Bianchigirll 

Good Moring Everyone.

For those of don't know, and aside from a few comments I tried to keep it on the down low, yours truly had a very minor medical issue back in June. The Doctors said I had a mild Transient Ischemic Attack or 'mini stroke'. As it turns out after a brief stay in the hospital I was released, and have had no lingering side effects or other issue. I passed all my follow on test with flying colors and even made the 9+ min club at the stress test. Yippie!!

Here is the PSA: I for some reason did not know this but a stroke of any type does not have to be a sudden onset event where you are just doing whatever and suddenly you are on the ground. My symptoms were not very severe and had a gradual onset. So if you ever feel "funny" and have any sort of numbness in conjunction with it get help!

So far the only downside, well aside from no more junk/fast food, no coffee, cocktails or copious amounts of chocolate, is that due to Government regulations (thank you very much P.A.T.T. and you spineless senators and congressmen) I lost my medical certification for a year and can't drive a tractor trailer until next June. I also recently discovered as it turns out that driving a limousine also requires and DOT physical as does a school bus and even some of the better delivery jobs, like this one place that delivers janitorial supplies. That means... retail ARRRGH!!

Always one to march to a different and usually out of sync drum, I decided I still want to be footloose and fancy free so I am becoming an escort!!! {Pause for effect** Yes I am going to become an oversized load escort or pilot car driver. I have been wanting to give this a try for a few years and now is the time. I still have low cost benefits from my job, since I am officially on medical leave, and need something fun to stretch my unemployment other than selling off more bikes and parts.

OK OK OK here is the main reason I am telling you all this. I realized last night looking at that dented Tommasini that along certain routes I may be able to give FedEx and UPS a run for their money transporting bikes for fellow C&Vers. It might be hard to get a bike out of the Harrisburg PA area but picking up something and bringing it back may be pretty simple. I won't get much notice about where I am headed outbound but I think some place like the Quad Cities area is a 3 day drive out, so a pickup is easier. I'll have to see how the first few trips go and let you know if the bike transit will work. A big plus would be they don't have to be boxed up.

Alright I have to get cleaned up and ready to go ride.

obrentharris 

Thanks for the PSA Bianchigirl and congratulations on your recovery!
Here in Northern California pilot car work can be pretty seasonal because most of the wide loads are heavy construction equipment which remains idle during the wet season.
I have no direct knowledge, but have heard it said that there is often a big demand for rural propane delivery drivers once the weather gets cold.
Brent

Wildwood 

There is no privacy with electronic records. Medical is a biggie, but just one example.

Hang in there BG. If you need a night near Seattle, with your escorting, 24 hours notice is all that's needed. Just a few off I-90. Between Boeing and submarines (and a positive economy in general) there should be business in our area.

The Golden Boy 

Best wishes!!!

eschlwc

you lost me with "no coffee."

[get well.]

rootboy 

Lost me with "no chocolate" !!! ARGH, Why is that, BG? Too much fat?

Geeze. Glad to hear you're OK, BG. Not to get too personal or detailed but..just where was your numbness? In extremities?
Good luck with your new venture.

northbend 

Best wishes to you BG. Glad you can keep riding.

skoda2

Greetings BG,
Hang in there, but no coffee/chocolate, is a fate worse than death!!!!!
Regards
Carl in Ocala

jonwvara 

Glad it wasn't worse, BG, and that you're recovering. As someone who has a tendency to ignore warning signs of all kinds, I also appreciate the heads-up on what to be aware of. So thanks for that.

I have no firsthand knowledge of how the trucking industry works, but to me it seems like kind of a good thing that there are some medical requirements for drivers. Ditto for airline pilots, captains of oil tankers, etc. And being on medical leave is obviously better than being summarily fired. I hope it leaves you with some additional time to go ride your bikes.

inkandsilver

Wow, glad you are okay!

Bianchigirll 

Hi Everyone. Thanks for the well wishes. I am pretty much fully recovered, I was walking over 4 miles within a week of the TIA and by the end of the second week up to 25+ on the bike.

Yes the chocolate is no fat, I am more or less on a low cholesterol/ fat diet and I have been very good.

The medical requirements seem to be getting tighter and in some cases ridiculous. I can't drive for a year but if I had Angina and was taking Nitro I could get a release to drive. Weird.

jimmuller 

BG, best wishes and congrats on your recovery. More importantly, way to turn this into a opportunity!

Bianchigirll 

Thanks. Yeah I am trying to figure out how I can advertise on CL for medium package or bike transit. Just how does one advertise services as a "Transporter"?

pastorbobnlnh 

BG, thanks for sharing, and you had me snort some tea as I read "escort." Too funny! Glad you are better and have resumed normal life, even if the DOT says no TT driving for the next 10 months.

Should we all start scouring the central PA CL Bicycle ads for hot deals and then just hope you pass through our state?

Chombi

Good luck with the continuing road back to health BG!, If anyone here can bounce back even stronger, it would be you! You should be back on the road on 18 wheels, before you know it.

Velocivixen

@Bianchigirll - Do have a great time! I'm sure you'll make a wonderfully fun & entertaining "escort". I think it's gutsy & creative of you to figure something else out. So often we're limited by what we think of ourselves, not realizing we're capable of a lot more. Only limit is our imagination. So.....you're on your way and you can do this.

Thank you for the PSA - very informative and reminds some of us to be mindful and pay attention.

Shp4man

No booze, huh? My heart goes out to you. Sounds like you'll recover nicely,though.

Pompiere

Back when I got out of the Navy and was still looking for a job, I helped out one of my dad's trucker friends by driving an escort for an oversized load. We went from Northwest Ohio down to West Virginia to pick up a piece of a crane and took it over to Kentucky to a chemical plant. There were several other trucks with pieces of the same crane, but only two needed *******. It was a fun experience to pick up some quick cash, and now, as I can see retirement nearing, it might be something I would consider again.

On the PSA for TIA: One of my co-workers was eating dinner and dropped his glass. He didn't think much of it, but his wife insisted that he get checked out. Turns out is was a TIA. He has had another episode since then. Like BG said, there can be subtle warnings, that you may not think are related to stroke. If you have something like that happen, get checked out, before you have the big one.

Dan Burkhart 

Glad to hear you are recovering.
A good friend of mine, also a driver, had a stroke (the real deal, not a TIA) at the age of 48. This was very shortly after he and I wrapped up a 6 year stint running double team coast to coast. (If you ever want to test a friendship, that'l do it.)
He was off the road for a couple of years, but then went back at it. He's now 61, and still driving.
BTW, I'm guessing escort work around Harrisburg would mostly involve shanty shakers? That's relocatable modular housing for those that don't know.

bradtx

I couldn't say better.

Brad

Bianchigirll 

Thanks again Everyone. Oh yeah whenever I tell someone I am becoming an 'escort' I always make it sound cheeky.

Yes something like that. I don't think I'll a lot of time to get something picked up on this end but grabbing something along the way from say Kansas City back to Harrisburg should be easy unless I get a back haul. Also I am sure shipping from Harrisburg to Nowhere VT. is cheaper than St Louis to VT.

Thanks. I always try look for new things. I really wanted to try my hand at working inside as a fleet manager but I guess there is just too many college grads with a degree and no clue that a steering wheel and fifth wheel are not the same thing,

Yes no more cocktails 3 or 4 nights a week. That wasn't quite as bad as the coffee/caffeine. And actually once the craving and headache went away just the idea and almost muscle memory of getting up And making a pot of coffee is still hanging around.

Italuminium

Best wishes!

RobbieTunes

The transport/escort business here is booming (mobile home sales due to the widening income gaps, etc).
Super idea that you have to move bikes as well. No reason why not. I will keep you in mind. A particular mtb in Topton PA is starting to sound better and better....

Ditto on the stroke information. You don't have to be felled like a tree, and you could have all good "numbers."

This, then, can put you into the health care provider/payer merry-go-round. More of a roller coaster without a seatbelt, at times.

Hang in there.

dddd

Bianchigirl,
I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're recovering well so far. And, as one who dealt with the worst (and weirdest) medical issues of my life over the last 16 months, I hope that your full recovery reaches the level that mine has in recent weeks. I'll be ready for my first CX race (on a C&V no less) in almost 2 years this Saturday.

All of my additional attention to diet/exercise (riding), as well as the elimination of beer, chocolate and a few other things (which I no longer crave much) has left me and my personal skeleton feeling rather especially good at a time (heading into my mid-50's) that this is particularly important, so I hope that you get the same sort of boost!

All the best, and good luck staying productive.

Dave

Steve Whitlatch 

So glad your doing well. The Government regulations are making it very hard on us drivers in so many ways yet it does not seem to be improving safety all . It sure is making doctors and private investigators who take fingerprints a lot of money though. There is now a huge shortage of drivers and companies are forcing huge overtime on the drivers to make up for the loss. How the hell does that help safety?

Another option may be to work as an instructor at a Truck Driving School. I know one of our drivers with severe heart problems, who lost his CDL certification because of it, was able to make pretty good money teaching.