The Retirement Thread

[welsh dragon]

I had flu as a child. I was out of it for 2 weeks. But I still don't want the jab thanks.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I have never had one. Debating one this year but don't know yet.

I've never had the flu jab.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Jan Heine of the Bicycle Quarterly has written much about the superior qualities of larger tires with flexible sidewalls and lower tire pressure, and makes a case that unless you are in a velodrome, real world road conditions result in their being faster than narrow high pressure tires. He sells a variety of these tires, which so far are too spendy for me. Both my Holdsworth Special and my Surly Steamroller fit 35 mm tires comfortably, and next to my Brompton are my favorite bikes and they would have no trouble with the roads Colin J posted pics of. In my mind, gravel bikes are pretty much the same as early mtn bikes and many "road" bikes of the 80s....longer wheelbase and the room for wider tires. Changing the handlebars and tires to suit conditions is all it takes to make these versatile bikes deal with a variety of conditions. As far as weight goes, I ride around 20 miles a day or less, grinding away in taller gears at low rpms and 25 pounds seems fine to me. All three of the aforementioned bikes require little maintenance other than keeping the tires aired up and new brake pads, tires and chains as needed roll along just fine. A new bike, though, can rekindle interest and put a new sparkle on paths you have ridden for years.​

None of my bikes will take tyres wider than 25 mm

 

[gavroche]

I only started having the jab about 3 years ago and my thinking is: "any protection is better than none " so I have it every year now and never had any side effects. Why take the chance of risking your health?

 

[Dirk]

I've had a flu jab for the past couple of years.
I'll have anything that's free......

 

[oldwheels]

I've had a flu jab for the part couple of years.
I'll have anything that's free......

I get needles stuck in my arms on a regular basis. The flu jab is nothing. The B12 can sometimes be a little painful but bearable. I always seem to get learners as well which can be a bit disconcerting. Apparently I am a "good" patient ie a bit stoical with prominent veins and some of the procedures I have had you would not want to know about.

 

[welsh dragon]

40 odd years ago i had to have an operation and because I smoked at the time I had to have injections of Heprin into my stomach as there was a chance that my blood might clot. That was bloomin painful to have an injection every day for 7 days Into my stomach, was very ouchy to say the least.

 

[Dave7]

I've had a flu jab for the part couple of years.
I'll have anything that's free......

You sound like Moses.
God...."hey Moses, would you like a comandment".
Moses..... "how much is it"?
God..... "its free"
Moses......."in that case can I have 10"?

 

[Dave7]

Before my cancer ops I was scared of needles.
I spent 7 days in hospital and had so many needles stuck in me I just got used to them.
Like Welshie I had one in the stomach every day......not nice.

 

[Dave7]

I have mentioned that near to us there is a couple that set up a trellis every day providing free food, given by local supermarkets. I stopped there today and mentioned that MrsD wasn't well.
He said "stay there"......went into his bungalow and brought these out saying "give these to your wife".

 

[Dirk]

You sound like Moses.
God...."hey Moses, would you like a comandment".
Moses..... "how much is it"?
God..... "its free"
Moses......."in that case can I have 10"?

He was charged for the other 603 then?

 

[Dave7]

He was charged for the other 603 then?

There were only 10 BIG ones

 

[Tenkaykev]

I've had a flu jab for the past couple of years.
I'll have anything that's free......

This year will be my first, I've never bothered before but I spoke with my specialist who advised that I have one, evidently it's the flu weakening the body's immune system leaving it less able to cope with any opportunistic infections which is the greater risk.

 

[welsh dragon]

There were only 10 BIG ones

Unless your a Catholic, then every dam thing is a sin.

 

[ColinJ]

I had to have injections of Heprin into my stomach as there was a chance that my blood might clot.

Like Welshie I had one in the stomach every day......not nice.

You both sound like my late dad!

He developed prostate cancer and told me that he was having to have huge needles stuck in his stomach as part of the treatment. The thought of that made me shudder...

Then when I got all clotty, I ended up in hospital having daily Heparin shots until my warfarin kicked in. It turns out that it is a small needle, and it goes into the fat layer on the abdomen not through into the actual stomach!

I agree about the discomfort though. It starts to throb like a wasp sting.

I get needles stuck in my arms on a regular basis. The flu jab is nothing. The B12 can sometimes be a little painful but bearable. I always seem to get learners as well which can be a bit disconcerting.

When the nurse knows what (s)he is doing then it usually isn't a problem, but I had one who was completely lacking in skill, empathy, or common sense. She stuck the damn thing in, missed the vein, wiggled the needle about, then wiggled it some more. It was really painful and was making me feel sick so I started to tell her to be more careful but it was too late... I went out like a light!

I got her again a month or so later and thought that she couldn't possibly cock it up again, but she did! I was anxious every time I went to the clinic after that, and breathed a sigh of relief when I got a skilled nurse instead of her.

My regular blood tests are okay now because they now use a machine that only needs a drop of blood from a pricked finger, which is much better***.






*** One nurse told me of a patient who had a horror of having her finger pricked, but was perfectly okay with having blood taken from a vein!!! It takes all sorts, eh?