Modern Vespa

For those who know what happened last month - the hit by the baseball may have been a blessing in disguise. Because of headaches, I saw my MD
then a Neurologist. I have been having little problems for a while, started w/ dropping things, a little off balance now & then. Anyway, because of continuing problems, I had a CT, because of what was seen, I had an MRI.
Because of that a number of other tests some done, some pending. I already have a "disability" - it grounded me as a private pilot (I didn't feel it was safe to wait until I might have flunked a flight physical, so I never flew again other than as passenger) It is something that occurs & goes into remission, over & over again. I work at a desk job because of the problems it's caused. It's been in remission for quite a while w/ exception of mild flare up now & then. It can also spread to any soft tissue in the body. in otherwords it can attack anywhere in the body except the bones.
Well, looks like it may have spread to the brain. We're doing some more tests, and we'll see what we can do, if anything to try to quiet it down.
The neuro doc thinks I maybe able to continue most activities until we either get it under control or it gets worse. I've already made my decision, if all the tests confirm this has spread then I'm going to give up the scooters. I tend to be a safety fanatic, and I won't risk someone else just so I can have some fun. I've already talked to the dealer about my new BV-500 - he is going to try to sell it for me, and doesn't think they'll be any problem selling it for original price. I just got it replaced too. His mechanics couldn't find reason for the occasional pull, felt it was a "defect" and got his distributor to replace it. So other then the set-up & quick test, it has no real miles on it. My husband's Piaggo 50 also has very little miles, less the 200 I believe. After purchasing scooter his shift changed so it's been tough for him to use it going to work. He'd never operated a motorcycle or scooter before, so he prefers to use it when less traffic.
My husband has told me if I give up my scooters, he's going to do the same. He's not interested in taking over the 500 and me being a passenger (besides it'd drive me crazy) so it looks like I'll be a cager for awhile, then just passenger. However if things go into remission, I reserve the right to return to scootering.
If I seem a bit fatalistic about things, well this little problem had spread quite a bit in the past (one of my favorite quips to a new clinician is to tell them I can't have any more surgery as they're running out of body parts to remove). In the early 90's, they basically figured with luck I might have a few years before it totally debilitated me. We hit it w/ everything they could come up with, it went into remission, I got a job that didn't mind my medical problems, and I've been enjoying life. I've already had more than 10 yrs then they expected. So it's time to fight again, maybe I'll get lucky again and if not, well I've had one hell of a run! Not too many regrets, but I may work on getting somemore.

Wow I'm sorry to hear, but it is good news that you caught the recurrence. That is definitely a positive outcome.

Give it hell. You've done it once, you can do it again.

Wow, that is terrible news for you, I hope you can get it back in remission, best wishes.

Best of luck with this. Prayers for your success!

Wow! Best wishes and healing thoughts are coming your way. Let us know how things are going.

We are all rooting for you! What a difficult decision to have to make but you are a very good example of a responsible rider.
I imagine that somewhere inside you will see yourself riding every scooter that goes by.

I'd hang on to a small scoot 50-150. the big one might have to go due to the weight and higher power, best wishes either way

Sorry to hear of the dilema facing you...plesae stay on top of this and continue to collaborte with your Neuro Dr. I believe the issue may have been a latent problem that surfaced after the baseball incident...regardless make sure they focused on proper diagnosis.

I don't mean to make things uneasy for you...but have them rule out ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and / or Parkinson's. Regardless, there are meds that can help.

Plesae take care of yourself...thoughts with you and your family.

Fight like the Irish.
Love like the Gods.
Forgive like a child.
It'll better your odds.

Best of the best to you and yours....Many good thoughts your way...

Wow, very sad news. Really glad to see your positive attitude, it's an inspiration.

You have a GREAT attitude. I hope whenever I get to that point you are around to lead me through it. Obviously, you have enjoyed and resolved it. And that is the way it is supposed to be.

Now, how about a side car set up? Something different, hair still blowing!

Kisses to you and your hubby!

So, freakiest accident ever posted here, to having a lawyer show up when you got hit, to the kid next door washing your scooters to this.....

I hope you get better quickly and after that I hope life gets nice and boring for you.

Best wishes,

Eric

Sending all best wishes and good hopes your way.

Perhaps an MP3 would give you the stability you need to keep riding for a while longer? (That's my fallback plan...that or a trike.)

Whatever you choose, it sounds like you're making pragmatic decisions and you have a positive outlook.

I wish you all the best Scopedope

Good Luck, you seem strong and realistic, fight all you can

Thanks for all the well wishes and the ideas for how to continue to scoot.
Just for the record, it's not that I have good attittude towards this. It's more like I knew this day was coming eventually - when I beat the odds
and never had more then a minor flare up over the last 10 yrs, I began to believe the worst was over and it may not spread anymore. Might be why
I've been ignoring syptoms, something that other than a freak accident
I may have continued to do so until problems got worse. So starting Mon
I will start treatment. Doc wanted me to start immediately, but agreed a few days won't make a big difference. If things work, we can stop it for now at the level it's at, if it doesn't then only 2 other possibilites; it'll continue to do damage or may do some more damage and then go into remission until it attacks again. I've been living with this for most of my life, and as I said I knew this was always a possibilty. I've already wasted time feeling sorry for myself, it got me nowhere. So now I take a bit of time to assess the situation, then it's OK, let's see what we can do about it.

Now as for scootering: let me ask you this - how would you feel if you're going along and all of a sudden an accident happens to you or someone you care about? The accident is caused by someone who is riding despite having imparment problems that could cause them to lose control of their
scooter. I know I would be ready to strangle someone who disregarded
other people's safety for their own pleasure. So unless I feel it's safe for me to ride, I won't. I'm not exactly thrilled about it, but I feel that's the way it has to be.

It's impossible to argue with your logic here. I guess the only question would be: can you still drive a car?

If the answer to that is yes, then the stability of a three-wheeler may be all you need to ride safely without unnecessary danger to you or others, unless your condition worsens, at which point you'll need to reevaluate.

If the answer is no, then my sincere and heartfelt sympathy. It's very hard to lose your freedome of movement.

All the best.

I was thinking the same thing

Good luck

best of luck to you. that is terrible, but at least you caught it early.

I recommend a sidecar too. I just got one, and its a hoot. For yourself as long as it works for you, then for your husband with you in the car. My wife loves to ride in it; she doesn't have to pay attention to driving, just glides along and enjoys the ride.

I admire your wisdom in addressing your situation as evident by the above. First you are applying common sense (this is not as common place as you may be led to believe!). Second you are addressing your limitations and how it may affect others (very outwardly thinking). Lastly, you will be the one to determine if and when you'll be on the road again...
maintain a positive mental attitude (PMA)...thoughts are with you and your Family. Reach out to any one of us if you just want to chat...

Best wishes for a positive outcome.

A&A

your attitude and your courage are inspiring. i hope you find a way to carry on riding as it's clear that you love it. we're all rooting for you - keep us posted.

Thanks.

Scopedope, whatever happens, please keep in touch here. We are interested, we are caring (in the main!) and we can provide some diversion. Plus you'll never find a better class of insults.

Kia kaha.

Our new best friend was over the house last night supposedly for an art lesson from my hubby. I think he likes coming over, because we don't talk down to him. He heard me on the phone talking about selling the scooters. When he asked why I would do such a thing, because "they are such awesome things to ride" (things????? - I think I'm hurt). I just told him I was having some problems balancing and was afraid I might fall off or have an accident. He left saying he might have an idea.
When we left for work this AM, there was a bag on the steps, with a note explaining he didn't need this anymore and maybe it would help. That both him and his brother used them until they didn't need it anymore.
Oh, yeah and I was ready to kill said husband for laughing so hard he almost collapsed!
And if you guessed the present was `training wheels' - you guessed right.
Now I have to find a way to return them without hurting his feelings.
Of course all day I've been having a good chuckle every time I think about a Vespa w/ bicycle training wheels attached!

Aw bless him! What a nice kid Dumb, but nice. I like him 8)

If humor is the best antidote and laughter the best medicine, it looks like you're off to a great start.

Best wishes for you and your husband -- prayers from Georgia...

I am really sorry to hear this. I can't really think of anything uplifting to say but know that my prayers are with you. I am truly sorry...

I'm so sorry to hear that your out of remission but never give up hope. I would wait until after your current treatment to see if you go into remission again. There's always that possibility ya know. Also see what you can do within the scope of your new limitations. For example would a MP3 work? Think out of the box and in the end maybe riding behind someone would at least get you out on a scooter. I have medical problems up the wazoo and have had to modify what i do and how i do it. Also have had to give some things i loved doing but have picked up other fun stuff instead. I go in and out of remission also and make the most of the good days. My docs just shake their heads and smile. In the end i figure there are people who have it way worse than me and who knows maybe there will be a cure someday. May you find your niche and live your life with all the gusto that you have always had. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Yeah .. as we've gotten to know him, we've found out he's very innocent for his age. Seems `mommie dearest' has been a bit over-protective and he hasn't been with a lot of other kids his age. On the other hand, he is a pretty easy-going kid and very well mannered - so kudos to the parents for that.
I do have to admit, it has been kind of nice having him stop by.

Think about it:


Tow-Pac Mini-Trike Kit on My MP3 250


Regards
Harvey

Thank you all for your well wishes. It's hard getting my mind wrapped around all this again. I've always known it was a possibility, I just let my guard down after things were quiet so long. Part of the problem is by the time you start having the physical symptoms that something is wrong, a good amount of damage has already been done. Also, when I first showed any symptom it was after a viral infection last winter and it was chalked up to residual effects of that. There were a few other incidents when I had
balance problems or the "dropsies", but it just got chalked up to having a bad day, a change in meds, etc. If this had happened 10 years ago, I would have immediately thought that things were spreading.
I just finished up w/ a few more scans, being poked & prodded and Tues I meet w/ clinicians to go over results & treatment options. The one thing that is an unfortuate given: if treatment works & it's knocked into remission, then while I won't get worse, it will not get any better than it is
currently. They can try to stop the lesions from growing and or spreading, but it leaves fibrosis (scarring) behind. That, there is nothing can be done about. I've already beaten this a couple of times, I was told at one point that at the rate it was spreading, if we weren't able to get it into remission, then I might have a few years at best. That was in 1987.
I don't know just yet about a 3 wheeler - maybe if things clear up enough. I'll adress that if/when I get to that point. Meanwhile, my cousin
has a potential buyer for the BV 500. That'd be nice, as while the dealer said he'd try to find a buyer for me, he's going to push his stock first. Which if i was in his place, I'd probably do too.

From memory of reading Lance Armstrong's biography, his doctor reckons that even if he should recover from his illness he would never be able to balance on a bicycle again.

Kiwi cyclist Hayden Roulston could die every time he rides, but he returned home with an Olympics silver medal. (http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/sport/550672)

If you want something bad enough, you'll get it. Speedy recovery!