Time to Exit Expedite

RichM · Jul 13, 2006

I always knew this day would come but I was hoping to put it off as late as possible. However sometimes fate intervenes and throws the proverbial curve ball at you.

Normaly I am a fairly private guy and don't talk much about my personal life or emotions but I wanted to share this story with all of us so that If the following symptons affect you, you will have an idea as to the problem.

Last Saturday,July 8th I loaded out of Troy Al with a Monday delivery in Stratford CT with a return back to Troy.I spent Saturday night in Roanoke VA and left about 8 am on Sunday. About an hour later I coughed and all of a sudden my whole body went totally numb starting from my head down to my feet. It lasted for about 20 seconds. While I was wondering what had happened another episode came about 10 minutes later. Now I knew I needed help.I have a small travel palm type computer and it showed a hospital coming up on I 64 about 3 miles east of I 81. When I turned onto I 64 the problem came again. I made it into the emergency room of the hospital and while they were hooking me up another episode happened but the ekg captured it. My heart rate was dropping to 30 beats per minute and as a result my blood pressure would plumment. They admitted me and 4 Doctors including 2 cardio guys all said I needed a pacemaker to regulate the heart rate.

On Monday afternoon I had the pacemaker implanted.It took about an hour and I was awake for the whole procedure. Apparently this is a fairly common procedure. The pacemaker reps said that there are about 10,000 pacemakers installed in patients every day on a world wide basis.

My wife flew into Charlottesville VA Sunday night and was with me for the operation and recuperation period. I was discharged Tuesday night with a long list of no no's for the next 30 days. Then On Wedensday we set out for home with my wife driving the truck and me as a passenger.

So based on this incident and a lot of pressure being applied by my 3 sons plus my wife I have decided to pack it in. I will be putting the truck up for sale in the next month or so here on EO. I will also miss the Expo this year and the overall expedite life style.It has been a good ride and I hope every one stays safe out there.

LDB · Jul 13, 2006

Rich, thank you for sharing that for the benefit of everyone who might one day face the same thing. We'll all be sorry to see you go. Hopefully you will continue to contribute and share your wisdom and experience here on the forum. Most importantly of course, take care of yourself and mind the doctors.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5507, 5508, 5509
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
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Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

dieselphreak2K · Jul 13, 2006

Take care Rich, and best of luck to you. God's will does not always make sense to us. Without people with the years of experience that you have acquired, and your willingness to share it, I would not have been able to start this chapter in my life, and find the happiness and sucess I have. Take it easy, and stop back in now and then.

ATeam · Jul 13, 2006

RichM said, "It has been a good ride and I hope every one stays safe out there."

Twenty-plus years of expediting and this grizzled pro says, "It has been a good ride...."

May all expediters be so blessed.

Best wishes to you, Rich. When one door closes, another opens. May your future lead to bigger and better things.

cheri1122 · Jul 13, 2006

Rich: Of course your family & your health take first priority! The very wisdom you are displaying with your decision, will make yours a tough act to follow, though. Please take care of yourself, now.

davekc · Jul 13, 2006

Pretty scary to say the least. Glad you made it back home.
Like anyone, I hate to see a true expediting pioneer and friend have to stop.
But, one has to do what is right for them and their family.
Grace and I are glad everything went well.

Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

mrgoodtude · Jul 14, 2006

I am taken aback and don't know what to say, Rich you helped influence our decision to enter expedite and we have learned so much from your experiences. We personaly want to thank you for all the contributions you have made and you will be in our prayers. I sincerely hope that after the dust settles and you establish a new routine you will still find time to be a part of the forum as it won't be the same without you.
God bless you and yours,
Mike and Cyn

Jayman · Jul 14, 2006

Take care Rich! Hope all goes well for you and yours.

TeamCaffee · Jul 14, 2006

Rich sure going to miss your help and guidance. Really going to miss your sense of humor and ability to keep everything on track. Sure going to miss you at the Expo. Take care and stay in touch.

ACE · Jul 14, 2006

Thank you for sharing your experience with us and I am sorry that it ended your expedite career as a driver. But when one door closes another one opens up.

I respect your opinion and always look forward to your posts. Hopefully you will continue to offer your experience as a long time O/O to us by continuing to post.

TJ959 · Jul 14, 2006

The main thing is you caught it before it caught you. Your posts have always been helpful and informative. I sure hope you will continue to share your experience with us on this site and keep us informed on how things are going for you.

louixo · Jul 14, 2006

Rich..keep a positive attitude and look for the door that will open up for you in other areas. I know itÂ´s easy to say, but it happens all the time. LotÂ´s of people have pacemakers. I have a fiend in Florida who has had one for years, also has lost 25 % of his heart function, years before in a massive coronary, and heÂ´s doing just fine. With proper care and some time, you may even be able to get back on the road if you want, in expediting or some other capacity. The nations vice president has a pacemaker.

kwexpress · Jul 14, 2006

KW Express
o/o till i die

Rich,
Ive never talked to you but sorry it ended that way
good luck and glad you made it to the hospital.

so tell me after 20 years if you could would you do it all over again? I mean after looking back over the last 20 years do you feel like you made the right choice to enter into this or do you wish you
had taken a different path?

I know a pacemaker is not the end of life but after 20 years of driving do you think you will be able to adjust to normal lifestyle?

jaminjim · Jul 14, 2006

Dang Rich, like everyone I'am glad you caught it early, best wishes.

I guess now you will have more time to post on here, so get those fingers working. Ready one and a two and a three

rode2rouen · Jul 14, 2006

Rich,

Glad to hear that you were able to get to the hospital in a timely fashion and get taken care of!!! My best wishes go with you now, and for the future.

Rex

jackdixon_2000 · Jul 14, 2006

The best of luck to you Rich. I know that a brush with death can be a very sobering experience. You were very fortunate that you were near a hospital and recognized the fact that you needed help.
My brother at the age of 39 in 1993 and my codriver just this last January at the age of 60 both felt the onset of a problem and fatigue but deceided to just go to bed and sleep it off. They didn't make it.

Now the encouraging news. A pacemaker should have very little affect on you're lifestyle. Just twice a year visits to yer Cardialagist for an ECG to check the pacemaker function. A bit of caution around metal detectors, airport security screens some power tools radio transmitters etc.

I don't know if you may have Bradycardia (a slowing of the heart rate) but if so and you have noticed a bit more fatigue lately and just attributed to getting older you may find that over the next few weeks you may start feelin more energetic then you have in years.

You may even want to rethink that idea of retirement unless that is something you were contemplating anyway before this incident. There are many drivers out here with triple and quadruple bypass operations. But of course if in yer "heart" you feel its time to hang up the keys then thats the thing to do. That gives you more time to contribute to Expediters Online lol

On another personal note. Those pacemakers are miraculous little devices. My mother would have been gone in 1990 without one. She is very resistant to seeing doctors or going to the hospitol. She waited until she could barely pick up the phone and dial 911 before she went and her heart actually stopped on arrival. She went as far as having the out of body experience and the peacefull journey toward the light and witnessed the defibrillation being performed on her from above and recalls the the experience of wanting them to stop and let her go.
But she came back. After that bulkier more invasive pacemaker was installed back in 1990, she just had her 3rd installed last month at the age of 91.
Went to the hospital at 8am and was home by 2pm
As far as driving, she quit that at 86.

So, Rich, I hope you find this post encouraging and I see no reason why you should not "live long and prosper" after this event, good luck

redytrk · Jul 14, 2006

Rich I have allways looked up to you as the elder statesman around here.
I remember those trips down memory lane we took together.Neither one of us wanting to admit to all those years it took to acquire those memories.
Lets hope that your time at home can solidify those family bonds that have no doubt suffered over the years you have been on the road.

My 20th anniversary will be coming up in OCT. Does this make me the new "Elder"?

cheri1122 · Jul 14, 2006

You know, it's absolutely typical of Rich to post a message that could literally save someone's life, because some of us just don't want to face up to the reality that it could happen to us. In 2000, I fell suddenly ill, and refused to go to the hospital for five days, even though I couldn't eat or drink or even move. I kept saying I was starting to feel better, but I knew I wasn't - I just didn't want to go to the hospital! When I did, the doctor informed me that a few more hours, my infected kidney would have exploded from the pressure, I'd have gone septic, & they wouldn't have been able to save me. I ended up losing the kidney, because I wasn't as wise as Rich - so pay attention to what you don't want to hear, because sometimes, it's REALLY important!

highway star · Jul 14, 2006

Many of us, males in particular, would have said "Ahh, it's nothing", and continued on our way. We all applaude your wisdom. My great-uncle had a pace maker installed back when they sounded like some kind of futuristic deal. He made it well into his 90s. I hope you continue to be active here. All the best!!