Mortality is a pain in the ass

rickrosner

rickrosner

Steelhead
Forum Supporter
I'm now 73 and was supposed to leave on a trip to Argentina to fish at Jurassic Lake Lodge, Las Buitreras and two other bucket list-type destinations.
My kidneys are failing and I wanted to get this done before dialysis limits my travels. Damn it - I remember being young and fearing nothing.
But fucking Covid - it's just too much of a risk. Anyone else who'd like to share my anger/whining/frustration?
Tight lines,
Rick
 
Rick- I assume you have talked to your clinicians about this. Vaccinated, I assume... perhaps double up on N95's, very paranoid about washing, etc.

I am not a clinician, I was just wondering what they say. I am sure it is a very difficult decision either way.
 
Hi. I'm really sorry to hear about your kidneys. That's horrible! I hope you're able to complete some of your bucket list items in the near future.
 
Man, I too am sorry to read about your kidneys. I turned 70 last year and have a lot of underlying problems, but nothing as serious (yet) as failing kidneys. The pandemic freaked me out enough that I've barely even gone fishing in the last two years ... so I can see why you would be hesitant to make a long trip to Argentina.

The pandemic does indeed suck and about the time we thought it was starting to let up ... it wasn't. So I have no idea what will be next. As you said, it was different when we were younger and figured we had a long time before we cashed out. Not so easy to take chances anymore.

I very best wishes with your health issues and I hope you can somehow make progress on your bucket list.
 
Doublebluff said:
Rick- I assume you have talked to your clinicians about this. Vaccinated, I assume... perhaps double up on N95's, very paranoid about washing, etc.

I am not a clinician, I was just wondering what they say. I am sure it is a very difficult decision either way.
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Yes - vaccinated and boosted. I'm careful. But it's still a crap shoot. All the prophylactic efforts are worth taking - but are the chances?
And if I suddenly had to go on dialysis . . . . well, the nearest clinic would probably be in Buenos Aires. If I were young and healthy I'd go and say to hell with the risk. But I'm not so I won't.
 
GAT said:
Man, I too am sorry to read about your kidneys. I turned 70 last year and have a lot of underlying problems, but nothing as serious (yet) as failing kidneys. The pandemic freaked me out enough that I've barely even gone fishing in the last two years ... so I can see why you would be hesitant to make a long trip to Argentina.

The pandemic does indeed suck and about the time we thought it was starting to let up ... it wasn't. So I have no idea what will be next. As you said, it was different when we were younger and figured we had a long time before we cashed out. Not so easy to take chances anymore.

I very best wishes with your health issues and I hope you can somehow make progress on your bucket list.
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Thanks - I haven't given up yet.
But I'm reminded of a scene in the Eiger Sanction. As they descend from a failed attempt to summit in fatally dangerous conditions Clint Eastwood says not to worry - they'll get down ok. The Austrian climber says: "I don't think so - but we'll proceed in style."
 
FontinalisFin said:
I'm mid 30s and had open heart surgery for an aortic aneurysm, that really puts the zap on ya knowing that was your set expiration date. Still havent fully mentally gotten over that.
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Mid-30s is too young to have to be confronted with your own mortality. I'm reminded of a line from another Clint Eastwood movie, this one from The Unforgiven: "Deserve's got nothing to do with it."
 
rickrosner said:
I'm now 73 and was supposed to leave on a trip to Argentina to fish at Jurassic Lake Lodge, Las Buitreras and two other bucket list-type destinations.
My kidneys are failing and I wanted to get this done before dialysis limits my travels. Damn it - I remember being young and fearing nothing.
But fucking Covid - it's just too much of a risk. Anyone else who'd like to share my anger/whining/frustration?
Tight lines,
Rick
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How are restrictions for entering Argentina, no major issues during this COVID..? I've close to being house bound due to this COVID. With restrictions the way they are in Canada where I'm at, I'd need to show a negative COVID test prior to re-entering Canada which is too much of a hassle for me. After about 2 years of this COVID, people are going stir crazy world wide. You can see it in the amount of crime that's been gaining..

From what I've read, the trip is kind of in the air at the moment on whether you'll go or not..? I hope that things go smooth for you on your trip should it work out that you'll be able to go. Kidneys are organs that vital and we need to be careful when doing things out of the norm. I'm sorry to hear that they are failing on you and wish you the best of luck in life..
 
Cdnred said:
How are restrictions for entering Argentina, no major issues during this COVID..? I've close to being house bound due to this COVID. With restrictions the way they are in Canada where I'm at, I'd need to show a negative COVID test prior to re-entering Canada which is too much of a hassle for me. After about 2 years of this COVID, people are going stir crazy world wide. You can see it in the amount of crime that's been gaining..

From what I've read, the trip is kind of in the air at the moment on whether you'll go or not..? I hope that things go smooth for you on your trip should it work out that you'll be able to go. Kidneys are organs that vital and we need to be careful when doing things out of the norm. I'm sorry to hear that they are failing on you and wish you the best of luck in life..
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It's possible to get in, but not worth the downside, at least for me. Not when the downside could be a hospital visit or worse.
 
rickrosner said:
Mid-30s is too young to have to be confronted with your own mortality. I'm reminded of a line from another Clint Eastwood movie, this one from The Unforgiven: "Deserve's got nothing to do with it."
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Yea, I was 30, then my first child was born the day after I got out of the hospital, and I had to drive the wife to the hospital cause we couldn't get ahold of our emergency ride! Obviously I wasnt supposed to drive, but we did it and its a story to tell now. Evidently trying to be calm and strong in the prep room didn't last long and I started freaking out, valium didnt work they had to bring the anesthesiologist in early to put me down. But I'm definatly seeing the days click by and theres lots of things I still want to do.
 
FontinalisFin said:
Yea, I was 30, then my first child was born the day after I got out of the hospital, and I had to drive the wife to the hospital cause we couldn't get ahold of our emergency ride! Obviously I wasnt supposed to drive, but we did it and its a story to tell now. Evidently trying to be calm and strong in the prep room didn't last long and I started freaking out, valium didnt work they had to bring the anesthesiologist in early to put me down. But I'm definatly seeing the days click by and theres lots of things I still want to do.
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Do 'em when you can and while you can. That's my new motto.
 
Dang, sorry. Covid sucks, and while this is going on we aren't getting younger. The two years are taking its toll on our precious health for those of us who've crested the slope. I'm 62. I haven't been to the gym since 1st week of Mar 2020, nearly 2 yrs due to Covid aversion, and I struggle to stay fit outside of the structure of a gym. I've postponed (or canceled) 2 Belize trips, 2 Florida trips, and one smallmouth trip to TN. I haven't been to the PNW since Feb 2020 and I would have been there 3 or 4x in those 2 yrs. And, I'm wondering if I could still physically beat 2 or 3 grown tarpon in a day. I hope to find out by June. Fingers crossed.

Best wishes for you Rick.
 
Slimy Deck said:
Dang, sorry. Covid sucks, and while this is going on we aren't getting younger. The two years are taking its toll on our precious health for those of us who've crested the slope. I'm 62. I haven't been to the gym since 1st week of Mar 2020, nearly 2 yrs due to Covid aversion, and I struggle to stay fit outside of the structure of a gym. I've postponed (or canceled) 2 Belize trips, 2 Florida trips, and one smallmouth trip to TN. I haven't been to the PNW since Feb 2020 and I would have been there 3 or 4x in those 2 yrs. And, I'm wondering if I could still physically beat 2 or 3 grown tarpon in a day. I hope to find out by June. Fingers crossed.

Best wishes for you Rick.
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And to you.
 
rickrosner said:
It's possible to get in, but not worth the downside, at least for me. Not when the downside could be a hospital visit or worse.
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You're best bet is to stay closer to home and take a nice trip in the US somewhere. There's lots of great places in the US to go and you'll get better care should something develop. Buenos Aires is a large booming city but I'm sure health care isn't top rate there like it is back in the US. If it were me, I'd stay closer to home and relax with some great fishing closer to home. Should anything develop, you're not far from first class care. Again be safe and watch your health, I'll be praying for you..
 
I agree with Cdnred. It won't be the same, but so many options!

I will add, I think your story will be interesting to a lot of people. I for one would value hearing how you work through the situation.
 
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I'm really sorry to hear about your kidneys.
5 months ago I got a call from my health insurance company saying that my annual physical labs showed that I had been in and out of stage 3 CKD for 10 years, and asked if I wanted to enroll in a program to help learn about CKD, manage it, and possibly prevent renal failure and dialysis, at no charge to me. HECK YEAH!!!

1st thing they said was to get a referral from my PCP to a Nephrologist. I went to my PCP in the civilian clinic I had been going to for 30 years and said "My labs have shown I have had CKD for 10 years, why didn't you tell me and refer me for specialty care????!!" His response... "We don't do anything unless we see a trend." WHAT???? You're not going to tell me or refer me for further care until I'm one step away from dialysis???

Anyhow I got the referral. The Nephrologist did my workup and said my "BP was hammering my kidneys." WHAT???? My PCP didn't tell me I had chronic hypertension. I now have a new PCP. ***I also got a referral to a CKD dietician through my VA PCP***.

The Nephrologist prescribed a low dose of Losartan, told me to limit salt intake to 2gm to 3gm (it's tracking at 1.5gm), and to drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. After 90 days my BP was normal, my kidney levels are normal with apparently no permanent damage, and I lost 20 lbs without increasing physical activity.
WOW!!!
And now I'm working out 3-4 times a week. The journey continues.

Pay attention to your annual physical and lab results. WATCH FOR, LISTEN, ASK, and ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF if something turns up abnormal.
 
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Doublebluff said:
I agree with Cdnred. It won't be the same, but so many options!

I will add, I think your story will be interesting to a lot of people. I for one would value hearing how you you work through the situation.
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I'm going to delay till next season, and hope my kidneys hold out - or I get a transplant - in the meantime.
I create international travel sections for magazines, so I've been out of business for almost two years now.
It looks like New Zealand won't be open until October, so that's next season as well. Australia - which has some very interesting and unique fly fishing opportunities - might open earlier. But at this point who knows? Cdnred has probably given some wise advice . . . .
 
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