An update from Chuck regarding health.

[coppercoins]

Thursday morning I went to work feeling normal. At about 10:30AM, while working on an Excel spreadsheet I noticed that I could no longer see words when I looked directly at them. I had to focus on the next cell to see what was in the cell I was trying to focus on. An hour after that, my central vision returned, but I lost my perception of what was on my right side. I lost my peripheral vision and was seeing 'stars'. I also noticed a bit of confusion in trying to come up with simple statements. Not long after that I lost feeling in part of my right hand, and my arm began to tingle.

Within an hour of the onset of these symptoms I called my fiance Lisa who is a registered nurse with a masters degree and 15 years experience in ER. I told her was was going on with me and asked what could be wrong. She immediately rushed me to the hospital fearing I could be having a stroke.

Upon arrival at the hospital, of course I became the immediate center of attention. Evidently if they can diagnose a stroke in time, they can reverse it to a certain degree, so they rushed me straight back and began their tests, poking, and prodding.

Long story short, I ended up spending Thursday night in the PCU under close observation. After running a CT scan, an MRI, and ultrasound of my heart and throat, they determined that I had experienced a TIA, which is something like a mini-stroke, but does not carry the exact markers or damage that a stroke makes. That was the fortunate news.

The unfortunate news was that during the MRI scan of my brain they found white lesions in areas of the brain that show as being markers for Multiple Sclerosis...which would answer for some of the symptoms I have had but ignored over the past year...cold sweats at night, itchy skin, loss of thought, loss of memory, weakness in the right side of my body, back and neck discomfort, and a whole host of other mild but persistent symptoms.

The diagnosis at this point is nothing...we don't know exactly what is going on, but we know there's something amiss. They are not willing to call it MS at this point, because the imaging they have done so far has not been good enough to tell for sure. They tried a spinal tap (twice) on me yesterday and could not get any fluid (and for that I was very grouchy...stuck twice in the spine with no results).

In the immediate future I will be scanned with top-notch equipment, and will be stuck in the back again with better chance of getting fluid to test - they have a different way of doing that and I don't understand it completely.

next post..

[coppercoins]

We will soon know much more about my condition than I know today. The only lasting symptom I still have from Thursday's episode is that I have trouble remembering words sometimes. I have to think more about the way I am going to say something than I had to before. I also cannot say words with the clarity I had before...once in a while I slur a little when I speak - something completely foreign to me.

All of this could be progressive, but at present, since we do not know what's causing it, I am living life one day at a time not worrying too much about what could be to come. The one thing that I have realized more than ever is that our time here is limited, and if we have something to accomplish, we need to consider getting it done while we can.

To that end, I have a lot to get done with this site. Hoping things are in good order and will continue so for years to come, I have plenty of time to get this site finsihed and do it right. I'd rather think I have that time, but with what has happened recently I am not sure how long I will be able to function in the capacity I have now.

Over the next few months I am going to make it a point to work harder and smarter on getting the new version of the site completed. I had already begun this process a month ago, and will continue so as well as I am able. One thing that I ask of anyone hee who wishes to help is that I have a number of things that require a certain amount of manual data manipulation - I have enough of it to go around, that's for sure. Anyone who wants to volunteer some time toward the effort and has Excel or an easily compatable program can get in touch with me and I will start dividing the work that needs to be done into chunks that can be digested by anyone with reasonable computer skill in a few hours time.

In closing, I have this to offer...this site and the work it encompasses has been a dream of mine for over a decade now. It is coming together in part due to my vision and staying on course with that vision, but in greater part due to the volunteerism of special people who have been by my side from the beginning. Not to exclude anyone I'm not presently thinking of, I shall leave the list alone, but I do know who all of you are and appreciate everything everyone has done to bring this site to this point.

Everyone who reads this message is important to me, even if you're just coming here for the first time - you're still here, which is important. My message is being spread, which is the whole point. Collecting is fun when there's someone to expose it to...some sense of organization for that collection. When I started, this was not easy to come by. With the internet, more books, and much more attention to die varieties in recent years, access to organized information has become much easier, and I would like to think that this site was a major catalyst in making this possible. Most of the sites out there today that list and show examples of die varieties came after this site was built, and I cannot help to think that this site has been used in part as a benchmark for the other sites of this nature.

So...off to work I am, taking care of myself and my own needs, but always thinking of what I want to do here to make this experience rewarding for generations to come, should that be possible.

Always and forever a loyal servant to numismatics...

[fiddle-fart]

Our Prayers are with You...

I don't have much experience in Excel, but I'll help in any way I can. From what my wife says it is easy to learn (she's a college student and will help me). She is very excited that I got into coin collecting.
Thats all one can do is take life one day at a time and enjoy every moment that you have with loved ones.
Contact me if you send anything for we'll have to route it a different way (I'm on dial-up).

Mike

[Robert]

Sorry to hear that Chuck. I hope you get better and stay better. Scary stuff, but your positive attitude will go a long way.

Robert

[Dick]

Chuck, since becoming a member, ( and a pain in the butt ), I have learned a whole lot more than I can repay. I have excell, and also Zoom-Text, (which I am learning to use). Also the Dragon program, ( all provided by the VA), maybe I will be able to dictate the data, and have the computer type in the appriate space. I am willing to try. The determining factor will be the ability to read the data.. Before you made certain factors known, I suspected a liver disorder, (I suffer ed from Yellow Jaundice, and when my liver was acting up, I had the flashing lights, and Now, when this happens I get back on my digestive enzymes. I was totally blind for about four hours, in '44. Had double vision, and then , nothing. my hopes to be a Combat Aircrewman were dashed to pieces, and after failing the night vision tests, I went out and got blind, slobbering drunk! Monday there was a second teat. I went, I passed)!
A man of your talents, and ambition is seldom seen, and it would be a shame, should anything happen to you. One thing I will recommend is : GET RID OF THE STRESS! It won't be easy, knowing you, but it will help.
If I can help in some way, let me know Sencerely,
Dick

[fiddle-fart]

How are you doing Chuck?

[coppercoins]

My physical condition is better, even the eye twitching has stopped for the better part. I still have difficulty coming up with words to say, especially when tired, and I have trouble dealing with programming and other analytical thought. All else, though, is fine.

[Dick]

Chuck, take it easy. You are "lucky" that it happened, when it did. You are young enough, that modern technology has a chance to find a way to reduce, or hopefully,eliminate any further effects. I'm not a religous man, but I ask in HIS name, that you be given a chance to be what you were meant to be!
Dick

[daggit]

Hi Chuck, I hope you are doing well. You are fortunate to have the knowledge and support of your fiance and I don't doubt that you are in capable company. First and foremost importance is your health of course and if that is tended to with as much compassion as is your love for numismatics all your goals should be fulfilled. I work in health care and know the importance of dligently attacking whatever might be attacking us and positive attitude and good judgement is on your side! Use that matter of fact attitude you are known so well for to your advantage, it has helped all of us who listen while searching our piles of Lincolns. No doubt it will serve you well in any physical hurdles you may approach. Thoughts and prayers abound and take care.
Sandra

[KurtS]

I grew a bit concerned as I read your post, and my best wishes are for you and the doctors to sort this out and let you get back to your life. Best wishes Chuck!

[ken]

Hi Chuck,Glad to hear you ae feeling better.Package arrived at my home in good shape.Can't wait to get back there to check out the coins.TY,Ken

[gm99]

Hello Chuck, I am one of the newbie here I just want to say thanks for letting join this forum. I hope you continue to get better. gm99

[jstraw13]

Hello Chuck,
I am sorry to hear of your recent health issues. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

In your request for some volunteers, I would be happy to help out with some Excel data work. I use the program on a daily basis at work and consider myself to be fairly proficient. Anything I can do to help, just let me know.

Sincerely,
Jon
jstraw13@yahoo.com

[Teryble]

Hi All, First I'd like to say sorry to hear about Chucks probs. Just been thru the mini stroke, which ended as an eye anuersym with my husband. You gotta keep goin'! Mine has a stomach anuersym too, but not large enough to operate. Both main heart arteries totally clogged, but he grew his own bypass', 3 feeder veins. Being active made a demand on the blood supply and they grew. Had both cartoid arteries opened about 6" in length & scraped. He's a trooper, so keep enjoying life. By the way he was damaged before I came along...LOL
I have been out of commission also, held onto an Auger went it bit stone, putting hurricane anchors for our boat. Ripped the tendons & pinched nerve badly, but I'm back.....Just like "Freddy Kruger"...LOL

Best wishes:)

[Dick]

Teri, it is nice to hear from you. Especially since we have friends who are collectors, and when one of us has a problem, of this nature, we don't have the chance to tell the others that we made it thru, or maybe one of us didn't, and no one knew of the case. Then we wonder, "what happened to so-snd-so"? Haven't heard form them in a whille. Maybe we should have a common meeting place, and, or time, where we can inform the rest of one of our friends, distress. Moral support is great, if that is all one can offer. Maybe a phone number to call and check to see if they are okay. Comments, opinions, suggestions?
Dick