[Racer X 69]

That's almost 6x more parts!

And 6 times as much fun to build.














I think.






















Not too sure I'd like all the dust from the carbon fiber.

[Racer X 69]

So even though I've been around the past week or so, I haven't been doing so great.


I may have mentioned Mrs. Racer and I were headed for the coast for some quality time with family. The house was great, the company was good, but shortly after heading out last week I noticed something was amiss. I took ibuprofen for what felt like middle back pain.


A lot of ibuprofen.


The symptoms got worse, then subsided. I spent several nights without sleep. Then I slept and felt OK. twice I was ready to go find a doctor. Made it to Monday at 1am, and Mrs. Racer told me to get ready to head home. She dropped me at the ER on our way home, I wound up with tubes sticking out of me and endured a barrage of testing and an assault by numerous people of various specialty.


After about 11 hours they cut me loose with instructions for a strict 72 hour clear liquid diet and a follow up with the GP.

The diagnosis? Acute pancreatitis to start, then numerous side effects. (later they tell me the pancreatic inflammation was the result of a fatty liver)


Mrs. Racer drove into town and on the way home we picked up some prescriptions and fluids.


After the first 24 hours f fluids I realized there were considerably more going in than coming out. About a 1,000 to 0.001 ratio.


I was gaining weight, probably water from not peeing.


Back to the ER.


More tubes and blood samples. More scans and tests.


About 13 hours later Mrs. Racer drove back into town and took me home.

They never did tell me why I wasn't peeing, but they did give me a liter if fluid through the IV. Go figure.

I finally started peeing better Thursday morning. Saw my GP, we had a nice talk, and we discussed diet strategies.


It is weird to not burp or fart for 6 days.


Today I actually feel reasonably normal. Missed work all week, but should be ready to rock Monday. There is one Percocet left in the prescription bottle, and I may just get through this without it.


I am now almost, but not quite, a vegetarian. I will choose and prepare just about everything that passes my lips from here on out. This evening Mrs. Racer fixed some pork loin medallion thingies she found at Costco the other day.


No more popcorn with extra butter at the movies.


No more ice cream.


No more pie with ice cream.




No more bacon cheeseburgers.












Say it ain't so!

[MarkJerling]

No more bacon cheeseburgers.
:

That line shocked me most!

Jokes aside - Good to hear you're OK.

[tim60]

Goooooood choice. I've been longing for some Bavarian wheat beer for some time - I know a couple of pubs that have some on tap, but I still need to find a supplier of bottles for my fridge. The local Tesco superstore has two aisles of beers from around the world, but no German wheat beers!

Sorry to have to inform you. Tesco is NOT a specialist or highend supplier.

---------- Post added 09-25-16 at 05:26 PM ----------

Oh yeah.

Never rode on one of them. That Qantas one would be the special version with extra strong wheels so it could survive the hump in the middle of the airstrip in Fiji, from the days when cross pacific flight was three steps - stops at Nadi and Honolulu. Now very hard to go from Australia to Hawaii on a normal airline because they can bypass it.

---------- Post added 09-25-16 at 05:28 PM ----------

Not too sure I'd like all the dust from the carbon fiber.

Hopefully no doctor discovers carbon fibre is like asbestos, and then names the disease after himself.

---------- Post added 09-25-16 at 05:34 PM ----------

So even though I've been around the past week or so, I haven't been doing so great.

A lot of ibuprofen.

The diagnosis? Acute pancreatitis to start, then numerous side effects. (later they tell me the pancreatic inflammation was the result of a fatty liver)

Say it ain't so!

Good your repairs are progressing. Sounds very unpleasant.

[MarkJerling]

Not too sure I'd like all the dust from the carbon fiber.

I've not thought of that! Is that a problem with carbon fiber manufacture?

[FantasticMrFox]

Sorry to have to inform you. Tesco is NOT a specialist or highend supplier.

Well aware But I didn't expect to have to seek out a specialist to obtain one of the world's most popular beers.

[robtcorl]

Today I actually feel reasonably normal.

Good to hear!
Sounds like a really rough and probably scary stretch of road.
I know I would be very worried with all that going on.
not to mention no pee, no burp, no fart.

[savoche]

Today I actually feel reasonably normal.

Good to hear! That was a scary story - and not with an entirely happy ending... I think I'll need some bacon wrapped bacon with bacon bits to recover.

Umm, and I assume that when you say you're feeling "normal" we're talking physical health?

Thought so.

[Racer X 69]

Hopefully no doctor discovers carbon fibre is like asbestos, and then names the disease after himself.

Under the microscope the fibers have barbs. Unlike fiberglass fibers, which don't, a bit of carbon will go in and not come out. It just keeps going deeper.


Like asbestos.

[Racer X 69]

I've not thought of that! Is that a problem with carbon fiber manufacture?

I suspect so.


The training for mechanics in the 787 program is very different than mechanics on other (metal airplane) programs. Rivets cannot be used on carbon fiber part assemblies, so everything has to be assembled using Huck bolts and Hi-Locks.


Drilling is different for carbon fiber than it is for aluminum, titanium and CRES (CRES is a type of steel alloy used in airplane manufacturing). And every bit of the dust and shavings absolutely must be captured and contained during the drilling and countersinking processes. Of course it is impossible to catch it all, so some escapes.


Guess where it goes?




I have passed up a few 'opportunities' to move to the 787 program. Somehow wearing a dust mask all day, every day just doesn't appeal to me. Besides, I'd have to shave off my moustache (it extends down to my chin and hangs about 5'' below) and be clean shaven every day.


4 years, 11 months . . . . . . . .

[Racer X 69]

Jokes aside - Good to hear you're OK.

Thanks Mark!

Good your repairs are progressing.

Thanks Tim!

Sounds very unpleasant.

Indeed, it was very unpleasant. Imagine, if you can, how it might feel to be run through with a saber, abut where your ribs come together, to the mid back.


Repeatedly.


The pain was so intense it was impossible to do anything.

Good to hear!

Thanks Bob!

Sounds like a really rough and probably scary stretch of road.
I know I would be very worried with all that going on.

Very rough and scary. A real wake up call, to be sure.

not to mention no pee, no burp, no fart.

It was weird, no doubt.

Good to hear! That was a scary story - and not with an entirely happy ending... I think I'll need some bacon wrapped bacon with bacon bits to recover.

You are so mean!

Umm, and I assume that when you say you're feeling "normal" we're talking physical health?

Thought so.

Maybe.

[savoche]

You are so mean!

I know

[Ex Finn.]

No more ice cream.


No more pie with ice cream.




No more bacon cheeseburgers.

That sucks, glad that you are feeling better.

[MarkJerling]

Under the microscope the fibers have barbs. Unlike fiberglass fibers, which don't, a bit of carbon will go in and not come out. It just keeps going deeper.


Like asbestos.

I'll have to remember to not crash my bicycle!

[Ex Finn.]

CF is nasty. Carbon nano-tubes are even worse! My bicycle is made out of Japanese special blend steel
I cycled 62 miles today, in order to have this for dinner...