QOL Post- Thank you KALIBER! - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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QOL Post- Thank you KALIBER!

GSDF profile image
GSDF
69 Replies

I was chatting with Kali several months ago after I was considering selling the scooter, fearing the loss of strength due to ADT would be an issue picking this 800+ lb machine back up if I ever lost my footing at a stoplight or something...

I bought this brand new in 1982 when I was 27 yrs old. Kali asked if I ever dumped it at a light before, I hadn't... He said "get on that bike and enjoy it!"... I finally mustered the confidence to get it out today. I haven't ridden it since before my first Firmagon shot nearly 2 years ago... It fired right up and I cautiously went down the street and filled the tank, came back and the old lady even wanted to go for a ride!... It was awesome!... No issues! Confidence restored!... Like riding a bicycle, you never forget how.😅

Thank you Kali!... Most fun day I've had in nearly 2 years!!! 🤗

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GSDF
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69 Replies
GSDF profile image
GSDF

The old lady..🤗💚✝️

Love her!
dockam profile image
dockam

Wonderful Brother, glad that Kaliber told you to go for it

Catch a QoL wave and you're sittin on top of the World

youtu.be/wkcr-qaPzrI

Bike on

Randy

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to dockam

The father of QOL posts!... Thank you brother! 🤗👍

dockam profile image
dockam in reply to GSDF

You're Welcome, I had a QoL blast this weekend and will post later youtu.be/wWA76KDPz90

Ride on Brother

Randy

Izzygirl1 profile image
Izzygirl1

So glad you had FUN!!!! 😃

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber

going out and having some great QOL time , IMHO, is key for stable mental health for both yourself and your loved ones. Your loved ones seeing “ you “ enjoying life goes a long way for everyone.

I gave up my Dyna Super Glide Custom because my bones and bone joints are severely damaged by cancer Mets. Every time I hear a Harley roar off I almost cry. “ Riding “ is one of the purest most personally enjoyable experiences I could ever have.

I strongly recommend that you have a bone density scan performed. A big bore motorcycle, any motorcycle ….. creates enormous lateral strain on your skeleton, and holding up a heavy motorcycle generates enormous strain loads on your hip, leg and foot bones. If your bones have been damaged or eaten away , it would be very dangerous to keep riding.

A story I’ve told often is about a friend that had prostate cancer ( two decades before I caught mine ). He and several buddy’s were stopped at a light on Blackstone ( main street here in town ) and he just suddenly fell over his hot pipes on his legs. One of his legs simply snapping in half from the weight of his hog and he fell over . He had a crumbling leg bone and severe burns and was taken away by ambulance, never to ride again.

I had to make the sacrifice, but I just simply am not healthy enough to keep riding.

Wishing you the best QOL times brother, take care of yourself.

As always , checking with your medical team , to see if they think you are healthy enough to ride is very important. I mentioned it to my oncologist and he just started laughing . I’ve had 55 infusions of Zometa to help with my bones and they are still at risk.

❤️❤️❤️

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to Kaliber

Now you got me thinking a 180 Kali...I had density scan in April revealing one spot of osteopenia in left femur head... Realizing now today may have been my last ride 😐

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to GSDF

ask your oncologist if your scans warrant you quitting riding. He’ll know best. Riding isn’t worth a steel rod in your leg or spine , just say’in yayay yayayay yayay.

I switched to a etrike and I’m able to still get out and get the wind in my hair sorta. I can run up to large local shopping centers and throw a couple switches and ride up and down isles like a mobility cart. I call it my hardly-a-Davidson. It’s an option when you are desperate to get out. ADT has crippled me and I can’t walk but this etrike adds a lot to my QOL. It does about 18 mph and goes 30 miles. Perfect in bike lanes and hike and bike trails.

Hardly a davidson
Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Kaliber

another view

Looks like moped in front, mobility card in back.
Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Kaliber

take it anywhere

Transportable with a lift.
GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to Kaliber

That's awesome Kali... I was going to ask you about the trike option 👍

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to GSDF

it’s handy for me. I can’t walk 15-20feet , if I want to get out and about without being pushed by someone in a wheeled chair, this is a terrific alternative.

❤️❤️❤️

Shams_Vjean profile image
Shams_Vjean in reply to Kaliber

bruh, this baby totally looks like it could be my next ride. Is there any canopy/ enclosure option available for those of us not living in Sunny Cali?

Ride on QOL Kali!

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Shams_Vjean

you can google : etrikeco for some examples but with enclosures you are nudging toward “ cars “ type of vehicles. It takes a lot of motor power to over come “ drag. “ . Prolly google trike golf carts too. The closer you nudge to “ cars “ the price jumps dramatically. A $3500 “ moped like “ etrike jumps to $9000 -$14000 or more.

Most places , if you don’t have medical mobility or bicycle motors / battery combos in them , you can’t drive them in super markets or drug stores too.

❤️❤️❤️

London441 profile image
London441 in reply to GSDF

That is the most common spot for osteopenia. Don’t let that stop you. Do you exercise your lower body?

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to London441

I do, we live in a 3 level townhouse, I built a gym in finished basement where I lift weights daily for upper body and then I run all 3 flights up and down x4 after each workout to strengthen lower and cardio

London441 profile image
London441 in reply to GSDF

Great! Add squats to your weight routine to keep that osteopenia low.

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to London441

I shall start them today brother, thanks for the tip! 👍

db1966 profile image
db1966 in reply to Kaliber

I sold my Triumph last year. It broke my heart. A buddy came over on his Vespa last week and I had a short ride on it. He was telling me how much fun he was having ( he’s 65) and I must admit I did enjoy the ride around the block. Now I’m tempted.

On a serious note my friend what effect has the zometa had? I declined it several times because I was so worried about the side effects. Doesn’t matter really now as I am edging quickly towards the end now anyway. Pain continues to get worse.

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to db1966

hey ….. if it’s got two wheels , it’s good …. a saying bikers have. A moped will get you on the streets more safely weight and torque wise. Better than nothing. If you want to ride local hike and bike trails or go shopping in supermarkets, a etrike is perfect. ( see my other posts in this thread ) . You can’t take a moped to CVS drug stores, liquor stores or supermarkets Yayahahahaya. I get “ looks “ on my etrike but I’ve never been questioned about it riding inside stores.

Zometa …. I’m just now getting over a Zometa infusion from last Thursday. The SEs only last a week or week and a half for me, …… but …. I call the infusions “ the Zometa pain train “. They seriously kick my a$$ , I can barely write this right note now.

I woke this morning and my left shoulder was compressed inward and elevated about 5” compared to my right side and in excruciating pain. Dunno what happened, feels like arm socket damage or ligament issues at my rotor cup. Like I was hit by a truck. Starting to relax and feel better this evening , just another fun day on Sesame Street. Recent scans show the Zometa works, my bones aren’t turning into tissue paper. I always have the mental picture about , in past decades , aPCa patients that their skeletons crumpled apart , shoulders came apart when you moved them … pelvic bones splitting etc. that was 30 years ago, we’ve come a long ways with treatment since then. My friend mark ( Urang on the group, now passed ) , had skeletal problems like this and had bones literally separate into pieces just being moved around . I’m glad I’m not “ there “ yet but the prospect scares me. That’s why I want all the Zometa I can get. I don’t want my Mets to destroy my bones.

❤️❤️❤️

MateoBeach profile image
MateoBeach in reply to Kaliber

Exactly so Kaliber. I don't understand why men with advanced and even metastatic PCa worry about side effects from Zometa or Xgeva/Prolia when they know they are aimed at terrible bone consequences from the disease. Except those who have dental issues that greatly increases ONJ risk. I'm still riding (very carefully with ATGATT) my BMW 1250 GS Adventure. If I drop it (and I have) there is always someone around willing to help me lift it. Keep on triking!

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to MateoBeach

those bone treatments are a no brainer in the people with the need. Still like you said, people agonize over the SEs. And still they often aren’t the “ end all, be all “ you’d want them to be sometimes . My friend Mark , while out driving his Luxury , slathered with leather and wood grain, Jeep station wagon , had to make a 911 call for paramedics when he made a rough stop and felt his neck crack and his head fall over to his right side noticeably.

He had a steel rod neck implant at the V.A. and seemed to go without hardly skipping a beat . That particular implant , tho, seemed to be his most troublesome…..needing more screw and bracket maintenance than his other implants in his spine, lower spine , mandible and legs. Sometimes we need to thank our lucky stars that we don’t end up with those kinds of problems. Still , Mark soldiered on for over 23 years before succumbing.

db1966 profile image
db1966

awesome. Riding a bike helps clear your mind and soul so good for you.

My Triumph Thruxton DGR ride out.
addicted2cycling profile image
addicted2cycling in reply to db1966

GSDF wrote -- "Now you got me thinking a 180 Kali...I had density scan in April revealing one spot of osteopenia in left femur head... Realizing now today may have been my last ride .... "

Why not a Can-Am SPYDER RT ??

db1966 wrote -- " ... riding a bike helps clear your mind ... "

*Riding a BIKE* = pedal power from legs 😁

MateoBeach profile image
MateoBeach in reply to addicted2cycling

Can-Am, Can do!

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to db1966

Nice Triumph! 🤗👍

larry_dammit profile image
larry_dammit

do what you can as long as you can. Love bikes, I’ve had one since 1964 🤪. Sold my Harley because it got to heavy for me with the hip issues but recently purchased a pair of oldies. 74 Honda 550-4 and a 400 Kawasaki. I figure if I’m right that I will be able to hold them up 😖. Well at least I’ll have fun getting them road ready again Never give in warrior

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to larry_dammit

Thanks L. D... Inspiring!

Scout4answers profile image
Scout4answers

Awesome Ride On!

You are tempting me to get my '70 Honda cb 125 out of the garage , clean it up and go for a ride. I bought it during the Mo-ped craze 45 years ago . I attached a metal basket to the rear and drove it around town for errands. Top speed was about 55 mph but it blew all the mopeds away and had great brakes.

youtube.com/watch?v=QULzFjm...

Honda
GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to Scout4answers

Awesome bro... 👍

CAMPSOUPS profile image
CAMPSOUPS

You and the misses be cool people. Great to see, glad you got in a good ride.

I've never met a motorcycle I didnt like.

No bike for many years now but the last year or two I have been Jonesing for a minibike. Something like this:

minbike
Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to CAMPSOUPS

that looks kewl …. Kinda reminiscent of a Cushman Scooter. Yayahahahaya. Pit bike fun.

I’ve had friends that put those jacked up racing go cart motors on those but they were a bit shy in the brakes department.

Nowadays , it’s the 2kw and 3kw electric versions of the pit bike that thrill the most. A little slower on the top end at 30-48 mph ., but hair raising …spine chilling acceleration. Probably a bit too much over the top, but leaves you smiling after the ride.

CAMPSOUPS profile image
CAMPSOUPS in reply to Kaliber

Yea it seems the torque/accel on anything electric is rocket ship material.

I remember the Cushman I rode when I was about 10 yrs old had pretty much a farm tractor seat or something. It was a finicky ride lol.

This outfit has continued the Little Rascal minibike build that we used to see as kids in the back of the auto accessories magazines in the late 60's 70's. Remember there was a "chopper" minibike too back then ha, ha.

youtube.com/watch?v=6wXjON5...

At a minimum I should press my son to let me have the madass for awhile that he and I modified about 12 or 15 years ago in his apartment. But yea he's worried about my bones. He saw the scans at diagnosis lol.

sacks
Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to CAMPSOUPS

those cushmans were loveable. A tractor seat , a lawnmower engine and centrifugal clutch. Crawled off the line, awful brakes. Then the Cushman Eagle , their top of the line everybody wanted back in the day because , like the VW bug, were so loveable. I saw that Cushman Eagle that sold for over $12,600 at that Scottsdale auto auction and I was floored. It was “ as new “ tho ….. but still yayahahaha.

A trike is safer and a etrike , like you said , is pretty peppy. You can Jack up the e motor in trikes … same motors as e-bikes …. But as the Hp jumps, the battery drains much faster. A lot faster yayahahaha. It’s hard to keep your hand off the throttle with that much power too. They aren’t made for that kind of performance.

Love ya buddy

❤️❤️❤️

CAMPSOUPS profile image
CAMPSOUPS in reply to Kaliber

I was going to say the take off on the Cushman was waaay slow lol. I think I fell over once cause timing was off. Expected it to take off but I sat there momentarily. Kinda top heavy right?

I hope bro GSDF is ok taking up a bit of his post but its QOL so I'll continue lol.

I'm very fortunate to get QOL out of things others would have as a nothing burger. I'm not saying I would pass up on a motor bike though lol.

I don't mind errands. Just picked up some meds from the pharm drive thru. Its actually some QOL time. Spark one. Tunes. Take a time out. Nice. I get QOL where and when I can. The breeze. The way light is cast. All that stuff ha, ha.

a time out appears
GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to CAMPSOUPS

I love reading it all brother Camp! 🤗👍

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to CAMPSOUPS

Dude! I have this same car... Nissan Altima!... I'd know that interior anywhere... Any tranny issues on hot days?

CAMPSOUPS profile image
CAMPSOUPS in reply to GSDF

Crazy coincidence. Yea its a 2009, 3.5.

Luckily no problems with the "rubber band tranny". lol.

I like the car just wish it was rear wheel drive, no abs, and no engine shut off under the slightest traction slip under high accel and of course needs a traditional tranny.

I read about that shut down and it happened once about a year ago. I thought the timing belt blew.

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to CAMPSOUPS

Exact car O' mine... 2009 Altima, same engine... My tranny whines a bit when it gets hot, like if I'm pulling hard hills in summer heat or sustained speed over 80 mph😅...goes away once cools down a bit... Been like that since I've owned it (6 years)...

CAMPSOUPS profile image
CAMPSOUPS in reply to GSDF

Had mine about 5 years. I like it on the highway/interstate especially. Accelerates fast and smooth.

She's spent too much of her life in the winter salt and finally I had to replace the OEM wheels. Too pitted/corroded to hold tire air for very long.

sittin still
GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to CAMPSOUPS

Same color too... 😄

photos.app.goo.gl/CByKNVHJM...

Carlosbach profile image
Carlosbach in reply to CAMPSOUPS

Camps, I think the secret is that QoL is accessible to us much of the time, we just have to grasp it where we can. I sit on my deck in the morning and listen to all of the bird songs, feel the breeze on my skin, and savor that first cuppa coffee, and life is good.

Driving over to Kaiser for some labs the Allman Bros rock “Soulshine” at full volume, or Tower of Power gets poignant with “So very hard to go”, and so on. It’s freaking amazing that I have all the important music of my life on my phone.

I could go on, but I guess I’m just saying that I get you, and I agree

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to Carlosbach

So inspiring brother Carlos! 🤗👍🙏

CAMPSOUPS profile image
CAMPSOUPS in reply to Carlosbach

I get you back. Ha, ha. I like your music going on there. I'm always trying to think up another maybe obscure band that I forgot about...Tower of Power. Cool. And of course Allman Bros are always a go too.

What you said ain't it the truth ha. I think I lucked out being an alive in the moment smell the flowers along the way guy all my life has helped in the PC journey.

Carlosbach profile image
Carlosbach in reply to CAMPSOUPS

Great mindset Camps. I agree totally.

Carlosbach profile image
Carlosbach

Way to bring back some joy.

In my opinion you minimize the he risk as needed, and then go have some fun. I just got back from trip tubing some class twos and it was a blast. That being said, I wore a helmet, a life jacket and long pants and long sleeved shirts. My skin bruises and lacerates easily, but I had a blast with only a couple of minor scrapes to show for the trip,

As for bikes, Camps ride is more my speed. I’ve been clipped a couple of times by cars, and my focus has been impacted by the adt, so I’m pretty cautious on a motorcycle. However, near the start of the pandemic I got my youngest grandson started on mini bikes, and a few mods later we both enjoy tooling around off road. I know myself, and if I were to straddle a husky 400 again the torque would tempt me all over again.

Thinking about an electric bicycle, but not ready to give up pedaling just quie yet.

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Carlosbach

❤️❤️❤️

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to Carlosbach

I'm with you bro... Kali has me considering an ebike now, but a two-wheeler... The story of his friend having his leg snap in half at a red light helped me make this decision... 😐

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to GSDF

don’t consider less than a 750 motor and a 1000 or 1500 is better and plenty good enough. Get the bike with the motor at the crank (/not in the wheel ) and get the wide tire model. ( you have to make those tubeless in your home shop and put active sealer in the carcass , the tires are pretty thin ). Ebikes make you feel 15 years old again. They supply a cycling excitement - thrill ( due to their effortless ability to go dozens of miles quickly and effortlessly ) Lots of high end e-bikes are tricky to mount and dismount, especially the mountain bike style . You can and do fall over now and then on those. Before you buy yours, try mounting it and dismounting to make sure it feels safe to you. Picture is ( was ) the hammers motan 750 folding ebike and you can see the front of my add-a-motor 1000 mountain bike. Sold them when I got sick ( too dangerous to mount / dismount for me ) …… some of the best biking fun I ever had.

❤️❤️❤️

Addmotor and motan ebikes ,
Carlosbach profile image
Carlosbach in reply to Kaliber

I was camping at the beach last year and it seemed that everyone else was ecruising. Looked like a blast.

My wife and I are heading to the coast today for some fish and chips. Maybe I can get her to try out an ebike 🤞

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to Carlosbach

do it …. E cruising makes you feel 15 years old again, and puts an enormous smile on your face. You’ll be hooked. A super fun QOL thing to do.

😁❤️

Carlosbach profile image
Carlosbach in reply to Kaliber

Brother K, you are not only a man of many talents, you are also a man of many toys. I hope pain train leaves your station pretty damn soon

CAMPSOUPS profile image
CAMPSOUPS in reply to Kaliber

Those are nice e-bikes. My drooling day dreams aren't on gas powered only lol.

I've seen a lot of cool e-bikes this past year. Here's one that showed up a couple days ago.

amazon.com/SMARTRAVEL-Elect...

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to CAMPSOUPS

There is a lot to like about that bike. The satisfyingly large Motor , fat tires , disk brakes removable battery and half what I paid for my add motor off road bike. The 32 mph is nice too … California restricts your top speed to 28 mph but it’s never checked on your E bike.

Just say’in

Carlosbach profile image
Carlosbach in reply to GSDF

Awesome! Sounds like a great way to kick up your serotonin and dopamine levels. Enjoy

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to Carlosbach

So true bro... Thanks👍🙏🙂

GSDF profile image
GSDF

Brother Kali, your one of the brightest guiding lights here... Kills me to see you going through what you describe... I hope hot jacuzzi helps you, it always does me... I'm praying for you tonight bro... 🙏

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to GSDF

thank you brother …. No biggie. The hammer won’t let me go out in that heat , so until it cools off the jacuzzi is out.

Im good, just gonna stop my “ pitty party “ ..cinch up my empty jock strap and man up yayahahahaya yayahahahaya. This will pass on down the road pretty soon … I’ve got a lot to be thankful for , I’ll just accentuate the positive side . I clearly remember what my friend Mark ( Urang on this group ) went thru … “ that “ helps put everything in perspective. That hard core warrior managed 23 + years of the draconian treatments of 30 years ago . Compared to the torture he went thru, my whining is nothing yayay yayayay yayay.

I really appreciate your nice sentiments buddy , it’s nice of you to say so. Gotta have some bad days along with all those good ones. I can take dealing with this to another level, and that’s what I’ll do now. Have a great rest of the day brother.

❤️❤️❤️

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to Kaliber

👍💚🙏💚

CAMPSOUPS profile image
CAMPSOUPS in reply to Kaliber

Hope today is better for ya. You sure keep a good head on your shoulders "cinch up my empty jock strap". I'm going to re-use that one myself thanks lol.

I noticed a red blob on the weather map over Fresno a couple days ago indicating 110 or so on the way. Said to myself I hope brother Kals AC works good.

❤️❤️❤️

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to CAMPSOUPS

haaaaay buddy …. Got some rest last night, feeling more upbeat today. Still got a spray of discomforts but they seem less pronounced , feels like I’m more on top of things. Definitely better , so far ( it’s early though Yayahahahaya) than yesterday-last night. It’s all good buddy.

Temps 100+ are the historical norm hereabouts, foreseeable future temps will be 103f to 108f . Same every year. We are used to it and expect it. The high Sierras are only minutes away from here , and the chilly coastal climes about 100 miles. Plenty of ways to shake the heat here.

Yes my A/C works perfectly, hand tuned be me yayahahahaya. I worked on hundreds of different types of refrigeration units at the veterans medical center , mostly all in lab equipment and refer boxes. , but when I retired, I couldn’t get the gasses , recovery units etc anymore. I took the online A/C technician refrigeration course ( ran right through it with my experience ) and became a certified AC mechanic so that I can work on my own unit and keep it running without begging for arrogant local AC companies to get around to coming to fix my unit, never mind charging extremely high prices for easy work that I can do myself. A/C wise , I’m good to go.

Hope you have a good day today buddy, thanks for thinking about me, I really appreciate it. Things much better today.

❤️❤️❤️

A/c tech certification
GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to Kaliber

You're amazing!... Your right, some of these HVAC guys are so arrogant knowing service techs are becoming fewer and fewer so they have their customers by the balls...i do my own work too up to the point where I need gasses because I'm not certified...You just gave me the idea to take a certification course... 🙂... Glad you're feeling better today bro...

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber in reply to GSDF

❤️❤️❤️

CAMPSOUPS profile image
CAMPSOUPS in reply to Kaliber

GSDF I think it would be easier to make a list of endeavors brother Kal has NOT delved into lol.

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to CAMPSOUPS

Right? 😄

Carlosbach profile image
Carlosbach

🫵 the man

Kaliber profile image
Kaliber

you can buy a set of hoses / gauges, cheap on Amazon. and that course is easy since it’s mostly open book. They try to trick you on a couple questions but it’s obvious yayaya yayayayaya. Tanks of gas are affordable on Craigslist, $350-$550 range … always buy a “ sealed “ tank to avoid refilled dirty gas tanks. A cool home is vital to guys sick with aPCa. You can do it and cut those blood suckers loose buddy.

❤️❤️❤️

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

So what fun did I do today? Cleaned out my Belly Button lint...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Saturday 07/22/2023 9:41 PM DST

GSDF profile image
GSDF in reply to j-o-h-n

😅😅😅

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