Retirement!

[fyrfytr]

Well I have finally gotten the word from the Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado and they have given me a Permanent Occupational Disability Retirement. Something I kind of knew was coming, I didn't think they would let me go back to being a firefighter.

I have been reading all the Dr.'s reports they have gotten from my PCP, Cardiologists and Surgeon and if you haven't asked for your reports yet you need to like has been said so many times in the forums.

I am reading these and I come across the echocardiogram which was done 04/19/2002. Back then I was told nothing new but in the report it states that I had severe aortic stenosis with a max. gradient of 32mmHg as well as moderate aortic regurgitation as well as mild regurgitation of the mitral and tricuspid valves ( something I have never been told) and a Ejection fraction of 68% and possible anterior infarction. And I thought I was done worry after my surgery!

So remember to ask for copies of your records, you never know what might be in them.
Thanks for listening.
Take Care

 

[Nancy]

Hi Dave-

I know you will miss firefighting. But you will be amazed at how other things fill up your time. And now you have a direction for rearranging your life instead of being in limbo like you have been.

So I hope your days are filled with enjoyable things that YOU like to do.

And you're right about getting copies of reports. They can be a real eye-opener. It's amazing what they don't tell you about, and sometimes what is left out that needs to be part of your medical information.

 

[Ross]

Medical records---Boy don't I know about getting copies. My chest xray told me a whole lot more then what the nurse did. All she said was stable, I didn't see anything on that xray report that resembled stable.

 

[catwoman]

Dave:

Can understand the disability retirement.

Does it preclude your working -- even part-time -- as an EMT?

My niece is a firefighter/paramedic, as is her husband (captain in Frisco TX, near Dallas). Kristi has gone back to school, to become an RN (hopes to do ER work), more conducive to having a family someday than being a firefighter she thinks. Her father-in-law is a chief in the Plano TX FD (north of Dallas).

Firefighting is hard work -- rough on the lungs and cardiovascular system.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Amen my friend! Happy to hear you finally have some resolution. Congratulations!

On the reports...I have what is called "The Book of Life" which in short is just a binder of test results and anything else pertinent.

I agree...... it is very crucial you hold a copy of your results and keep them for future reference.

On my echos.. have found them to vary. For instance...trace tricuspid reguirg comes and goes. This is normal in a healthy heart. This time they noted one of the leaflets on my Pulmonic valve is thin but operating normally. Not sure what that means?...nor was it pointed out by my cardio

In any case....there are people out there walking around with "unknown" heart disease. Consider ourselves very fortunate to have the upper hand!

 

[Rain]

Congratulations Dave!!

Congratulations Dave!!

I?m happy to hear you won?t be fighting fires anymore. It's been almost four years since my surgery and my sternum still hurts when I tweak my body just right. I can't imagine doing something like fighting fires. And congratulations on getting copies of those records!

Just this morning I asked my chiropractor?s nurse for a copy of his diagnosis and reports on me. (I?ve only seen him twice) I told her I wanted to share them with my cardio at my appt with him tomorrow... my cardio has been trying to help me figure out what?s causing the headaches. She told me she couldn?t give me copies.. that she could only release them to another doctor. I told her, ?get the boss?... that I wanted to talk to my chiropractor. He?s a guy I get along with very well and really respect. He came right out, and asked if there was a problem. I told him that if I didn?t have access to my file then we had a problem.... because he also wouldn?t have access to my money. We both laughed and he told her to give me what I wanted.

 

[Karlynn]

Dave,
Looks like you'll have to resort to putting out fires here instead.

I have heard, that when the valve in-question is really bad, that the others start to be affected. I know that was the case with mine prior to surgery. It was one of the signs they used to say I was ready. After the surgery, the other valves went back to normal. Until now - 12 years later and my aortic valve is showing some wear. Have you looked at your post surgery echo for any mention of the other valves?

 

[Guest]

Congratulations, Dave! That is _awesome_ news .

Retirement: The easy way to define the time known as "no more work but I'm so busy that I don't know how I did everything when I was working because I have all these projects that keep me busy and I have no time to do anything".

*sighs wistfully*

If only I were a bit older..... Heh, I'd _love_ to be in retirement right now because I have so many things that'd keep me quite busy...including, of course, 5 beautiful "baby girls" (er, Monte Carlos), road trips, an HO Scale train table, church newsletter, etc. etc. etc.

*turns to serious issue*

Yeah know...I don't think I have many of my records. I _know_ I should ask...and have a right to ask...for them, but I just haven't taken the time to do that...yet. One of these days I will....course, I still haven't taken the time to get one of those medicalert bracelets.......

Again, congratulations, Dave .

Cort, "Mr Road Trip"/"The Uniter", 30swm w/pig valve & pacemaker
member & newsletter editor, Faith COB = http://www.faithcob.org
"Mr MC"'s Family...& train & models = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
RIP = '76, Parents' [my] MC ... '88 MC LS ... '00 "mc" LS
Spotting MCs = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html
MC's Future = http://www.projectmonte.com/petition/

 

[Kathy]

Congratulations, Dave. I am sure that you have had a lot of time to adjust to being at home. I have been at home for seven months and will start back to work in a week. I'm just hoping that I will have the necessary stamina.

I hope you will find lots of interesting activities. Being a teacher, I'm used to practicing at retirement every summer!

I will miss some of the volunteer activities that I have been involved in. The thing I will miss the most is calling for an appointment at the doctor, petgroomer, dentist, etc. and asking for the next avaliable appointment. I dread having to book everything for after 4.

 

[Billy]

Congratulations Dave...

Congratulations Dave...

I just have a feeling that you will still be a very active Guy.

After all, a young chap like yourself will find lots to occupy your time and I know you'll keep busy. Karlyn is quite right, we have had a few 'fiery' situations here on VR.com and I'm sure you'll jump right in with your expertise and give Mister Rossman a hand to extinguish them.

The very best of Irish luck for the future.......

Cheers,

 

[fyrfytr]

Hi All,
Thanks for your kind words. Yes I plan on keeping myself busy.

And Marsha I can't even work part time as an EMT as that is part of our Job Description.

I will try and help put the fires out, I just hope I don't get burned.

Again Thank You All.
Take Care

 

[Ross]

Re: Congratulations Dave...

Re: Congratulations Dave...

Karlyn is quite right, we have had a few 'fiery' situations here on VR.com and I'm sure you'll jump right in with your expertise and give Mister Rossman a hand to extinguish them.

Dude, didn't you get the memo? I retired from fire fighting. I'm into Forensic Sciences now. I deal with the deeds after they've been done.

 

[Georgia]

Congrats . . . I think

Congrats . . . I think

I know you've been pretty ambivalent about this. I'm glad it's resolved and I'm sure you're already having plenty of fun.

I think it's pretty hard to redefine yourself - although my husband hasn't had much of a problem.

Hope you celebrate hearty.

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Dave

RETIREMENT IS THE BEST!!!! I taught for 34 years and retired almost 2 years ago....am busier now than before and haven't looked back once. You will be fine!!!

CONGRATULATIONS.....er, I think!!

Evelyn

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Dave

Hi Dave

Many people think of fire departments..for just fires.. Boy, did I learn different 2 days ago.. Read under..small talk for my Grandson. Thank goodness.nearest fire station was 3 minutes from Son's home. They took over..called my son ( a policeman) and rushed my Grandson to hospital in their ambulance. We were behind them..and they tracked him for me..told me where they were..and had him in ER..by the time we could get thru front door. Never knew..that hospitals track ambulances.. Front desk told me..6 minutes and he will be here.. We were able to be there when they brought him in.. YOU guys are great. had Grandson calmed down....in ride to hospital. Better than what I could have done Again..thanks to all firemen, policeman who really take care of those in need..Bonnie

 

[Christina L]

Dave,

I think you will enjoy retirement - more time with your grandchildren and hobbies.

As for the trivial regurgitation in two other valves of yours, from what I understand, yes, even "healthy" hearts have trivial regurgitation in one or two valves - I transcribe medical reports for my job all the time of 80-something year olds who have trivial regurgitation or moderate regurgitation in their valves.

Your EF is fabulous!! Wow!! Mine is 55-60% now post surgery and was 70 before surgery - but I was told that my EF was hyperdynamic because of the overcompensation of the mitral valve.

I'd say that you have nothing to worry about from that echo report. It sounds pretty good to me.

Christina L.

 

[bethanne]

I told him that if I didn?t have access to my file then we had a problem.... because he also wouldn?t have access to my money. We both laughed and he told her to give me what I wanted.

- very well stated. My sentiments exactly.

Dave, I have much confidence that you will be doing exactly what God wants you to be doing and doing it well.

bethanne

 

[tommy]

Dave,

It sounds like a mixed "blessing". You get to retire, but can't do the thing that you have devoted your life to. Thanks for your service.

My wife and I treated my AVR recovery as a rehearsal for my retirement. It was an adjustment for her to have me home all of the time. I guess you went right from rehearsal to the real thing.

Can you work at all? Do you want to?

Take care.

 

[fyrfytr]

Thanks Again Everyone, you are the Greatest!

It really hit home yesterday when I went to see the Personnel Director for the City and he already has my last day with the City as March 1st. Now the hard part is going to be cleaning out 24 years of things at the firehouse.

Tom, Yes I will be able to do other work and I am hoping I can find something that will be kind of part time for now and see how things go.

I had a Great Career as a Firefighter and will miss it a lot, but maybe I will find something else that will be a second career.
Take Care