Talk about being depressed!

G'day lounge lizards!

As previously advised, my wife and I have been married for 22 years, in that period I have never been admitted to hospital or suffered from any serious injury.

However, over the last 18 months the following has occurred to me;

October 2011 Firstly, due to sudden excruciating pain that occurred in the arse! (a large pimple i thought that could be cured by panadol and a few beers!!!!!!) I was suddenly rushed to the Coffs Harbour hospital suffering from a perianal abscess with a temp of 40 degrees. (So much for the pimple idea!)

November 2011, this then led me to be hospitalized for 4 months due to the dreaded (what i called the Gaddafi abscess) attacking my pelvic floor muscle resulting in a perianal fistula (What a shit-full experience that was)

December 2011, After fighting for my life due to a bowl obstruction, I was then flown by the royal flying doctors from Baringa private hospital in Coffs to Greenslopes hospital in Brisbane. I was then diagnosed with the dreaded Crohns disease (what a pisser i said and by the way what the fark is Crohns disease i said!)

January 2012, I was further advised that I have to have Remicade infusions every eight weeks for the rest of my life (thank your mother for the rabbits I said!)

February 2012, I then tore the ligament in my left wrist whilst installing the suspension kit to the Patrol, it took eight weeks to recover (fark me swinging I said )

March 2012, the specialist advises me that due to the many abscesses in my bowel that I should consider having my whole bowel removed. (“Like farkkkk I said”)

April 2012, I then tore a muscle in my right shoulder whilst working on my camper trailer; this took four weeks to recover. (holy sho-molly, What am i doing wrong i said)

June 2012, wife tells me that we are expecting child number three (farkkkkkk meeeeee I said very calmly)

July 2012, I went out to the local watering hole with a few mates to celebrate/ (commiserate) the stunning/ (shocking) news that a 51 year old love-beast can still throw a leg! This turned into a disaster. After 3 hours of drinking the wife came to pick me up, I fell into the car. Got home and then fell out of the car. smashing my face on the drive-way!

I went to bed, got out of bed after 2 minutes due to the bed started to spin, staggered into our en suite and spent the next two hours driving the porcelain bus (the toilet bowl.) I still cannot remember what happened next only to say I woke up throwing up all over the Para-medic. (I still cannot remember the wife hitting me with frying pan!!!!!!!)

Apparently, the wife alleges, that she heard one almighty crash, when she entered the bathroom she found me unconscious on the floor covered in blood surrounded by broken glass everywhere. As a nurse she could not stop the bleeding so she called the ambulance.

All I remember is that one sore and sorry love beast being taken to hospital whilst throwing up in a bucket. 12 hours and 18 stitches later, I was finally discharged and sent home.

September 2012, the sleep specialist informs me that now have been diagnosed with sleep apnea ( i am thinking to myself there goes the money for the turbo upgrade and 3 inch exhaust!)

December 2012, Crohns disease specialist at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane advise me that my Crohns is in remission and that i can have the shit bag removed and my bowel reconnected in Jan 2013. Ye Ha Cape York here i come baby!

January 2013, unable to perform surgery on bowel, due to timing of Crohns infusion treatment! My wife and I are advised my operation to be rescheduled to 11th March. I am starting to wounder if i am going to make Cape York in August! (I just want to get this shit-bag removed!)

February 2013 my nightmare begins all over again!, I have been having trouble breathing through my nose over the last 6 months, so i visited my local ear, nose and throat specialist on the 1st of Feb only to be informed that i need surgery to remove polyp's that have blocked my sinuses. Operation planned for April. ( i am thinking to myself what more can go wrong!)

Over the last twelve months, i having be suffering from chronic neck pain, i thought this was due to me sleeping on my left side. Due to bowel surgery and having a shit-bag attached to my right side, i usually slept on my right side. I go to the docs, he sends me for a CT scan, i go back to the docs on the 8th Feb only to be shocked by doc, who advises me that he has more bad-news and i need surgery to correct C5/6 discs which have narrowed to the extent they are impinging on my cervical cord. Farken great i said, I am thinking to myself, i still cannot remember breaking any mirrors over the last 12 months.

Sunday 10th Feb, i wake up with chronic pain in the arse! the same area that i had the dreaded abscess 14 months ago. Folks, my sense of humor has now faded, I went to the docs on Monday 11th Feb, DOC organised me for another MRI scan at Coffs Harbour Radiology on Wednesday 13th Feb, at same time rushed me into see my bowel surgeon on Friday 15th Feb.

Folks, when it comes to luck, (i feel like a one legged man in an arse kicking competition!) I have just been advised by the surgeon that i need another operation on my bowel next week! I am absolutely farken stunned at present! I have further been advised that i cannot have the stoma bag removed in March because the bloody Crohns disease as come back! fark it, i am really stating to hate this disease now!

What really hurts even more, is that my wife and I are due to have our 3 child in the next two weeks and at present for the first time in my life, i really feel that i have hit a brick-wall! I just feel like going down to the local knackers yard and say boy's put me down!

Regards,

Paul (RLI)

Hey Paul - mate that is such a rough run of luck! I'll give you a call shortly to have a chat but chin up mate - I can imagine you feel like the whole world has thrown its worst at you - but think of Ally and the girls - you'll be at the Cape in August mate - now go and do a mod or two until I call!!

Jas

Terrible to hear old mate, but keep fighting the good fight - must be bloody difficult, but know you have the support of many whom you don't even know as such from the forum here.

If you need to chat about it, bang it up here and sit back with your popcorn while we all offer our thoughts, opinions and support from afar!!

All the very best to you and the family and I'll crack a beer when I get home an raise it to you!!


I'd Tap That!!

Im stunned ,sleep apnea ,and aorta problems and a couple of other issues health wise
are nothing compaired to yours ,as big rig said ,ill crack a beer for ya mate
chin up youve got the cape thing happening and you,l get there

cheers

Bloody hell mate thats a rough ride and I hope the tide turns for you very soon. I realize it's a bit hard to crack a smile at the moment so if things are getting on top of you best you get on here for a chat and see if collectively we can help you up . I too will slip down to DR Dans and fill a script and raise to better days for you .

Jeese mate. What a run. Well hopefully you get a better run soon

Kallen Westbrook
Owner of
Westy's Accessories

Holy shit, I feel for you mate and hope things get better.
I am not superstitious but if I was i'd recon you dropped a mirror on a black cat while standing under a ladder.

Hi Paul,

im sorry to year your troubles mate, but trust me things do turn around. i had a heart operation at the age of 24(just less than two years ago) right in the middle of a promising rugby career, and spent the next 9 months recovering. still having constant health problems today from the drugs i take but at least im still alive and with it!

just think mate you have a wife and family that love you, friends that enjoy your company, you get to come on here and join in on the big shamozzle that is this site. you life in an awesome country surrounded by plenty of opportunities, which has a great health care system(not the worlds best but alot better than most places, USA included). you own a Nissan Patrol, even if it is a Girls Unit its still counts.

i wish you a speedy recover big fella!

cheers

Nic

Thanks for sharing Paul... I do feel for you but I dont think you want sympathy but just to vent and let people know there is nothing to be ashamed of go get checked!!!!

I have been a bad boy and with some health issues I have gone as far as to go to the doctors and get the referral but that is it???

I am going to book in to get the tests done now mate and thank you for making me get off my arse even if you did not know thats what you were doing..... cheers and good luck mate I will be thinking of you!!

Shite I'm never gunna complain about my back again, There is light at the end of the tunnel you
just need to look for the switch,,,, Chin up, Bubs on the way, GEEEEZ I'm blowing bubbles
and youre having babies who's the man, WHO'S THE MAN, yeah YOU DA MAN,,,,,,,,,, go on put your hand up lol

Paul,
I don't know you personally but every time you post, you make me laugh. Yes even with the way you worded this one I had a giggle. Mate, I reacon your a good bloke and things will turn around for you and you will enjoy the Cape trip just like planed. I would be happy to travel up to Coffs to help you out if needed, Just let me know. Good luck and chin up pal.
Steve

sorry to here the bad news bud..just hang in there and fight the basterd out of your system like the military folk you are!

think of your loved ones and make sure your there everyday for your up and coming bub for years to come.

ill be praying for your health my friend.

RLI (Paul) that is one intense year and a half. I gotta say Im flabbergasted.
Damm, my wife had one of those fistulas, when it broke, it almost killed her, ages in hospital, wheel chair, the whole bit.
2 years later, similars probs.
Can well understand what you and your family are going through.
best wishes matey.

G'day folks,

Thanks for your kind words of wisdom!

I have 4 specialist appointments this week, so i might not be in the mood to pursuing the forum for a while.

PS, hope to catch up with you all in the soup in the near future!

Kind regards,

Paul (RLI)

Paul, mate, I 'm sorry to hear about the terrible year or so you have been having regarding your health.

I know someone that suffers from Crohns disease and I know how debilitating it can be.

I'm not real good at expressing my emotions in person, let alone in words, so I will leave that to better equipped people then me.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

My prayers and best wishes are with you.

Rodney and family.

I thought you'd been a bit quiet lately mate.

Just can't believe what a shocking run you're having. I've known the basics of what you've gone through over the last year or so and that was distressing enough but this latest setback is just astounding!

However, as an indication as to what type of guy you are, you've powered on through your rebuild and posted progress reports and pics as you went, not only to show what you've done but to help others that might be wanting to do similar upgrades to their own cars.

Nothing is ever too much trouble for you. You take the time to call blokes you don't know, except from the forum, to help with questions they have with mods to their cars, like me :)

Added to all this is the voluntary work you do as a Veterans' Advocate, a very, very greatly appreciated service to those of us that have had the need to call on it.

Words really can't express how much I wish you well mate, you're a true champ and deserve nothing but the best.

You have my number, so if you ever want to call for a chat, a bitch or just unload, just do it!

Cheers
Mark

Damn that's not good mate! Hope your luck changes soon as i wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy! Make me want to not grow any older lol.
Are you a typically fit guy?

Hang in there Paul, I know that is easy for me to say but I am thinking of you and wishing you a speedy recovery mate

G'day folks,

Thanks for your kind words! I am glad i have vented my crap, it is so good to get the shit off ones liver so to speak. I am proud that i have served in both the Australian and Rhodesian armies, I found the camaraderie and sick sense of humor of fellow soldiers helps pull you through tough times!

PS, i have finally posted up my Cross Country intercooler installation on my thread in the members rides section. I hope this post can help someone!

Regards,

RLI

Onya big fella! Keep that chin riding higher then those toyboatas!!!!

And if you ever really need cheering up, I'll take you for a ride in my 2.8, That will keep you happy for weeks on end :D

Cheers,
Eric.

So sorry to here bout the hard time you have been having mate. There is not much else I can say but good luck with the new bub and wish you the best of luck with all your health issues. Just remember you have plenty of mates/ppl on here that are there for you and I am sure none of us would not hesitate to drop things to help you out if you just do a shout out, So dont be shy in asking for help!!!!!

Paul mate what can I say, sorry to hear you are battling illness! Hope that things get better for you and the family, look after yourself and make sure that you are well enough to take part in your cape trip as I know you have put a lot of effort into planning things, good luck and best wishes mate.