- Location
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Hi all
I am "fine". That is something you hear people say, which to me means "F"ucked up, "I"nsecure, "N"eurotic, and "E"motional.
March 2020, after a year or so of health issues and medical dicking about, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Mid April 2020 I had major surgery which removed most of the pancreas, left me a surgically created insulin dependent Type 1 diabetic (actually Type 3c), and really kicked the shit out of me. Twenty days in hospital during Covid and no visitors, further issues and another 5 days in hospital, etc., etc., and a slow physical recovery from the surgical trauma including cut abdominal muscles, a bunch of titanium staples, etc.
The positive news is that I am slowly recovering fairly well from the surgery, adjusting to being insulin dependent, wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitor that transmits blood sugar readings by Bluetooth every five minutes to my phone with appropriate high/low alerts and trends, preparing for an insulin pump to eventually be fitted, and being told I am one of the very lucky ones in that the pathology report indicates that this was caught early enough that the surgeon was able to cut all the cancer out. Barring any further medical surprises, I have every reason to believe that I will survive and thrive in the context of my personal new normal.
Canada has a fabulous tax dollars funded medical system. The "system" absorbs almost all of the costs, the surgeon who performed the surgery does similar surgeries every day of the week and is highly experienced, the nursing care in the high needs surgical recovery ward was extraordinary, one nurse for every two patients. The follow up care with a diabetes educator, endocrinologist, etc. has been very thorough, even during Covid lockdowns and all the follow up except at the Cancer Center mostly being done by phone and video chat. In typical "while I am at it I might as well....." I have burnt through four blood glucose monitoring systems before settling on what I think is the very best of current technology ( https://ca.store.dexcom.com/en-CA/dexcom-g6/ ). Although the cost of the Dexcom system is not covered by our health care system, I am blessed to be able to afford it and any other assistance or care as may be required.
My 66th birthday to day. About two and a half months out from surgery. Last week, against medical advice, I snuck out on my ZX 14 (believe it or not, most comfortable bike in my garage, forward lean easy on my abdominal muscles) and did a 300 km ride on a glorious day. Fantastic to have been able to get out for a motorcycle ride, even if it put me back into bed for 3 days after.......
Each day is precious. Don't take your life for granted. Circumstances and situations and abilities can change in an instant. I am looking forward to social distancing hanging out with my three grandchildren and the rest of my extended family for an outdoor birthday barbecue today.
Now, on a Laverda related theme, I was feeling well enough to get out into the garage yesterday, dusted off the three Laverda's, and with the assistance of my 28 year old youngest son got back to some interrupted projects. New radial tires on stock rims going on to the 1984 RGS Executive, the Astralite wheels being swapped from the RGS on to the 1979 1200 Mirage, and nothing much being done on the 82 1200 other than airing up the tires, filling the previously drained tank with fresh fuel, and firing it up. A couple of photos. The shot of the wheels shows, from left to right, earlier thick web wheel, middle very late production Astralite wheel with Laverda adaptors, right a later thin web wheel from my RGS.
Paul LeClair
I am "fine". That is something you hear people say, which to me means "F"ucked up, "I"nsecure, "N"eurotic, and "E"motional.
March 2020, after a year or so of health issues and medical dicking about, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Mid April 2020 I had major surgery which removed most of the pancreas, left me a surgically created insulin dependent Type 1 diabetic (actually Type 3c), and really kicked the shit out of me. Twenty days in hospital during Covid and no visitors, further issues and another 5 days in hospital, etc., etc., and a slow physical recovery from the surgical trauma including cut abdominal muscles, a bunch of titanium staples, etc.
The positive news is that I am slowly recovering fairly well from the surgery, adjusting to being insulin dependent, wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitor that transmits blood sugar readings by Bluetooth every five minutes to my phone with appropriate high/low alerts and trends, preparing for an insulin pump to eventually be fitted, and being told I am one of the very lucky ones in that the pathology report indicates that this was caught early enough that the surgeon was able to cut all the cancer out. Barring any further medical surprises, I have every reason to believe that I will survive and thrive in the context of my personal new normal.
Canada has a fabulous tax dollars funded medical system. The "system" absorbs almost all of the costs, the surgeon who performed the surgery does similar surgeries every day of the week and is highly experienced, the nursing care in the high needs surgical recovery ward was extraordinary, one nurse for every two patients. The follow up care with a diabetes educator, endocrinologist, etc. has been very thorough, even during Covid lockdowns and all the follow up except at the Cancer Center mostly being done by phone and video chat. In typical "while I am at it I might as well....." I have burnt through four blood glucose monitoring systems before settling on what I think is the very best of current technology ( https://ca.store.dexcom.com/en-CA/dexcom-g6/ ). Although the cost of the Dexcom system is not covered by our health care system, I am blessed to be able to afford it and any other assistance or care as may be required.
My 66th birthday to day. About two and a half months out from surgery. Last week, against medical advice, I snuck out on my ZX 14 (believe it or not, most comfortable bike in my garage, forward lean easy on my abdominal muscles) and did a 300 km ride on a glorious day. Fantastic to have been able to get out for a motorcycle ride, even if it put me back into bed for 3 days after.......
Each day is precious. Don't take your life for granted. Circumstances and situations and abilities can change in an instant. I am looking forward to social distancing hanging out with my three grandchildren and the rest of my extended family for an outdoor birthday barbecue today.
Now, on a Laverda related theme, I was feeling well enough to get out into the garage yesterday, dusted off the three Laverda's, and with the assistance of my 28 year old youngest son got back to some interrupted projects. New radial tires on stock rims going on to the 1984 RGS Executive, the Astralite wheels being swapped from the RGS on to the 1979 1200 Mirage, and nothing much being done on the 82 1200 other than airing up the tires, filling the previously drained tank with fresh fuel, and firing it up. A couple of photos. The shot of the wheels shows, from left to right, earlier thick web wheel, middle very late production Astralite wheel with Laverda adaptors, right a later thin web wheel from my RGS.
Paul LeClair
