Well, I did respond with the WTF emoji, @learningtofly, but then who am I to talk about buying parts with my heart. Hmmm, that could be an advertising slogan. And we could be the poster children for it. I've been absent from the forum for a few weeks. How did the DGR go on the Harley? And wow, not only are you getting a different paint color but a different bike altogether? The things that happen in ones absence...sheesh. P.S. I agree about a paint scheme which mixes gloss and matte paint. Doesn't look right to my eye either... plus it's a bear to clean since you can't (or shouldn't) use the same polishes/cleaners on the two.
Oh my, I am so sorry to read the latest report on your health problems and treatment, @learningtofly. I'm sure you are feeling extremely disappointed and frustrated about potentially missing your much-anticipated trip but also anxious about your treatment and your condition. I hope that your medical team can figure out how best to proceed and that it begins--and continues--to work. I also hope that you don't feel it's "the final straw" if you trip is cancelled. Related to that, Mr. Sandi and I have a dear friend and riding buddy who had to turn back the first day of last year's summer tour. He has been battling serious renal/kidney problems and a return of Valley Fever into his spine ever since. Although he was scheduled to go on this year's summer tour (which begins this Saturday), he still is unable to go. But I share this with you because he and his medical team have continued to move forward with plans that are working--albeit slowly. And he's on a new medication which is working better with fewer nasty side effects. So now he is doing much better and is planning to go to Sturgis with us at the end of July/early August. I will continue to send positive thoughts across the pond and will pray for you each day, my forum friend.
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words, Sandi (and for recounting your friend's trials and tribulations with regard to his health). Of course, it wouldn't be the final straw, it just feels like it right now. So, this coming Friday I have my consultation in the early afternoon and then pick up the new bike immediately thereafter (as I've mentioned before, the hospital and my Triumph dealership are on opposite sides of a dual carriageway!). I've already heard from the IBD team that my infusions are reverting to a 4-weekly pattern for a while, so that will hopefully overcome this breakthrough infection. However, I need to cancel my relatively expensive accommodation in Wales by next Tuesday if I'm going to benefit from the refund window that I have. This means that I'de have to be "allowed" another infusion immediately if I'm going to have any chance of symptoms subsiding sufficiently (Wales is scheduled for the following Friday to Sunday). I can ask, but I'm doubtful I'll get away with it given that the infusions cost £2k a pop and under the new temporary regime my next one wouldn't be due for another 2 weeks.
Ah, the DGR. Well, as you now know I wasn't well enough to participate in the end, although I did manage to raise a few hundred pounds for some causes close to my heart. Maybe for the best, as how i feel right now the Harley stopping and starting the whole way amongst 400 other bikes would no doubt have been testing, to say the least. As for those parts... well, I'm just turned 63 and I know the T120 is the style of bike that I want going forward. I can't see myself buying another for a long, long time (if ever) so I wanted to make it my own
I'm sure that it does sometimes feel like the final straw, @learningtofly, but glad to know that it's not really. I know you love bikes and riding and that's in your heart and soul. I pray that your consultation goes well and that the infusion schedule works to your advantage for both your trip and for your health. It's great that you follow up your consultation with getting your NEW BIKE! Vegetables first, then dessert. I can't wait to see some photos of it. As I always say, "nothing makes one feel like a little kid again like getting a new bike".
Thanks for your always kind wishes, @Sandi T. I'm not holding out too much hope for the trip, as I now have my next infusion booked for two weeks time, i.e. four weeks from my last one. That means there's unlikely to be any improvement prior to the dates for Wales, sadly Anyway, if I have to cancel I'll make sure that we rearrange everything (including riding the Mach Loop) for later in the summer. I've also made myself feel just a little better by buying one of my grail jackets - the Belstaff Turner in Burnt Cuero - albeit that I picked it up pre-loved with the perfect amount of patina (it was owned by a very well known YouTuber whose channel is all about him and his T120... beautifully cinematic footage, though). Right... better get myself sorted as I have a busy afternoon!
Well, I should probably bring this thread up to date, considering that everything has been going tits up in the background... Essentially, no treatment available to me was alleviating my symptoms (I was on my third biologic, with one more potential option to try). However, I was surviving on about two hours sleep per night, and was losing weight and strength on an ongoing basis. My colitis symptoms were also getting progressively unmanageable. Then, without warning, all of my symptoms became worse and I lost a rapid half a stone in the space of a week. I was almost too weak to get out of bed, and said to my wife that I could actually feel that I was dying, day by day. Long story short, and I had emergency surgery two weeks ago (an ileostomy and full colectomy... in other words, my entire colon was removed and I now have a stoma installed in my abdomen). A couple of days post-op I spoke to my surgeon, who estimated I had about two weeks of life left at the point at which he operated. I'm now in recovery, my bike is currently in secure indoor storage and I need to build myself up again in order that I can resume a normal life sooner rather than later. Aside from adapting to my "new normal" I seem to have sustained some nerve damage that has restricted movement in my left foot. As things stand, I'm unable to point my foot or toes upwards/towards my body, which would mean that - on the bike - I'd not be able to change gear upwards. I'm due for some scans to determine what's what. though, and it seems that a course of physio can normally resolve this, albeit anything but overnight. It can take quite a while, in fact.
So sorry to hear your latest health problems, but encouraged that your surgery has been successful. My mum had a storma in her 70’s and she had no problems getting on with life. Good luck with your recovery.
Only just stumbled on this thread. Son's partner has Celiac disease, so I've seen a small dose of what you've been through, life throws a curve ball, but is appreciated so much more when back on track. Thoughts are with you, onwards and upwards mate, use that new bike as motivation.
@learningtofly I hope that are doing better each day, Tony. Thanks for sharing so we can all send you healing wishes and pray for an outcome that is the best it can be and that allows you to do the things in life that you love with the people you love!
Another quick update, given that it's been some time now since my surgery. I've had a couple of issues in terms of my recovery. Firstly, my main wound took weeks and weeks to heal, which was a little challenging. More so is the fact that I have nerve damage in my left foot as a consequence of the surgery, meaning that I have very restricted movement - particularly impacted is my ability to move my foot or toes towards my body (the condition as actually called drop foot). Obviously this is problematic with regard to changing gear, but I collected my bike from storage on Friday and managed to go out for the day on Saturday without any insurmountable problems. I can change gear, albeit that changing up requires a bit of concentration; I'm hoping this will improve over the coming weeks/months as I'm now having physio to address the condition. In the interim (and knowing that I'd be without my bike for a few months), I decided to have a garage built as I'm fed up with the trials and tribulations of keeping the bike on the patio - particularly during storms when the concertina outer cover has been prone to flying across the garden! Anyway, there's a day or two to go before the associated work is finished but the garage is up and might just enable me to get a second bike at some point in the future (I really do fancy the new Tiger to sit alongside the Bonnie)! Anyway, here's what the garden looked like originally... and here it is with with the remainder of the work still required, although allegedly it should all be finished by this evening (which remains to be seen)! Just need to sort out the damaged lawn next, and do a bit of planting.
@learningtofly: I wish you all the best for your further recovery. Keep on with your positive mindset. Your building project looks great. Almost like a "Bonnie temple"!
Thank you, and yes, it was - although I was actually a bit nervous when I first got on the bike. It's no lightweight either, but having gone from 11.5 to 7.5st at my most ill I'm now back up to 10st and have just started exercising again.
Ahh, I'm glad I found your health update, Tony! I'm sorry to know about that foot problem but glad you were able to get in a short ride. Hopefully the foot drop problem will continue to improve, especially with physiological. I'm LOVING that garage. And @Markus is right...it looks a bit like a Triumph Temple!
Thanks @Sandi T - I actually got 75 miles under my belt, so did okay for the first time back on the bike, and with the foot issue. Anyway, the work is now finished, and the damaged lawn replaced with new topsoil and some grass seed!
