[SK]

Finally, took my last final today at UNLV. This 15 units a semester for an older guy is taxing with working one shift a week at the hospital (working the night-shift tonight 7p-7a) and maintaining this huge house. My expectations are a little lower now that I'm in the nursing school itself. I had straight A's through all my biology and chemistry classes going in..now I've had straight B's two nursing semesters in a row. I may not be first in my class, but I'm not last. Which reminds me..what do you call a person who graduates last in their class in medical school? ........a doctor!

With no BikeTalk ride this year..I think I'll head back over the mountains into California (Yosemite) and spend Labor Day weekend in the mountains (it's 106º in LV today) and just vegitate by the lake for a couple of days..no riding except there and back (420 miles each way). Maybe stay in Bishop on the backside of the Sierras going over..Lee Vining (Mono Lake) on the way back..or vice versa. I just feel like a huge weight's off my shoulders..even if for only 2+ weeks.

[chucktx]

congrats on the finals............now take some well deserved time off, be careful and have fun!!!!!!!!!
chuck

[AFNurse]

First off, congrats on getting through another semester of Nursing. THAT, in and of itself can be a challange!!! Sounds like you have things figured out for the 2 week break! Have a nice ride and let us know how it was! What are you taking for classes this next semester (don't kid me, I know that you are already registered ). You graduate this next spring don't you? Hope you have a great break, as you will need it for this next 2 semesters...course, the fall semester will be harder. Spring (depending on the school) can be mostly a recap of the last couple years OR a couple of the "lighter" topics as you really needed most of the hard core stuff early on so you could take it with you to clinicals. What do you have for clinicals this fall? Hope you can get into the NICU again!
Nurse

[SK]

Thanks. AFNurse, I'm working in the NICU as a nurse apprentice one day a week until I graduate..more between semesters. I'm really enjoying it. It should lead to my first permanent job after I graduate if I want it. I worked my last Peds clinical last week in PICU and really enjoyed that. Never would have thought going into this I'd want to be working with kids, but that's all I really want to do right now. I know one thing..it's easier to change a diaper on an infant than an 80 year old.

I believe I'm taking Med Surg and and dealing with Psych patients next semester along with another class I can't recall at the moment.

[GreyBear]

Words from the other half: Hang in there SK sounds like your heart is in being a nurse which is what we need more of. Even though I will be getting my 20 year pin in a few months I can still remember nursing school.....not easy when you're working too. Have a much needed break and congratulations.....Mrs Bear

Yeah congrats from me as well !
Ride Free..........

[Killer-B]

Congratulations S.K. I’m in my last semester, I think. So, do you remember what you were doing two semesters ago? I’m just glad my brain still works…
Again, congratulations, as they say, use it or lose it.

[Sleepy]

Man time flies...good for you on your hard work..have a little fun and blow of some steam. I'm going to miss getting together for the bike talk ride..I really enjoyed it. We'll have to find some way to get together. Last week I was in the ER for a day....in for symptoms of a heart attack..went through a battery of tests but what impressed me was how efficient the place ran.. and how quickly they set up for trauma calls. My sister is a nurse..teaches it now..it is a tough job brings out the best in people.

[FLHTbiker]

Congratulations from me to there Kev. Wow time does fly. Remember our first Street Vibs together on the Royal stars, that was way fun. You really deserve a big break on the bike. Have fun and keep the rubber down.

Wow Bob, what was the outcome. Can't believe you would have a heat attack as fit as you are. Don't be doing that to us we got more rides to do and more rides to catch up on. To bad we could not meet up again sometime soon. You should try coming down for Street vibs sometime, mush better than Laughlin.

[SK]

Thanks all. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Next semester I'm going to start planning a graduation party here at the house for my fellow students (90% women!). Hope the pool's warm enough in May to get them in their bathing suits.

Marc..I'll be up in Virginia City again. My tentative clinical schedule for next semester is back to Wed/Thur, so I have Fri-Sun off like I did in 1st semester. I plan on jamming up to VC after clinical on Thurs and leaving Sun morning. Let me know if you make it up to VC. If all goes right..I'll spend the day Fri in Reno.

Bob, what'd they say was the outcome? Is your blood pressure ok? Were the symptoms from trying to watch your lady ride your bagger? Marc, being fit doesn't necessarily preclude you from having a heart attack. Diet, cholesterol level, etc. can be out of whack even if you're not overweight and in shape. Take care of yourself Bob..I'm hoping to visit Canada next year on my big ride and I need someone to show me the way to Banff.

[Sleepy]

got some more tests coming up. EKG is good, BP 115/75 , heart rate at rest is 64-67, enzyme test for dead heart tissue came back negative. nitro test for chest pain came back negative, x-rays ok. I'm on medication to reduce stomach acid now, the doctor feels that I may have had some spasms in the lower esophagus or have some acid reflux issues, once the rest of the heart tests and risk assessments are finished if there are no issues there but the pain comes back we'll look at the Gastro-intestinal.
Marc, SK's bang on about being fit not precluding someone from having a heart attack. A person I play summer hockey with had a minor one and didn't really know it untill he went to the hospital a bunch of hours later. This guy is rail thin, not an ounce of fat and in great shape..so it can happen to anyone.

[SK]

That sounds like a good prognosis Bob..at least compared to a heart attack. As we get older, sometimes heartburn and such seems like a heart attack. If you get any tingling, numbness and/or pain going down your left arm..get to the ER as quick as possible.

[Sleepy]

Thanks for the tip. I got referred to a cardio vascular clinic for some more examination..nothing found everything seems OK but doctor wants a stress test..gotta wait 6 weeks..maybe that's part of the stress test itself..*groan* I'm not thrilled but if there's a problem a person may as well find out now...Haven't had any pains since the last incident at the hospital..this waiting sucks though.

[GreyBear]

Hey Sleepy,
Did that deal last year then had a cath done. Good thing ws they found that my heart was fine, also did an EEG and found I had some damage and started me on some purple wonders. That cleared up the problem. BUT I found out what it was. My family and I will be praying that yours is just routine maintenamce as well.

Ride Free........

[FLHTbiker]

That's good news Bob glad to hear that. Yea, I know anyone can have a heart attack no matter what their size is.
I had a scare a while back myself. Was setting in my chair at home when all of a sudden a very sharp pain started in my chest. Couldn't even take a breath without sudden pain. Lasted what seemed like forever but was actually about 20 seconds. Went to the doctor the next day did all the test plus they had me do a stress test and everything turned up negative. Doctor told me it could have been gas or indigestion. Kinda of scary though and really was quit painfull.

[Sleepy]

Thanks for the good wishes fellas. I'm hoping it's just routine maintenance as well. I feel ok, no problems at work but I'm a little reluctant to really crank things up on the ice untill I get the green light to go..that's the frustrating part.

[AFNurse]

Hey SK...I can feel your pain.....school at an "advanced age" (ie not the traditional teen or early 20's!). My wife has now returned to college for her elementary education degree..... She has been in class for about 2 weeks....I don't EVEN want to know fully how many papers and tests/quizes she has taken already...not to mention the homework. AND she is holding down a part time job....AND holding down a full time job of mom, and taking care of ME!!!! Tho I am not taking classes right NOW.....I can feel for you. Am GLAD that I did school when I did....tho see "further schooling in the near future".....don't like that thought, but.....have to do what I need to so I can keep bread/butter on the table. If you have not resumed classes yet, should be soon. Good luck with the next semester!!! Let me know if you need resourses for NICU...not sure I have ALL the answers, but may be able to find a couple for you!

[SK]

Thanks AFNurse. I start back next Monday. Just got back from a 4 day ride where I was able to forget about school for a couple of days and just relax for the most part. Spent a good deal just hanging at a friend's lakeside house and cruising around in an electric pontoon boat (you were moving, but didn't hear much but the conversation floating around the lake). The coming and going was the eventful part..as I wrote in another post.

[Sleepy]

ran thru some more tests..cranked the wheels offa the treadmill..bloodwork's good..no issues with the heart..whew!!!

[ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Sleepy

ran thru some more tests..cranked the wheels offa the treadmill..bloodwork's good..no issues with the heart..whew!!!

about two years ago I was laying in bed and all at once my chest got tight and buckled me over. I didn't wake up my better half just figured I was done so about 10-20 min later I figured the pain was getting worse, I was feeling weaker, and decided to wake up my wife as I crawled back into the bed bang the pain faded--so I didn't wake her up. I went back to sleep and about an hour later the whole episode repeted, I woke up my wife just as it faded again, didn't have any problems for about another year or so ,then I was in spokane and I new this was it and no familiy to see me off and just as I was going to crawl off the equipment and head to the hospital it faded again, now I was scared I didn, know what to do so when I got back to chey my wife ran me around to all the specialists pokin prodin,and ultrasounds, blood tests to our amazment (and the docs as I didn't fit the profile,fat, furtile, female and over forty.I' 100% opposite).the diagnoses was gallbladder diesase. managed to git it out before it exploded,had them check everything else out while they were in there, been pretty avide about check ups since.

[ironhorse]

OH YEA, when the doc took out the gallbladder the pain I consistantly had in my right shoulder has disappered. asked the doc he said it shares the same nerve canal as the gallbladder and every time I had pain was most likley a small attack.