SumoRunner
Well-known member
I acquired the damaged valve from two bouts with rheumatic fever at ages 5 and 10. We're talking 1953 and 58 now, so there wasn't much they could do about it back then. I remember the pediatrician telling my mother while I was within earshot that I could lead a fairly normal life up to about age 40, but after that there was a big question mark. The fixes we all know and love today simply weren't available 40 years ago.
They had some strange medical procedures at that time too. Strange in today's terms, but the medical profession was still just learning about the new "miracle" drugs. I was placed on penicillin prophylaxis. That is, a regular preventative dose. At first it was a shot once a month, a huge canister sized injection - or so it seemed to a 10 year old - of penicillin. Later it went to two tablets a day. You know, the way they want everyone to take aspirin daily now, that's what they wanted to do with antibiotics in the 50's. This continued up through high school in the mid 60's. Maybe even later. I can't recall just when they stopped.
Now, I know what you're all thinking. Taking antibiotics all the time can be counter productive. They didn't know that then. They do now because they found out from guys like me. I used to tell my doctor each year, "Y'know Doc, anytime I go off these penecillin pills for even a couple days I immediately catch a nasty cold or flu." Now we know why don't we? But I got caught up when they finally stopped the program by being sick almost constantly for a couple years. Luckily by the time I got married my immune system was more or less recovered. My wife taught elementary school and a class full of 8 year olds will possess every disease known to man on any given day and they don't mind sneezing it all over you either.
The thought process among MDs back then was also that you would have to take it easy, never overstress yourself and maybe you would last longer. So I was condemned to a sedentary life, or so it began. I learned differently much later. I couldn't do high school sports. I did attempt to try out for cross country running once but with the first physical I was shunted aside and told to stop. It kept me out of the Army a couple years on. I'm old enough to have been called up by the draft board. Younger folks have no idea how much fun the old military draft process was. I showed up for the physical at the induction center as requested. Guess who was the consulting physician on the local board. Yeah, my old pediatrician. I was shunted aside and handed a 4F (unfit for military duty) classification. On the plus side, had I gotten through, I would likely have been in Viet Nam in time for the Tet Holiday in 1968. History buffs and old-timers might recall that was not exactly a holiday for the troops.
And so it went, at least in the early days. Things are different now, but I'll save that for another day.
They had some strange medical procedures at that time too. Strange in today's terms, but the medical profession was still just learning about the new "miracle" drugs. I was placed on penicillin prophylaxis. That is, a regular preventative dose. At first it was a shot once a month, a huge canister sized injection - or so it seemed to a 10 year old - of penicillin. Later it went to two tablets a day. You know, the way they want everyone to take aspirin daily now, that's what they wanted to do with antibiotics in the 50's. This continued up through high school in the mid 60's. Maybe even later. I can't recall just when they stopped.
Now, I know what you're all thinking. Taking antibiotics all the time can be counter productive. They didn't know that then. They do now because they found out from guys like me. I used to tell my doctor each year, "Y'know Doc, anytime I go off these penecillin pills for even a couple days I immediately catch a nasty cold or flu." Now we know why don't we? But I got caught up when they finally stopped the program by being sick almost constantly for a couple years. Luckily by the time I got married my immune system was more or less recovered. My wife taught elementary school and a class full of 8 year olds will possess every disease known to man on any given day and they don't mind sneezing it all over you either.
The thought process among MDs back then was also that you would have to take it easy, never overstress yourself and maybe you would last longer. So I was condemned to a sedentary life, or so it began. I learned differently much later. I couldn't do high school sports. I did attempt to try out for cross country running once but with the first physical I was shunted aside and told to stop. It kept me out of the Army a couple years on. I'm old enough to have been called up by the draft board. Younger folks have no idea how much fun the old military draft process was. I showed up for the physical at the induction center as requested. Guess who was the consulting physician on the local board. Yeah, my old pediatrician. I was shunted aside and handed a 4F (unfit for military duty) classification. On the plus side, had I gotten through, I would likely have been in Viet Nam in time for the Tet Holiday in 1968. History buffs and old-timers might recall that was not exactly a holiday for the troops.
And so it went, at least in the early days. Things are different now, but I'll save that for another day.
I remember about ..1950..my sister was age 5..We were at grandparents house in Alabama..VERY rural area of Alabama .and she got so sick..that the Country doctor told my Mom..to keep her high faver down..or it could turn into Rheumatic Fever...I was a scared age 10 year old..but that name..Rheumatic Fever..stayed in my mind..all these years..We had to spend the night..and remember my Mom fussing with Aunt about the only fan in house to be put on my sister...Aunt was more concerned about the electricity bill.
