you the very best.

[OlympicMtDoo]

Very sorry to hear about your health issues MR, I just saw this thread, been out fishin and campin with the onset of the good weather, went out on the Lingcod opener and didn't catch a thing but had a great boat ride. Get fixed and get back out on your boat Keep us informed all the best to you MR

[HolyBear]

Do you see any muscle twitching (fasiculations)? The emg will help r/o ALS which is what I would be concerned about. Other possibilities include cervical spinal stenosis which can cause weakness in muscles below level of lesion. There are a whole bunch of heridetary ones but obviously relatives would have it. Then there are muscle related process and they usually have an elevated cpk, specifically mm fraction. If you want me to review some of your stuff PM me.

If it does turn out to be ALS, we need to talk MR. Me ol dad had that... Be sure to email me ifn that's what it is...

[baron4406]

My dad died of ALS in June of 2010

[mash rookie]

Not likely ALS. No twitching. I will update.

[mash rookie]

No news yet. Or at least no good news. The MRI was negative for cervical stenosis. Tomorrow I have an EMG test done. I understand it can be very definitive for muscular nervous system disorders. They wire you up and shock the hell out of you. Sounds like fun. Still loosing weight and strength in my arms. Trying to eat well and rest. I will update when they tell me something. Thanks everybody.

[OlympicMtDoo]

Good luck tomorrow MR, Let us know, hang in there.

[drinkingdog]

Good luck MR

[Mr Shine]

Good luck MR!

[ErnieV]

Sorry to hear this mate, only just read the thread.

When you are cured stert drinking beer to get the weight back on. I'm 180 lbs and my wife puts it down to beer.

[Uncle Jesse]

Take care of yourself man! Sending all my best thoughts and wishes your way.

[rumbuff]

I wish I could offer something more tangible then just well wishes, but all the same, good luck!

[mash rookie]

Thanks again for all the support guys!

This was an interesting test. Not at all like the test I had a few years ago. That test was all electrical. Sitting upright they had me wired up with taped on electrodes all over my upper body. Connected to a computer, the tech ran a program that randomly shocked me for an hour.

This one was way different. Starting with some shocking on my hands that was not too bad. When the test started, the Dr had me laying on my side then she started stabbing long skinny electrode needles into me. First shallow with each muscle contracted than deep and probing with each muscle relaxed.

After the first couple of muscles she said she was surprised at my silence, stating that some patients scream from the needle pain. I told her my life is full of pain and to “Bring it on” hurt me if you can.

After testing my thumb,index and pinky. Next were my deltoids triceps and bicep. Halfway through the test I had to get up and reverse my position on the table so the other side could be tested. Again she remarked at my tolerance for pain. I promised to give her a couple of Ouches when the test was done if she needed them. I forgot.

I was not quite able to fall asleep but did find the audio sound that accompanied the nerve signal had an interesting rhythm and beat.

She would not give up any results noting that she needed to review the test information and that my neurologist would be calling me soon.
Ahh what ya gonna do?

[Richard7]

Nothing like taking a test and not having a clue as to how well you did! I wish you the best results.

[goose eye]

so im tole

[Samohon]

Best wishes from across the pond MR. You take care friend.

[drinkingdog]

No matter what you find out good or bad, the waiting not knowing anything is the worst part. Best wishes

[tickle]

ahh shit. i am so bummed. not a frequent poster here, but i seek out MR posts. I recently commented to a friend that you do some of the most interesting experiments and the best posts. i wish we didnt live on opposite coasts. funny how you can feel close to some asshole you never had contact with! I truley hope it all ends well.
on a side note 1: what is the MR website?
and 2: where can i get those MR shirts?!

please keep us updated. if there is any help that can be provided from boston, yell my way.

[olddog]

Thinking of you MR, hope everything turns out OK.


OD

[Bushman]

We need to get together and have lunch again, my treat if my remodel ever ends and I can beat traffic on the alternate route past the downed bridge!