Bad news today

[ALCapshaw2]

Glenda (or in fact any informed N. American), although I worked on farms in my youth I'm pretty much a European city boy. Please, what is this 'weed eating' and 'brush hogging'?

Reference to weed in these parts means the smoking for a high kind. Glenda pardon me if I'm wrong, but you don't look like a Mary Jane user.

AH, another case of "being separated by a common language"

A "Weed Eater" is a hand held device that spins a nylon cord to cut weeds (unwanted green things that grow in the ground including all types of grass - and I suppose that could include MJ. It consists of a long handle with a spinning wheel near the ground and an arm with a cutting edge to keep the nylon cord no longer than the distance from the wheel's axis to the cutter. There are 2 types, electric with a power cord and gas-powered where the small gas engine in behind the operator on the extended shaft. The operator holds the device near the balance point.

A "Bush Hog" is like a giant rotary Lawn Mower that is usually pulled behind a Farm Tractor with a cutting radius of 2 to 3 feet. The blade is powered by a rotary power take-off from the tractor.

Actually, the blade is more of a spining bar with cutting pieces attached at the ends so that if it strikes an 'immovable object', the cutting piece just spins on the attachment bolt instead of breaking.

I hope you were able to translate my "American engineering-speak"

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Bonzo Dog]

AH, another case of "being separated by a common language"

A "Weed Eater" is a hand held device that spins a nylon cord to cut weeds (unwanted green things that grow in the ground including all types of grass - and I suppost that could include MJ. It consists of a long handle with a spinning wheel near the ground and an arm with a cutting edge to keep the nylon cord no longer than the distance from the wheel's axis to the cutter. There are 2 types, electric with a power cord and gas-powered where the small gas engine in behind the operator on the extended shaft. The operator holds the device near the balance point. Pardon my "engineering speak".

A "Bush Hog" is like a giant rotary Lawn Mower that is usually pulled behind a Farm Tractor with a cutting radius of 2 to 3 feet. The blade is powered by a rotary power take-off from the tractor.

Actually, the blade is more of a spining bar with cutting pieces attached at the ends so that if it strikes an 'immovable object', the cutting piece just spins on the attachment bolt instead of breaking.

'AL Capshaw'

Thanks Al, in the UK, for weed eater use strimmer and for bush hog mmmm less certain, could use either disc cutter or flail mower I think.

 

[gadgetman]

Glenda,

Them doctors are wrong. Your heart is as big as all outdoors.

I am so sorry to read this. We will be here to provide a helping hand, hugs, prayers and a shoulder to cry on when necessary. Prayers and good thoughts are coming your way.

May you be back to weedeating and bush hogging real soon.

May God Bless,

Danny

 

[gadgetman]

Thanks Al, in the UK, for weed eater use strimmer and for bush hog mmmm less certain, could use either disc cutter or flail mower I think.

Bonzo,

A picture is worth a thousand words, even if it is an American photo!!!

Danny

Bush (or Brush) Hog

 

[gadgetman]

Thanks Al, in the UK, for weed eater use strimmer and for bush hog mmmm less certain, could use either disc cutter or flail mower I think.

And here is a weedeater. It does all the smoking, you don't!!!!

Danny

Weedeater

 

[Harrybaby666]

Glenda.....I am sooooo sorry your not feeling well

Glenda.....I am sooooo sorry your not feeling well

and the news with your valve.....I sure do hope that they can get you to feeling better ASAP...I haven't been on as much lately as I am also not feeling well with some really bad stomach issues going on (I go for an EGD this morning). I just wanted you to know that you are in my prayers and Ole' Harrybaby is sending you ((((((((((((((((((((((Tons of Hugs)))))))))))))))))))))) across the miles. Please know that even though I am not on quite as much, I am always keeping you and everyone else in my thoughts and prayers. Harrybaby

 

[surfsparky]

Hugs, prayers and thoughts are with you.
I'm so sorry that you are going thru so much.

Hugs,
Yolanda

 

[A New Beginning]

I am sorry to hear about that news. I will keep you in my prayers.

Aja

 

[Mb]

Dear Glenda:

I do not often post anymore.....but I do peek in on old friends, people that I followed, years ago, in their climb up the mountain.

My husband had his second heart valve surgery a bit over a year ago. Although there were some minor complications, he came out of it with improved stamina, etc. (although that now seems to be sliding a bit)

I was disappointed when I read that you are also having problems again. Doesn't it seem like some people get through it and never have to think about it again, and then there are others, who seem to carry their heart disease with them, year after year, with all sorts of issues happening. Hard to figure.

Your faith will sustain you. Your doctors will heal you. Have faith.

You are truly valued by everyone here, both those that post, and those that just peek in every so often.

We wish you the bes Glenda.

Marybeth

 

[AquaJeff]

Congratulations on your anniversary

Congratulations on your anniversary

My husband (Eddie) and I celebrated 47 years together yesterday. We were high school sweethearts for three years before we got married. It doesn't seem possible, the years have gone by so fast! We were so young and so much in love. We are still young (at heart) and still so much in love. He is my soul mate and my very best friend. I thank God everyday for sending this precious man my way. I came from such a dysfunctional family and he came from this "Beaver Cleaver family but fom this union came three wonderful kids and 12 grandchldren and one great-grandchild. I have so much to be thankful for.

Dear Glenda,
Congratulations on your 47th anniversary. How wonderful to have found your soul mate so young and to have had so many years together. You have been blessed with your love and your family.
I'm sorry you have to go through another procedure. Good luck with everything. You are in my prayers. God Bless

 

[Superbob]

Glenda,

Hope you can check out what two of our well-informed members -- Oaktree and Mary -- said about the great aortic surgeon in St. Louis.. You deserve the best!

Congrats on your 47th anniversary -- we wish you many more happy anniversaries, and we are rooting for you

 

[Glenda]

Thanks Al for explaining the weed eater and brush hog to Bonzo Dog. You did a much better job than I would have. Isn't it amazing how our English language can be so confusing! Danny, the pictures were great. Our John Deere is just a little bigger. My weed eater is a commerical one. It's like a lawn mower, you push it. It works great although it's a little hard for me to push sometimes. I guess I'm through using it for a while. Bummer! ! I know I'm probably not normal. I was raised on a farm and I love outside work. Even in the 100 degree weather. I'm strange, I know

I read the post I sent yesterday and I thought to myself, how depressing! I should have waited until today to tell everyone. I did sound like I was giving up and I think yesterday I kinda of felt that way but TODAY, TODAY is a new day and I'm not going to give up without a fight. I am going to start cleaning things out, throwing or giving things away. It's amazing how much junk we collect over the years. I've probably got three closets full of clothes. My skinny clothes, my not so skinny clothes and my fat clothes of which I'm in now. I'm going to start detoxing this old body, drink a lot of mixed vegetable juices, eat fruit, very little meat and no sugar at all. Loose some of this weight and start feeling better. God and I are going to take control of this thing. Prayer has brought me through many trials and tribulations and it will again. I also believe in the power of prayer. My husband went to prayer meeting last night and of course I was put on our prayer chain. Already this morning I feel the power of those prayers going up for me. I have received phone call after phone call and e-mail's from so many.

Harry, I'm so sorry you aren't feeling better. Hugs and prayers are coming your way. You are such a sweet man. I can tell by your posts! I wished we lived closer so we could lean on each other more. I would be there for you in a heart beat. Is that a pun? No, it's the truth.

Thanks again guys, you all are the best! !

 

[EireCara]

Glenda, It was soo hard to read what is happening to you, but already you are drawing on your 'inner strength' and it is this strength that will get you through this and beyond.

I will remember you in my prayers. Best wishes ((((( HUGS ))))) from across the pond.

 

[Rain]

AH, another case of "being separated by a common language"

A "Weed Eater" is a hand held device that spins a nylon cord to cut weeds (unwanted green things that grow in the ground including all types of grass - and I suppose that could include MJ. It consists of a long handle with a spinning wheel near the ground and an arm with a cutting edge to keep the nylon cord no longer than the distance from the wheel's axis to the cutter. There are 2 types, electric with a power cord and gas-powered where the small gas engine in behind the operator on the extended shaft. The operator holds the device near the balance point.

A "Bush Hog" is like a giant rotary Lawn Mower that is usually pulled behind a Farm Tractor with a cutting radius of 2 to 3 feet. The blade is powered by a rotary power take-off from the tractor.

Actually, the blade is more of a spining bar with cutting pieces attached at the ends so that if it strikes an 'immovable object', the cutting piece just spins on the attachment bolt instead of breaking.

I hope you were able to translate my "American engineering-speak"

'AL Capshaw'

ALCapshaw2 got it right.... but usually Brush Hogs cut more than 2 or 3 feet.... the ones I’ve been around, anyway... I’d say more like 4 to 5. Maybe they make smaller ones for smaller tractors... I’m really not sure. And unlike a lawn mower... they can cut larger things... like ‘brush’. lol There is a big patch of willows and some sage brush along the road of the property we have just acquired. I actually intend to keep some of the willows... because they are pretty and make a nice road/noise/dust/etc block. But if I keep taking a swipe as I drive by them, just for the fun of it.... I’m soon not going to have a willow patch!! lol And Elm trees are growing like weeds in some areas...like I said, if they don’t put a dent in the tractor.... away they go. Some of them 6' tall or more. (that's Colorado country girl speak) hee hee

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Glenda,

What you describe sounds like what is commonly referred to as "Patient-Prosthetic Mismatch", which basically means that the valve can't supply enough blood for your body. Losing weight helps (so I have been told!).

Whatever surgeon you talk with, you would be wise to ask what he can do to help transfer more blood to your body. You will definitely want a surgeon with lots of "re-do" experience and one who knows how to put bigger valves in smaller 'body parts'. Surgeons who specialize in Pediatrics or Congenital Heart Disease (such as Dr. Bove) or surgery of the Aorta (such as Dr. Kouchoukos) would seem to be the most appropriate.

Here is the contact information for Dr. Nicholas Kouchoukes in St. Louis, Mo.

Nicholas T. Kouchoukos, M.D.
3009 N. Ballas Road
Suite 266C
St. Louis, MO 63131
United States

1 314 996-5287
1 314 432-6068 (Fax)

[email protected]

Institutional Affiliation
Missouri Baptist Medical Center
Specialty
Adult Cardiac Surgery
General Thoracic Surgery
Peripheral Vascular Surgery
Background
University of Michigan (1954-1957)
Washington University School of Medicine (M.D. 1961)
Barnes Hospital-Washington University Geneal Surgery Residency (1961-1967)
University of Alabama Cardiothoracic Surgical Residency (1967-1970)
Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon, University of Alabama, (1970-1984)
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon-in-Chief, Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, (1984-1996)
Professor of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine (1984-1996)
Attending Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St. Louis, MO (1996
Interests
Surgery of the Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aorta
Surgery of the Aortic Root
Valve Repair and Replacement Surgery
Congenital Heart Disease in Adults
Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease
Surgery for Marfan Syndrome and other Connective Tissue Disorders
Bloodless (no transfusion) Cardiovascular Surgery
Last Modified: 24-Jan-2005

 

[ALCapshaw2]

ALCapshaw2 got it right.... but usually Brush Hogs cut more than 2 or 3 feet.... the ones I’ve been around, anyway... I’d say more like 4 to 5.

Thanks Rain, but please note I said a RADIUS of 2 or 3 ft which translates to a DIAMETER of 4 to 6 ft so we are talking about the same general size, just described it differently.

'AL'

 

[Rain]

Oops!

Oops!

Don?t let my boys (both engineers) know that slipped by me!!

 

[njean]

Thank you my dear friends! You made me cry. Right now I'll take one day at a time and start getting my things in order. I go back to the cardio in three weeks, so we'll see what the medicine does and go from there. Like I said before "whatever happenes, I win." Bob, hopefully in heaven my job will be the brush hogging! I sure hope so, I love to do that! I haven't even got to use our new John Deere brush hog yet. Some friends of ours are supposed to put up the hay today but it started raiining so it will probably be another week now. Then I'm going to have Eddie put on the brush hog so I can make a circle around the field.

My husband (Eddie) and I celebrated 47 years together yesterday. We were high school sweethearts for three years before we got married. It doesn't seem possible, the years have gone by so fast! We were so young and so much in love. We are still young (at heart) and still so much in love. He is my soul mate and my very best friend. I thank God everyday for sending this precious man my way. I came from such a dysfunctional family and he came from this "Beaver Cleaver family but fom this union came three wonderful kids and 12 grandchldren and one great-grandchild. I have so much to be thankful for.

Wow --- can't believe you love doing some of the same things I love doing. This morning I got up early & used the weed eater & then sprayed (round-up) w/my little roller sprayer. Then I took out some more veggies from the garden, jalapeno peppers, yellow squash & my first eggplant! Then I put the garden hose in the garden to give it some water.

I know that when I'm doing these things, I'm having a good day!

Congratulations on your wedding anniversary --- sounds like you have a wonderful husband & are blessed with wonderful children!

You have so much to live for so I have no doubt that you will get "fixed" up & then you can resume getting on your hedge hog and/or swinging that weeder eater around!

Get well soon!

 

[bvdr]

Glenda, you are in my prayers too. I am so sorry you are in such a situation with your valve. You've been through so much already. Just take it a day at a time and the plan of action you've outlined sounds like a good one. One of these days you will get your new body but for now yours will just have to do. How are you other health issues doing? Are you up for another surgery if that is what is suggested? Regardless, you sure have my support and prayers. Love and Hugs to you, Glenda.

 

[BDMc]

Dear Glenda The Good, You are ever in my prayers as well. I was just about to write you, to ask if you'd come down to my mother's place and do some weed whacking, and brush hoggin! Maybe I can get Norma instead...? Seriously though, you have some wonderful powers. You have warmed my heart, given me many laughs, and inspired me with your strength. May our hearts give you a haven in these tough times. My love to you, Brian