Fidel's Guestbook

Rick Goucher  Still stressing out waiting on avr and cabg set now for oct 30 the waiting is the worst need to stay off google because makes everything seem dire.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Richard, my gleason was 7 (4+3), then I was obliged to be treated. The surgeon left on me the option to choose either surgery or radiation. I chose surgery, the radiation had to be delivered in many sessions and I was scared about possible secondary effects in nearby organs. Finally, everything ended quite well, with some side effects.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Anyway, Richard my surgeon told me that both  procedures for treating prostate cancer, surgery or radiation, are good. The side effects of urinary incontinence can be resolved with pelvic floor exercises. I've resolved them 100%. Ask me anything you want.

Richard Munson  There were no overt usa haters at yesterdays veteran car show and i suspect there will be none today. Not that i expected any. We all stood during the playing of our national anthem with hands on hearts or saluting and i include some very young men and women that probably will turn out just fine. Too bad they don’t make the headlines. 

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Here, people like US and many travel to New York, Boston and other towns to specialize in different fields. Particularly myself like american music, moovies, history, novels and science and on this last one, the books of Richard Feynman, who was my role model and who I am a fan and even now keep on reading his books. They hold my neurons awake.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  For me too Richard. I confess that I like very much his 3 Lectures on Physics but I tried understand it when I was student, but only achieved It on the first and second book. The 3rd book was impossible at that time for me and even now remains so.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  It's a part of "Life is a dream", a play by Calderón de la Barca, a 17th century playwright, I think.

Richard Munson  Maybe he was in the spanish armada. On the brighter side, its nice to see melinda is on the mend. She has a little dog awaiting her return. 

Richard Munson  Its nice to see your hearts. I can sense you are thinking upbeat after weeks of nervousness. We all went thru it, some worse than others. Now the answer is to build back the strength in your heart. Not by overdoing it but by steadily keeping it busy. Walk, walk, walk. And more walk. Rome wasn’t built in a day. You will be home before you know it, which can present its own set of issues but home sweet home for sure. Showering was my biggest obstacle to over come. It wore me out. The shower chair was a welcome addition. I still use it. 

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Hey Melinda, I'm glad seeing your hearts. I hope each day you"ll feel better. Richard's advices are very good, walk and walk, gradually. 

Melinda Donahue  Hi everyone! Thanks for sticking with me. It meant so much and it’s still continues to mean so much. The doctor was in just now and he told me I might need a pacemaker. He’s not sure at this point. They’re just waiting to see I probably will be home by Friday or Saturday.

I had the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve and then somehow there was a hole in the middle of the two. They had to go back in and repair that hole and put me back on the the heart lung machine. So much for being scared of that one I did live through it. I didn’t have any out of body experiences either.

I can’t wait to see my dog. Poor thing was sick and I didn’t let my husband come and see me as much as he wanted to. I’d much rather he stayed with the dog. What is he gonna do anyway here just look at me? We just have to wait and see if I need the pacemaker.

Susan Lynn  Melinda - Hopefully,  your heart will find its rhythm on its own.  Take it one day at a time.   We're cheering for you! 

Melinda Donahue  Hey guys. Hi Susan Lynn my rhythm is a little bit better today. They finally took those tubes out, but they left the hot wire in. I’m going to be moving to the step down room today. I’m really happy about that. I can’t believe how many inches of tubing is actually in your body after it comes out that was crazy. It didn’t hurt either when it came out so anyone who is having this process done, the tubes don’t hurt when they come out it just feels odd

Susan Lynn  Yes, Melinda!  I was shocked at the length of those tubes!   Hope you get to relax a bit more in the step down unit.  Walk when you feel up to it.  It's the key to getting out of there!  You're doing great so far!!! 

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Thank you for telling me your own experiences. It will help me to overcome my fear of taking antibiotics, by the other hand necessary when I go to dentist.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  I prefer fresh air more than conditioning and free "toros", but running on the field. Anyway, spanish bull is a beautiful animal and some bullfighting defenders say that if it is banned, that breed of animal would be wiped out. Remember Ernest Hemingway.

Richard Munson  I have never met a bull ,only spread a bunch but i am told they can be quite ornery. Cannot say i am wild about killing them during a bullfight or sticking them with probes to make them mad but they are very beautiful animals. Bull riding may not be very nice either. I always root for the bull. 

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Yes, Richard, I play guitar as amateur, and remember "On the way back home" by 3 Dog Night. It was the time when I was with Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Elvis and even older as Carter Family, Hank Williams among many more. ! What a times!!

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Hi Michael, I forgot to say that had also several cords broken and streptococcal vegetations from previous endocarditis. Then the surgical team decided replacement and I didn´t have option, I think that the surgeons decision was taken at thevery moment of surgery . In general, there be good and bad repairs  and good and bad replacements. The golden rule is "repair as much as possible, but always on condition the surgeons feels him/her capable to make an excellent surgery". Wish you the best! Sorry to replay so later.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Hey Richard. In my case, Gleason scores were 7(4+3).  If I had got 7(3+4), doctor told me that perhaps "wait and see" had been an option but was 7(4+3), just on the edge but on the bad side. Then he (a friend of mine) pushed me toward surgery. I agree with you in the age factor influence in the deciosion making, I was then 72. At the end, I took the decision based in Gleason score.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Of course, Kim, my problem is that I don´t know exactly how to hang pictures or videos here- perhaps simply copy and paste- and also (important) if Adam will consider proper to hang here pictures or videos or if not how to send photos to one particular person. This website deserves a lot of respect from me. I´ll try. Warm greetings.  😘

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Granada, in the south is one town with arabic culture features. Spain is a mixture of 3 different cultures, cristian, arabic and jews, three cultures that lived quite well together for several centuries, until they fought- human nature, life drives and death drives.

Kimberly Eisenhut  So beautiful! I am so envious of people that live where there is so much history and beauty. I love watching movies and shows about medieval times and that have a lot of history and are filmed in places such as this. Thank you so much Fidel for posting these today, I am very grateful for friends here

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Yes, we have a lot, about 20 Kentucky fried Chicken in
Madrid- the label here is KFC. I´ve been several times with my wife and
relatives long ago. The mashed potatoes and gravy&sides very tasty,
accompanying an excellent chicken. Now with the cow valve, I´m trying to eat
with lee or no salt, sugar and fat, let´s see if it lasts those promised 12
years (lol). I´ll tell you later. I knew the KFC brand, but I was very amused
by the Colonel´s story that I didn´t know. I´ve laughed a lot. Glad your
grandson had a good semester here.

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Lol!, Richard, Welcome a roaster valve (sorry, rooster---my English is so,so..) to wake up with humor in the morning (here, 11,40 am) and laugh a little. Cheers to all.

Richard Munson  Word has it colonel sanders had a rooster valve. He crowed about it for years until his death at 180. They say he was cremated and chose the extra crispy setting. 

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Veeery funny Richard !!!! I´ve just learnt who was Harland David Sanders. I didn´t know this story. Thanks a lot.