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Got a Little Good News

Redhunter1012

Senior Member
Supporting Member
As some of you know, since December of 2014 I had been battling some type of a lung ordeal. At first I thought it was a cold, but it persisted so long I got it checked out. Immediately my local Dr's around Lima knew something wasn't right, and referred me to the top guy in the Lima area. After tons of testing, biopsies, and other stuff, he concluded I had something called Interstitial Lung Disease. That diagnosis covers a wide array of prognisis' and types of diseases. The worst being Fibrosis, which is a death sentence. They immediately pulled me off work from the grain elevator I worked at and started me on aggressive steroid treatments which helped me get over the bronchitis like symptoms. But all follow up tests show a good amount of damage to my lungs, and they weren't healing properly. Being that he never seen someone my age with something like this, he referred me to the best in the state down at OSU. Since then its been repeated test's, and a wait and see type plan. After awhile the Dr pretty much told me since I wasn't getting better or worse, he wanted to get invasive and do a V.A.T.S, which involves a camera going in 1 hole in my lungs and a robot in another hole to take a chunk. I finally agreed to it. This surgery was hard to agree to because it wasn't gonna fix me, but more or less give a definitive prognosis and a plan going forward. I had the surgery on Friday, February 26th and got out from the James center at OSU on Monday the 29th. Talk about pain. Damn I swear a bomb went off on my right shoulder. No amount of meds helped the first night. And on top of that the nausea was like the worst case of sea sickness you could imagine. I laid in bed with a chest tube and catheter till Sunday evening, which was when I could finally keep something down other than water. Since I was released it's been a lot of rest and pain pills. Actually, they gave me 90 OxyContin to go home with. I think I used about 20 of them over the first few days before I realized I hated them and just switched to heavy dose of Tylenol. For a guy who poops 3 times a day, being constipated for 4 days wasn't fun, haha. Anyhow, feeling a ton better now, as it's been almost 2 weeks since the surgery. I go the 16th to get all the staples and stitches from my ribs and back removed.

The good news was my Dr. called me yesterday and let me know that the biopsy results showed the least progressive form of the disease and I will start medicine when I visit him the 28th of this month. He says it is usually a pretty good prognosis and most the time the lung will heal up good and my breathing will improve. One thing I will have to watch is getting sick and not getting in to doctors because the meds will suppress my immune system. He did say however that I can resume my normal indoor and outdoor activities as long as I avoid stuff that could irritate my lungs. Eventually I will be allowed to get another job. Speaking of which: Fucking insurance companies are assholes. My job old employer immediately gave me 13 weeks short term disability back in July when the Docs pulled me from work. Their policy then states that I get terminated and apply for a 2 year, long term disability with their insurance carrier. Those dickheads rejected my first claim, basically saying there was no reason I couldn't work since I had worked from December through June when I first had the symptoms. Since then I appealed and my Doctors at OSU have helped me file paperwork and gave me a load of help preparing paperwork, so I'm praying they approve it. Sucks to go from 2 incomes to 1 and have a new addition to the family along the way. One thing I wouldn't trade through all this is the time I have got to spend with my 2 kids. And not to get to churchy, but I couldn't have made it this far without my faith. It's no Coincidence I found God shortly before all this happens. So many things have happened to help us get through this that no one could ever convince me otherwise that their is not a grand plan. Oh, and I have to admit that my hatred for OSU is now only with their sports teams. Hard to hate people that you are praying will help you watch your kids grow up. Another couple weeks and I will be cleared for fishing and can finally get out of the house. Thanks for reading and sorry about writing a book, haha
 
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swantucky

The Crew
1,594
122
Swanton, Ohio
Knew you were having issues but not as serious as things sound....glad to hear they have you on the right program. Would not be the same at the river without being able to holler across the river at you and your merry band of wiener touchers!!!
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,743
274
North Carolina
Great too hear they got it figured out and you're on the mend Ryan.... Here's too a lot of time on the water this year.....
 
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Redhunter1012

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Good deal man!

Did they give you a cause of this? I work in the grain industry myself and breath a lot of corn and bean dust...
Yea. Doctor says its from the grain dust. He said there is no 100% smoking gun, per se, but you know all the molds and other shit in the bins. It's not something that was toxic to everyone, just something I happened to have a severe reaction too. Shit, we clean bins almost daily during harvest on top of all the dust from dumping customers, transferring grain, etc.. Just a bad deal I guess.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Yea. Doctor says its from the grain dust. He said there is no 100% smoking gun, per se, but you know all the molds and other shit in the bins. It's not something that was toxic to everyone, just something I happened to have a severe reaction too. Shit, we clean bins almost daily during harvest on top of all the dust from dumping customers, transferring grain, etc.. Just a bad deal I guess.

Man that really sucks, I enjoy this work. Except for cleaning up old beans...I'll never get used to that nasty shit!

I hope they get you back up to 100% and you find a good job.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
You are too young to be dealing with this stuff Ryan. Stay strong my friend! Prayers your way.
 

Redhunter1012

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Man that really sucks, I enjoy this work. Except for cleaning up old beans...I'll never get used to that nasty shit!

I hope they get you back up to 100% and you find a good job.
I loved my job and company too. If not for this, I would have been a manager at a smaller facility now, making real good money. Where else can you get 2 weeks vacation and 40 hours sick time that they allow you to use in as small as 15 minute increments within your first year of working somewhere? On top of a five to 7 thousand dollar bonus during the thanksgiving Holiday. Heritage Co-Op doesn't pay shit to start with compared to other companies, but their benefits are ridiculous. I had 6 years in and every year got 4 weeks vacation and 40 hours sick that I could roll over or get paid if I didn't use it, whichever I chose. Only thing I hated about the job was lack of hunting time during Harvest. But compared to most, I still out out a quite a bit. Oh well, on to better things
 

finelyshedded

You know what!!!
Supporting Member
31,856
260
SW Ohio
Sorry to hear you going through all this Ryan but very glad to hear they found out what you have and have you on a regiment to help cure you from this! Thoughts and prayers headed your way!
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I loved my job and company too. If not for this, I would have been a manager at a smaller facility now, making real good money. Where else can you get 2 weeks vacation and 40 hours sick time that they allow you to use in as small as 15 minute increments within your first year of working somewhere? On top of a five to 7 thousand dollar bonus during the thanksgiving Holiday. Heritage Co-Op doesn't pay shit to start with compared to other companies, but their benefits are ridiculous. I had 6 years in and every year got 4 weeks vacation and 40 hours sick that I could roll over or get paid if I didn't use it, whichever I chose. Only thing I hated about the job was lack of hunting time during Harvest. But compared to most, I still out out a quite a bit. Oh well, on to better things

I hear you man...I work for Cargill and started with some damn good benefits myself.

Have you thought about possibly transferring to the buying side of the company?
 

Fullbore

Senior Member
6,439
126
South Eastern Ohio
Glad to hear your on the road to getting this stuff fixed Ryan! Thoughts and prayers are still coming your way.
Oh, and I am glad to hear you gave your life to God! Keep the faith buddy!
 

Redhunter1012

Senior Member
Supporting Member
I hear you man...I work for Cargill and started with some damn good benefits myself.

Have you thought about possibly transferring to the buying side of the company?
Theres not really anything local for me. And I'm just scared to death to be around large quantities of grain any more. I have some really good job opportunities ready for me whenever I get back into a normal life as opposed to impromptu visits to Columbus every week, which is about 2 hours from me. I have a boatload of good references and no shortage of people willing to help