Archive for May, 2018

Diverticulitis

Monday, May 21st, 2018

In an effort to record things that are happening to me and not get too personal, I’ve decided to chronicle my recent medical problems. I always hate it when people my age get together and all they can talk about is their health problems. There is nothing as important as good health, and I am as guilty as the next person for dwelling on the fact that when you reach retirement age, things in the body start to sputter.

I’m not sure who it was that said, “If I would have known I would have lived this long I would have taken better care of myself.” We often criticize those that smoke or drink, but rarely think twice about constantly putting junk food into our stomachs and never making much effort to exercise. I’m not trying to get preachy here, but when we get older and don’t have to do the physical work we all did growing up, when things start to hurt and it’s hard to get out and exercise, when eating processed food is easier than making a good meal, and when there is a pill to combat the absence of diet and exercise, there is little hope that I will ever change my lifestyle.

A little over a week ago, I started having lower bowel pain. At first I thought it was a bug, then I rationalized I was just constipated, and finally four days later convinced myself I had cancer. None of my self diagnosis turned out to be true, of course, but Google can truly scare you with options for every known illness under the sun. After four days of pain I finally called my doctor and they recommend I go to urgent care. I was in Payson at the time so I packed up quickly and drove down to Tempe and over to a Cigna urgent care facility. The doctor there diagnosed me with diverticulitis. I had a CT scan on my pelvis area just to be sure and left with powerful antibiotics to combat the inflammation.

Several years ago I had a signoidoscopy that revealed diverticulosis ( pouches in the large intestine that are not inflamed) and was told at that time I should eat more fiber. When diverticulosis becomes diverticulitis ( inflammation in the intestine) there is sometimes no option except surgery to remove part of the intestines. When there is a flare-up of diverticulitis you need to eat a low-fiber, low-fat, soft diet to move things through more quickly and rest the colon. I was doing the exact opposite of what I should have been doing.

I’m feeling fine now and will move up on the Mogollon Rim tomorrow. While I was in Tempe at brother Daryl’s, I took Minnie in to get a service engine warning light diagnosed and fixed. It turned out to be a faulty mass airflow sensor, and to diagnose and fix it was way, way more expensive than my healthcare cost. I’m in the process of changing my residence to Arizona and have only one more thing to do to complete the process. This month has been expensive with dental, healthcare, and truck repair, but I hope I can take a few weeks to rest my pocket book.

Tinder Fire

Tuesday, May 1st, 2018
Smoke from Tinder Fire

Smoke from Tinder Fire

Not long after I moved Minnie from the desert near Yuma to the forest above Payson, some deranged person started the forest on fire. I had set up my camp in the Coconino National forest, only three miles from Richard and Dianna where they live and volunteer for the forest service during the summer months. All was fine for a few days as we made plans to welcome Daryl and Gisele and their new car for a visit and lunch. We even hoped Donna would detour up to our get together.

The fire started when we were on a shopping trip to Winslow. On our way home we could see smoke as we drew closer to the Blue Ridge Ranger station where Richard and Dianna volunteer. We eventually realized that the fire was only a few miles from where we were staying and close enough to give us great concern for safety.

When we eventually arrived at the ranger station we learned that the road I was camping on was closed. I was informed that I could not even go down the road to get my camper out. Richard knew of a back road out of the compound that took me safely to my rig where I packed up quickly and moved up to the ranger station.

Even though we were within a few miles of the fire, there was no danger where we were. The wind over the next few days took the fire away from us to the north. With the dry condition of the area and the strong wind, the fire has grown to over 12,000 acres. Several homes have been destroyed and the fire is headed for more houses ahead of the flames. There is zero containment.

The fire has brought together several units of hotshot crews, fire teams, air support, and personal from all over the west. They have all fought the fire bravely and undoubtedly saved many residences. Tonight there is snow and rain in the forecast so we are all hoping the fire will be controlled with the help of the weather.

For several reasons, including but not limited to, snow, rain, freezing temperatures, high wind, fire traffic and road closures, I decided to travel down to a lower altitude for a few days. I’m now at the same camp I found last year, only five miles from Payson. I will go back up on the Rim after summer returns.