Hello everybody. First of all, I would like to start off by apologizing for not posting in a while. It's been a crazy month...well, in reality it has been an even CRAZIER year!!!!
As those of you who know me, you have heard me complain about my breathing once or twice (or even 1000 times) over the past year. I've known all along that there was something wrong with me, but according to the "experts" (medical professionals): they said is was pleuritis. In other words, an inflammation of the lining of the lungs. So after taking the suggested medication (Ibuprofen), I was supposed to get better. As we all know, it has continued for many painful hours, days and months. Once that diagnosis had run it's course, they then started to say that I was possible experiencing anxiety. HUH? I mean, I do overthink things at times but I know the difference between perceived pain and REAL pain!!!
Well, it finally came to a head the other day. I woke up at about 9 AM and my left arm had a numb/tingly sensation. I just figured I had slept on it and it would go away in no time. About 3 hours later, it was still feeling the same way...INTERESTING! So, I became concerned and called my primary physician (AKA My best friend...lately). He told me to go to the Urgent Care Center to get checked immediately. I went and they ran the same old tests they've run for the past year: Blood work, urine test, chest X-rays, Echocardiogram, etc. Anyway, like the rest of the year, they said that everything came back normal. So I was released about 4 hours later after being under observation.
I went home and I tried to put it out of my mind. I ate dinner, and watched some TV. Then it was time to go to sleep and that's when it happened. As I tried to go to sleep, I felt a very uncomfortable feeling on my chest. It was as though somebody was pushing down on my chest. When I sat up, I felt shortness of breath, light headed, and faint. Along with that, I was sweating profusely. I then sat down and regained my composure. I reminded myself that the docs had said I was fine. About 45 minutes later, I tried to lay down again and this time it was worse. The difference was that I almost passed out this time...that was it. Time to go to the Emergence Room, but who could take me. I mean, it was 3 AM and I didn't want to bother anybody. So I toughed it out and drove myself to the hospital. The walk from the car to the ER seemed eternal and I didn't think I was going to make it!
Once inside, they took me right in and began testing me in everyway possible. They ran all the conventional exams (I've had at least 8 EKG's in the past year). Then they ran the one that finally mattered!!! The test is basically a Oxygen Ratio test that tracks what percent oxygen is available in your lungs. In theory, humans should have access to 100% access in their lungs (Which means your lungs are functioning the way they were supposed to). Well, when the test came back, the doctor informed me that my ratio was 60%. What that means, is that I've been functioning on a little more than one lung...I'll say that again: I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FUNCTION ON A LUNG AND CHANGE!!!
So, what are the causes? The doctor said it was either one of two things (By the way, this is when my options start looking really bleak no matter what I choose): She said you either had a heart attack or you have blood clots. About 20 minutes after a CT Scan with contrast had been performed, the doctors uttered these exact words (I wish she would have her words more carefully): "You have extensive blood clots in both lungs". I must admit, I had a rash of emotions. I was content that the problem was finally identified, but I knew that I have a long battle ahead of me. After looking at my CT Scan, it was evident that I had a "substantial sized" clots and the main vertical artery of my lungs. The official name of my condition is a Pulmonary Embolism...and yes, it is as scary as it sounds! According to the Mayo Clinic, it is has the 3rd highest rate of death among diseases in hospitals....no wonder, the people here are being so nice to me!
So here I am...Day 2 at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, and I know I have many difficult days ahead. I'm afraid, sad, and confused...but eventually, I must get back into it and not let this disease beat me. One of the many things that such an experience has taught me is that I'd take my health over $ anyday!!! I'll try to write more soon, and I appreaciate you all being a part of my life.
Thank you all and we'll chat soon,
Love you all!
Raul D. Olivas
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Flashback to the 80's
The idea of the tomorrow's impending event has me SHAKEN!!! I mean, it reminds me of the time when I was a kid...WOW, I can't even express the type of impact this has had in my life but I'm going to tryl
Where to begin...ok, here goes. Many people out here in California know me as the guy from Texas (Insert Joke here Danny or Jaime...punks!!!). What many people find surprising is that I grew up a BIG LAKER fan. Which then leads to the question, "How are you a LAKER fan if you're from Texas?". My response is always the same, "Thank goodness for KCAL and my mother!!!" See, as a youngster my mom was not a fan of basketball...she was a FANATIC!!!!! My mother was, and continues to be, an avid sports fan but nothing like in the 80's. My mom was borderline scary...like as in cursing at the TV, and throwing things everywhere (For those of you who have watched something I'm really into, now you understand why!)!!! Given that I was an impressionable child, I took that model and ran with it. Now, most people don't realize that KCAL has such a strong signal that it actually reaches all the way to Texas. So we used to get all the road games shown on Channel 5...the thoughts of those days make me want to go back there NOW!
Ok, now I'm rambling. Let's get to the issue at hand, LAKERS VS CELTICS! As a life long LAKER fan, the dirtiest and must disgusting thing you can say to me is anything that refers to those damn Easterners!!! I mean, for the longest time I felt that the Boston franchise was a group of racists...furthermore, it seems that I wasn't the only one thinking this. Here's a team photo of one of the Celtics teams...you tell me (My bad, I got the wrong team but you get the point).
Well, the aspect of the game that drew me in the most was the level of play those
teams reached back in the "Good Old Days". I mean, seriously, how can you not look at these pictures and not feel the passion that is taking place??? Did Larry Bird ever miss (Picture to the left)??? Was Rambis's head taken off??? But nothing makes me happier than Magic's Baby Hook...Wow, what a game!!! I could still hear my mom yelling and screaming....UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
Now to the present, I must admit I'm not as big of a Laker fan now than what I was before. There's one reason...Kobe Bryant. One of the many reasons I loved the Showtime LAKERS was their unselfish play, and the fact that they all seemed to get along. Well, this new version of Lakers has been different over the years. Kobe is one of the most selfish players that I have ever seen, and the nail in the coffin for me was when he started calling out his teammates and demanding a trade. If you read the previous article, that DOESN'T sound like a team leader to me. Yet, since he actually started passing the ball this year, I guess he's now an MVP? But now all is well, since they're winning, right??? It's nice to know that it only took him 11 years to realize that there are other players on the court with him.
That's why I consider Magic Johnson my favorite player of all time, since he was SO unselfish (Check out his assist averages)!!! They don't make players like that anymore, although I feel LeBron James is on his way (He actually passes the ball to a bunch of stiffs!). I just think it's a bunch of CRAP, but deep down inside I would like to see the LAKERS (Let alone anybody) beat those Celtics!!!!! I would love to say that 20 years later, I'm at a Championship Parade that I never envisioned being a part of. The only thing that would make it perfect is if my mom made her way down here to be a part of it!!!!!!!
LAKERS VS CELTICS!!!!!
Where to begin...ok, here goes. Many people out here in California know me as the guy from Texas (Insert Joke here Danny or Jaime...punks!!!). What many people find surprising is that I grew up a BIG LAKER fan. Which then leads to the question, "How are you a LAKER fan if you're from Texas?". My response is always the same, "Thank goodness for KCAL and my mother!!!" See, as a youngster my mom was not a fan of basketball...she was a FANATIC!!!!! My mother was, and continues to be, an avid sports fan but nothing like in the 80's. My mom was borderline scary...like as in cursing at the TV, and throwing things everywhere (For those of you who have watched something I'm really into, now you understand why!)!!! Given that I was an impressionable child, I took that model and ran with it. Now, most people don't realize that KCAL has such a strong signal that it actually reaches all the way to Texas. So we used to get all the road games shown on Channel 5...the thoughts of those days make me want to go back there NOW!
Ok, now I'm rambling. Let's get to the issue at hand, LAKERS VS CELTICS! As a life long LAKER fan, the dirtiest and must disgusting thing you can say to me is anything that refers to those damn Easterners!!! I mean, for the longest time I felt that the Boston franchise was a group of racists...furthermore, it seems that I wasn't the only one thinking this. Here's a team photo of one of the Celtics teams...you tell me (My bad, I got the wrong team but you get the point).
Well, the aspect of the game that drew me in the most was the level of play those
teams reached back in the "Good Old Days". I mean, seriously, how can you not look at these pictures and not feel the passion that is taking place??? Did Larry Bird ever miss (Picture to the left)??? Was Rambis's head taken off??? But nothing makes me happier than Magic's Baby Hook...Wow, what a game!!! I could still hear my mom yelling and screaming....UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
Now to the present, I must admit I'm not as big of a Laker fan now than what I was before. There's one reason...Kobe Bryant. One of the many reasons I loved the Showtime LAKERS was their unselfish play, and the fact that they all seemed to get along. Well, this new version of Lakers has been different over the years. Kobe is one of the most selfish players that I have ever seen, and the nail in the coffin for me was when he started calling out his teammates and demanding a trade. If you read the previous article, that DOESN'T sound like a team leader to me. Yet, since he actually started passing the ball this year, I guess he's now an MVP? But now all is well, since they're winning, right??? It's nice to know that it only took him 11 years to realize that there are other players on the court with him.
That's why I consider Magic Johnson my favorite player of all time, since he was SO unselfish (Check out his assist averages)!!! They don't make players like that anymore, although I feel LeBron James is on his way (He actually passes the ball to a bunch of stiffs!). I just think it's a bunch of CRAP, but deep down inside I would like to see the LAKERS (Let alone anybody) beat those Celtics!!!!! I would love to say that 20 years later, I'm at a Championship Parade that I never envisioned being a part of. The only thing that would make it perfect is if my mom made her way down here to be a part of it!!!!!!!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
I love Los Angeles!!!
Well, here is my 2nd post of my Blogging Career and I must admit: I'm excited!!!
This past weekend, I had the luxury of not only having my good buddy Willie (That's him on the right) in town, but my younger brother Ray (He's on the left) made his presence felt as well. It always makes me feel good when I have people who are looking to come and visit me in California...I'm sure the fact that California is BEAUTIFUL has nothing to do with it!!!!!
One of the many cool things we did this weekend, was meet up with my friend Veronica (I would post her picture, but I might go missing soon thereafter so I'll pass!) and her husband to go eat at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. If you've never been, then you really have not lived!!! The aforementioned Willie used to make fun of the place because it has an ODD name...he used to say that he was going back to Texas to open up his own restaurant "Willie's Peking Duck and Pancakes". It's because of people like Willie that I seem normal. SCARY!!! However, he does not compare to Ray on the WEIRD scale. Case in point, my brother is moving to China to study martial arts...I'll take a few seconds for you to internalize that...Ok, like this CHINA!!! For those of you who know my brother, you can recall his many TRANSFORMATIONS: He's been the drinker, the partyier, the drummer in the band, the vegetarian and now this. As much as I tease my Burdie, he knows that I admire him for his determination and his words of wisdom. NOBODY can ever call my bro boring. I just hope that he's careful out there, and sends me lots of pictures so I can keep the family and the peeps updated!!!
On a quick last note, while at the Grove we were made aware that they would be having a live concert at the fountains by Sugar Ray...yes, that Sugar Ray!!! Personally, I thought it was a good show considering it was free of charge...I mean, seriously when was the last time ANYTHING was free? I thought it was cool that toward the end of his last song he came out into the crowd. He walked by us and shook Veronica's hand, and said "What's up?" to me. In the end, it was a very eventful weekend!!!
Hence, I HEART Los Angeles!!!!!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Ok, here goes nothing!
My patience is being tested right now...that's PROBABLY not the best way to start my FIRST BLOG ever, but so be it. I had started putting some information down (like a paragraph worth of good stuff) and then my computer just decided to shut down...aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! So, lets try this again.
PRETEND I'M ST
ARTING HERE:
First of all, I would like to thank my friend Kyle (That's him on the left) for ALWAYS reminding me of two things: When am I really starting my blog, and when are those portable notepads coming in? Well, in response to the first question that time has come. I mean, I had set my goal to start a blog at the beginning of the 2008 year...I missed it by day or two. The answer to the second question is...there on their way Kyle!!!
As I begin this new venture, I stop and ask: I thought I was technologically savvy, but there is still ALOT to learn. I have yet to learn how the quirks that go along with blogging, so please BE PATIENT!!! Just when I think that technologically can't get any more helpful, I run into stories like THIS!!!! What is next in this world??? I always thought the Jetson's cartoon was so off target that I would often laugh at some of the ideas...yet, are we really headed down that path? I guess only time will tell, and HOPEFULLY I have a chance to see it for myself!
What do I really mean by that...well, for those of you who know me relatively well, you know that my hea
lth this past year has been pretty horrible. The worst part is that I don't know why...and neither do the Doctors!!! (Ok, here' my time to vent!!!: After having the chance of visiting EVERY DOCTOR known to man about my health issues, they have basically said, "You're alright. You're in good health. It's all mental." Now lets get one thing clear, I agree with being a BIT mental (That's me on the right ready to HURT someone!!!) but to the point that my body is freaking out? After getting such "sobering" news, I decided I went into the WRONG profession!!! I mean I could test people relentlessly and then just play it off as though everything is fine...I don't get it!!!! Ok, I will stop typing now before I throw my monitor out my window into the jacuzzi...that might get me evicted...BAD MOVE!!!
Well, that's about it for this first post. I'm going to send a link out to all of you and any FEEDBACK will be appreciated. Please, be nice!!!!
PRETEND I'M ST
ARTING HERE:First of all, I would like to thank my friend Kyle (That's him on the left) for ALWAYS reminding me of two things: When am I really starting my blog, and when are those portable notepads coming in? Well, in response to the first question that time has come. I mean, I had set my goal to start a blog at the beginning of the 2008 year...I missed it by day or two. The answer to the second question is...there on their way Kyle!!!
As I begin this new venture, I stop and ask: I thought I was technologically savvy, but there is still ALOT to learn. I have yet to learn how the quirks that go along with blogging, so please BE PATIENT!!! Just when I think that technologically can't get any more helpful, I run into stories like THIS!!!! What is next in this world??? I always thought the Jetson's cartoon was so off target that I would often laugh at some of the ideas...yet, are we really headed down that path? I guess only time will tell, and HOPEFULLY I have a chance to see it for myself!
What do I really mean by that...well, for those of you who know me relatively well, you know that my hea
lth this past year has been pretty horrible. The worst part is that I don't know why...and neither do the Doctors!!! (Ok, here' my time to vent!!!: After having the chance of visiting EVERY DOCTOR known to man about my health issues, they have basically said, "You're alright. You're in good health. It's all mental." Now lets get one thing clear, I agree with being a BIT mental (That's me on the right ready to HURT someone!!!) but to the point that my body is freaking out? After getting such "sobering" news, I decided I went into the WRONG profession!!! I mean I could test people relentlessly and then just play it off as though everything is fine...I don't get it!!!! Ok, I will stop typing now before I throw my monitor out my window into the jacuzzi...that might get me evicted...BAD MOVE!!!Well, that's about it for this first post. I'm going to send a link out to all of you and any FEEDBACK will be appreciated. Please, be nice!!!!
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