I should have mentioned that I am a diabetic too, though even with that I consider myself a lucky man. I've never had the bonnet opened for any reason - yet, and I'm not in any real hurry to either. I've mentioned before that I work in a hospital. Many years ago now, I was down on my luck with work. It was back in the recession that we "had to have", and I was in the position just to take whatever was on offer, so I became a theatre wardsman. I saw a lot in that time, including the recovery phase. It is amazing what small things can kill us, but at the same time it is amazing the trauma that the human body can endure. We are lucky that there's all sorts of anaesthetics available to us these days. Gone are the days of sinking a bottle of whiskey to try and numb the pain of an amputation or whatever. As for the surgery itself, as I said, I can wait a bit longer.

"bad back"

Having insanely abused my back for decades, if I feel trouble starting, I take two Cal-Mag (2:1 ratio) plus one Glusosamine+Chondroitin (1500+1200mg) first thing in morning with tea: symptoms dissipate! Experts express scepticism, but there is impressive anecdotal feedback to its efficacy.

Well the phone rang today , Negative 😀😀😀😁 and I must be getting better too because the nurse on the phone sounded wonderful and there I was trying to keep her on the phone a bit longer ...

Good result.

Was speaking to a guy yesterday who told me that he did the government bowel cancer test and it came back positive, so he went and had a colonoscopy done, only to be called a short time later and told that the colonoscopy doctor has tested positive for covid-19. He said he thought "Well, now I've hit the daily double". Fortunately both of his tests came back negative.

Thanks G,
Yes it's a different world now . I read an interesting article that said ,It took 3 months for 1 million people to catch the virus,But in the last 8 days 1 more million caught it.
So that's a bit scary
China is in the bad books that's for sure.
Pete

Good news Pete.
I hope your health picks up.
Regards Jim.

Thanks Jim ,,you too

Ah that’s good news Pete!
Especially to know that your daughter is in the clear too must be a relief.

I sure can’t wait for a cure to be made! I’m sure sick of having to worry every time I step outside. Mind you I’m faced with no choice having to go to school where there are no compulsory distancing measures! You should see how packed the cafeteria gets!

Anyway that’s my two cents

Yes Lance, I was worried about my daughter pearl.
She is only little still.
I note some schools in Victoria closed down again as a teacher tested positive.
Unless there is a vaccine life won't be going back to normal for any of us.


Pete

It's interesting how ailments as you get older just become the new "Normal".
I've had cronic Diverticulitis which was fixed several years ago by removing the offending bit of lower bowel.
Fortunately that seems to have cured that problem totally which is rare as a total cure of anything doesn't usually happen.
I've had a RH shoulder reco due to years of lifting broadcast gear. Also successfully repaired.
Arthritis? yes of course (I'm 62).
The most annoying thing is tinitus in my left ear which occurred suddenly 8 years ago and has left me with a constant 5kHz tone, day and night. (I know it's 5kHz cause I checked it with my signal generator).
Isn't getting old fun. (but I guess the alternative is worse).

I have that issue with my right ear, along with around 50% loss of hearing in the same ear. The thing that sucks about it is that, aside from being permanent, I cannot tell which direction noises come from so I need to be careful in plant rooms and the like. The tinnitus doesn't bother me that much because I tend to live around a lot of white noise. I notice it more when I am in the bush on a camp, as there is far less background noise. I don't know what the frequency is though. I am not sure how one would use a signal generator to get an accurate reading.

I used to do a lot of music work and sound level testing and got used to sound levels and frequencies.
Have worked in sound chambers where the background level was scary low.
Hard to hear some one talking if they were not facing you!

Anyway, my own personal perceived noise level was very low down near 0dba.
Doing a sound test on machinery I could guess quite accurately sound levels ranging 20 to 80 dba before looking at the B&K meter I used.
Could pick a noisy bearing in a row of motors in a plant room before any body else could.

One day I was in the workshop and became aware of a hissing noise that was not right.
I walked around trying to pin point it and finally turned off every thing running, test gear, machinery, compressor, the works.
Still this bloody hissing noise like a pipe joint leaking. Could not even figure out what direction it came from.
Then I walked outside and the noise came with me!

You all know the rest.
Noise is center brain nothing to do with ears.
Think of a steam or pressure pipe leaking, perceived level varies between 60 to 80dba (point source!) and is a prime "chord" between 7kc and 9 kc. Great....enjoy!
That was about 15 years ago and yes I have been through the "Tinitus mill" seen all sorts of "experts" including professor level and guess what? Learn to live with it. Yes I wore a white noise genny through earphones for years so long it was a relief to take the thing off and listen to my own screaming noise !
Do you get used to it?
Yes.
My hearing is fine unless the external noise is in that bandwidth and then I'm deaf to it unless it is louder than the internal noise.
Like living with a screaming kettle in your head!

Ah the joys of getting old.
Fred.

A quick-grip clamp with the jaws reversed would make a good rib spreader if you really wanted to be agricultural about it.

Brad for months it felt like that was exactly what they used!
I did not realise how far the rib cage was opened until I saw a medical documentary on heart surgery.
You had two pairs of hands in their (back in the 1990's) with a heap of crowbars, locking pliers and the lord knows what else in there.
No wonder the hinge point, the ends of my ribs are still sore if you poke them.

My son is even worse.
He had his chest split 3 times over 3 years while they first tried to fix his dicky ticker, then fitted a temporary scavenger pump, then swapped out the crap unit (he blames me for the genes) with a hot swap replacement. Done at St Vincents about 10 years ago, all good now. He just hurts all over!

Fred.

Gosh ,you lot are all falling apart !
Ya must be made in China,
I don't have those issues see, Good Scottish Genes ! That why.
If I look at my family album their all wearing kilts in the winter ! My dear old grandma use to start the day with a glass of Scotch every morning.

Pete