Uplifting Spirits

[Brando CalPankian]

@CjM some good shots there. Looks like y'all are a true full service operation.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

@CjM i worked for bartlett too! Augusta georgia.

 

[CjM]

@CjM i worked for bartlett too! Augusta georgia.

Cool! I worked with some of the folks from the Tucker office cleaning up after Florence. I came to Bartlett in a acquisition over here in NC, interesting company. Worked for them a little over a year. Did you get to go to the lab? Some cool folks there, and the biggest sourwood I've ever seen


I'm enjoying this photo deep dive I have going on over here.

My friend Johnny makes the money cut on a tricky lot clearing.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

The wife helped me clear some forest service roads yesterday. As my apprentice she'll be getting some neato aerial shots as well. I hate being worthless. thank you guys for the support!!!! Looks like my heart is the problem. So a new or improved ticker may be on the schedule soon

 

[Serf Life]

Certainly not “worthless” bud, just a different part of life. Good time to hone other skills or further some lighter duty projects. I was laid up for about three months two springs ago and it was difficult to be okay with it. Thank the lord the World Cup was on. Do your best to be kind to yourself.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Good mornin folks. Finally got a diagnosis after a bunch of testing. I have something called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrom. Meeting with the doctor next week to see what I can do about it, but it looks to be lifelong.... At least I know now...

 

[Burrapeg]

I remember reading about POTS some time ago and I think I recall it helps relieve symptoms to always stay thoroughly hydrated and to get enough salt in your diet. Also, apparently there is more than one type and/or cause of POTS. I will see if I can find that article in my browsing history; it was earlier in the year and I think my browser caches this stuff for up to six months or so.

 

[CjM]

Brandon, glad you at least have a diagnosis now.

Seems to me that you don't need to leave arboriculture outright.

If I were you I'd be looking to see what of my tree care abilities I can keep, you know, pollard yourself here so to speak. Good way to keep growing forever.

 

[CjM]

Brandon, how are you doing?

We need an update!

 

[evo]

Good mornin folks. Finally got a diagnosis after a bunch of testing. I have something called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrom. Meeting with the doctor next week to see what I can do about it, but it looks to be lifelong.... At least I know now...

Fuck man sorry to hear about this. My wife has had episodes very similar to POTS, so I kinda know what your going through. Is it from the virus?

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Hello all,

I apologize for the very late reply. It's been a very long year. I figured I would provide an update.

When this all started, the doctors had no idea what was happening. I was scrounging to keep my life afloat and figure out my next move. It seemed everything I tried led me two steps backwards. I had been an IBEW member climber, and they pretty well left me in the dust with nothing to show. I'd finally been diagnosed with POTS, but it did not answer why this started, nor what was happening to me. All it signified was that my nervous system had began to fail, and that more testing would need done.

I lost my business, I lost my job, and I lost my home all in one fell swoop. Losing my career was the hardest part. Everywhere I go I see trees, so it had been very hard. I could not bear to log into tree buzz, as it felt like reliving the death of something I cared deeply about. I know we aren't supposed to let our careers define us, but tree life is truly a lifestyle, and it's unlike anything else I could imagine.

We moved from eastern Washington to the Washington peninsula last fall, as I received a disability scholarship for school. I figured the math and physics I used daily would make a transition to engineering easier. I'd been struggling to find work, let alone be healthy enough to work. I had to start walking with a cane, taking a bunch of medications that made things worse, and had to get a service dog just so I could safely drive.

Test after test after test ruled out more severe diseases (cancer, HIV, sickle cell, etc). I've been told that, since I was sick before the covid tests, that they cannot prove nor disprove if it was covid. I finally got the gumption to try going to a naturopath this last month, after more drugs and more therapies failed to alleviate any symptoms (bed ridden, fatigue, extreme pain, blackouts, dizziness, shakes and temors, lack of coherence, blood pressure and heartrate irregularities, skin changes, etc). The naturopath looked over my chart, checked a few other things, and prescribed me a bunch of different vitamins.

It seems he is on the right path. I can feel things beginning to work better again. I'm able to be up and moving more. I haven't had a serious blackout episode in nearly a month, and I am beginning to be functional at home again (just in time, wife is 8+ months pregnant). I am really beginning to have faith that I may be able to return to the career that I loved.

I'd been having major depression due to not being able to work. Not being able to provide for your family is hard. Not being able to do what you love for work is hard. Having your whole life stripped from you in an instant is unbearable. It felt like a death. I'm just now able to start facing this issue head on, which is what prompted me writing on this forum again.

I thank you all for your support, for the kind wishes, and for the thoughts and prayers. I know I am not the only one going through this type of thing, so I hope my story can shed some light into what may or may not be happening. I'm currently taking b12 shot 2000mg 2x per week, NAC, ALA, vitamins a c and d, plus an entire diet change with tons of fruits and veggies, on top of the 4 medications I am taking to maintain blood pressure and heart rate.

I am hoping that I get to return to work again in the next couple of months. I doubt it will be for IBEW again, as they haven't attempted to help or communicate with me this whole time. I'm hoping we get to stay in the Port Angeles area, as this is where I really want to live. At this point, a healthy work environment with a good company and a "family" group of guys sounds more welcome than the rest. I am building a family, and this all has taught me the value of relationships, of good work, and of the people you surround yourself with.

Again, thank all of you. This has been a very trying time. It'd been back and forth from "you're dying" from doctors to "just wait" from doctors. Keep on keeping on, climb high, and stay safe.

Much love,

Brandon

 

[Njdelaney]

Has anyone tested your thyroid levels? You could have Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It's an autoimmune condition where your body attacks your own thyroid gland. Because your thyroid gland secretes hormones that control most of your body systems, it can look like many other conditions. Worth a look if you haven't seen an endocrinologist. Glad to hear you're getting some relief.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

They've ran a bunch of blood tests. Getting to see specialists right now is a joke, unfortunately. I will look into it though. I know thyroid stuff could throw off the whole body. Thank you for the input!

 

[metaspencer]

I have a bit of request from the tree fam... I've been having some health issues since January. What started out as pneumonia that I had hoped I kicked has turned in to heart and lung issues. I've not been able to work since the beginning of March, and unfortunately our medical systems are so overwhelmed that if it's not covid related or life or death they're saying stay home and be patient. I'm going stir crazy. I can't walk more than a few seconds without becoming faint or blacking out (was scary when it happened at work).

All I'm asking is for some smiling faces, some beautiful trees, some pictures of hard workers and healthy teams and familys. I'm trying to stay positive and focus on being able to come back to the work I love. I've been thankful for my families health and this time to explore new hobbies. But man, I miss the canopies. Thanks for humoring me. Climb high.

Brandon

Hang in buddy! Rest will do ya good

 

[evo]

Hello all,

I apologize for the very late reply. It's been a very long year. I figured I would provide an update.

When this all started, the doctors had no idea what was happening. I was scrounging to keep my life afloat and figure out my next move. It seemed everything I tried led me two steps backwards. I had been an IBEW member climber, and they pretty well left me in the dust with nothing to show. I'd finally been diagnosed with POTS, but it did not answer why this started, nor what was happening to me. All it signified was that my nervous system had began to fail, and that more testing would need done.

I lost my business, I lost my job, and I lost my home all in one fell swoop. Losing my career was the hardest part. Everywhere I go I see trees, so it had been very hard. I could not bear to log into tree buzz, as it felt like reliving the death of something I cared deeply about. I know we aren't supposed to let our careers define us, but tree life is truly a lifestyle, and it's unlike anything else I could imagine.

We moved from eastern Washington to the Washington peninsula last fall, as I received a disability scholarship for school. I figured the math and physics I used daily would make a transition to engineering easier. I'd been struggling to find work, let alone be healthy enough to work. I had to start walking with a cane, taking a bunch of medications that made things worse, and had to get a service dog just so I could safely drive.

Test after test after test ruled out more severe diseases (cancer, HIV, sickle cell, etc). I've been told that, since I was sick before the covid tests, that they cannot prove nor disprove if it was covid. I finally got the gumption to try going to a naturopath this last month, after more drugs and more therapies failed to alleviate any symptoms (bed ridden, fatigue, extreme pain, blackouts, dizziness, shakes and temors, lack of coherence, blood pressure and heartrate irregularities, skin changes, etc). The naturopath looked over my chart, checked a few other things, and prescribed me a bunch of different vitamins.

It seems he is on the right path. I can feel things beginning to work better again. I'm able to be up and moving more. I haven't had a serious blackout episode in nearly a month, and I am beginning to be functional at home again (just in time, wife is 8+ months pregnant). I am really beginning to have faith that I may be able to return to the career that I loved.

I'd been having major depression due to not being able to work. Not being able to provide for your family is hard. Not being able to do what you love for work is hard. Having your whole life stripped from you in an instant is unbearable. It felt like a death. I'm just now able to start facing this issue head on, which is what prompted me writing on this forum again.

I thank you all for your support, for the kind wishes, and for the thoughts and prayers. I know I am not the only one going through this type of thing, so I hope my story can shed some light into what may or may not be happening. I'm currently taking b12 shot 2000mg 2x per week, NAC, ALA, vitamins a c and d, plus an entire diet change with tons of fruits and veggies, on top of the 4 medications I am taking to maintain blood pressure and heart rate.

I am hoping that I get to return to work again in the next couple of months. I doubt it will be for IBEW again, as they haven't attempted to help or communicate with me this whole time. I'm hoping we get to stay in the Port Angeles area, as this is where I really want to live. At this point, a healthy work environment with a good company and a "family" group of guys sounds more welcome than the rest. I am building a family, and this all has taught me the value of relationships, of good work, and of the people you surround yourself with.

Again, thank all of you. This has been a very trying time. It'd been back and forth from "you're dying" from doctors to "just wait" from doctors. Keep on keeping on, climb high, and stay safe.

Much love,

Brandon

I have so much I want to say. That symptom list and diagnosis is very familiar to me. My wife had a eerily similar symptom list and tested positive for Lyme. Pm/Dm me and I’ll shoot you my phone number if you want to talk. You moved super close to me, just over on Whidbey.

 

[flushcut]

Sounds a lot like sever Lyme's.
Hoping and praying for the best!

 

[Tuebor]

Dang, I feel for ya!

I went through something similar although not nearly as bad - 10 months of testing and searching (and losing 24% of my body weight) before I was diagnosed with lymphoma, followed by 7 months of chemo, a divorce, and 30 months off work. Luckily I worked at a company with great benefits, and a union that negotiated those benefits and kicked in with its own disability plan. Through the marvel of modern medicine, I bounced back stronger than ever. With the time off, I learned to climb and got a taste of what retirement would be like. Can't say I missed worked for a minute, lol.

Hang in there. Adversity forced upon you when you're not ready will really change you, but for the better. Hard to imagine at times. I think about how if I hadn't gone through it, right now I could be some fat asshole, sitting on a golf cart, bitching about anything and everything. I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Njdelaney]

Glad you're still with us Mike! My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer less than a year after we were married and our son was only 18 months old. They threw the kitchen sink at her because she was young and relatively healthy so chemo, radiation, hormone therapy. It was a rough year and a half.. She has made a full recovery as well, and to echo your experience it changed her whole outlook on life for the better and made her realize how tough she really is. Keep digging Brandon until you get some answers, and in the meantime all the changes you're making are good ones even if you weren't sick.

 

[Treezybreez]

I have so much I want to say. That symptom list and diagnosis is very familiar to me. My wife had a eerily similar symptom list and tested positive for Lyme. Pm/Dm me and I’ll shoot you my phone number if you want to talk. You moved super close to me, just over on Whidbey.

Yeah, I was thinking Lyme too, as I read through the list. Wouldn't hurt to take a treatment for Lyme, just to rule it out. Testing for Lyme is not very reliable.

 

[Treezybreez]

Brandon, I want you to know that my family is praying for you. Sounds like you've been put through the ringer. I'm glad that you are experiencing some progress and I hope that you will make a full recovery. Please keep us posted.