So sorry to hear your news. I love driving my Bo and Vernon has big plans to improve him but I am willing to give him up for you.
Thanks, Barbara -- that is immensely generous (and typical) of you.... After a week of deep thinking, I shall -- with Vernon's blessing: as I know he is taking up valuable space -- keep Hal on the back-burner: with the hope of one day having my very own everyday Selecta (and using the lessons Vernon learns along the way, with Bo...)! :hug:
Can only hope things get better for you Homeward as one of the more cheerful members of the forum you always make it a more pleasant place to be.
This, from one of my forum heroes (and there are a select few...), brought a little lump to my throat. Thank you...!
I don't know what you're currently taking or the actual cause but antiepilectic drugs like Topirimate, Gabapentin, or sodium valporate may be useful especially if the causes are neurological
Antidepressants beta blockers and Naids can all be very effective, and there may be a combination of the above which helps your situation, GPs are good but don't always know every drug that can be used in these situations and a little bit of research and a prompt in the right direction may be all you need.
I think I've taken just about everything on your extremely knowledgeable and expert list -- but another thank you, nonetheless! It's amazing what expertise lies hidden behind all this knowledge of ARBs and airbags...! [Thankfully, my GP doesn't mind me being an expert patient, either --- and is more than happy to follow-up on my suggestions (although she is remarkably knowledgeable...). I have been lucky with
many of my medics -- especially those who have been willing to work in partnership with me and my extremely awkward list of symptoms....] :worship:
Because my migraines have a physiological origin, they don't quite respond in the 'normal' way, though -- although high doses of Valproate were a brilliant preventative for many years (as well as helping with other neurological symptoms...). Since my migraines have notched up a gear, to being hemiplegic, treatment has stalled, though -- and I'm even going to try Botox, soon: although neither I or my migraine specialist is totally convinced.... We shall see.
be careful of surgery, too many pins plates and cages you might find your family weigh you in for scrap
This made me laugh: so thank you (yet) again! Makes a change from all the airport jokes.
Seriously, though, any surgery would be at the C3/4 level (above the existing metalwork) -- and therefore comes with many risks that weren't there for the original. [For those who would like this in layman's terms: this is pretty much where Christopher Reeve broke
his neck -- so you can pretty much imagine the consequences.] It therefore will be a last resort....
I don't think you should resign your manual licence (even if you can). You're sensible enough to realise you can't use it because of your health, but it's a useful safety net. There are occasional emergency situations where you might be glad you kept it - hopefully you'll never come across one, but it's nice to know the option to legally drive a manual is there.
I think this is a very wise and considered suggestion; and I'm always hoping that someone might come up with something, medically, that, a few years before, would have been deemed unrealistic/impossible. Pippin is far too much fun to drive -- but at least he will get used by the homewardette. I would hate to see Betty just sit there, waiting for the never-never, though; and knowing that I almost certainly wouldn't ever get to drive her -- if not daily, then at least regularly....
Agreed!
$tephen, I'm very sorry to hear it's so bad for you presently,
do feel free to scrounge a lift to events, as + when you feel the urge..
I may yet take you up on that...!
While I can't take ownership of Betty at the moment (my wife would flip out
) I would be willing to become a foster carer so you didn't have to see her every day but knew she was being cared for and you would still own her.
Bob -- this is also extremely generous (and, again, typically so...): but I don't want to own her if I can't drive her. I think it would do my head in, to be honest. Even with her silly (probably simple -- but it's not the solenoid: I got
that far... -- to fix) idle problem, she was an absolute joy to drive; and, as nice as it was to be at the NEC with a constant stream of people admiring her (even next to Kevin's Bianca), that's not my reason for owning her....
I too didn't realise things were that bad for you...you hide your problems very well which only goes to show your strength of character.
Thank you, Kev -- that's an incredibly wonderful thing to say. I've been practising at hiding this, now, for nearly 18 years: so it's good to know I get it right, sometimes...! Just wish I'd given in to Panda ownership a little earlier....
I really hope your going to stay around on here....in fact I insist on it!!
Don't worry: I'm not going anywhere, boss. This is the best section of the best forum I've ever experienced (probably down to the moderators...!): with the best bunch of people -- as you've proved again and again -- you could hope to meet and learn from. :worship:
I'm not a social beast, by nature: but I have made some very good friends on here -- and I
will always be a classic Panda owner of some sort; and, hopefully, when I've gotten my head around all this, hopefully a Panda
driver, too -- although I shall have to save my pennies if I want a new clutch fitting to Hal...!?!
It was the story of her rescue that bought me to this section of the forum and my near purchase of a 'proper' Panda (with your very generous offer of help to look at them!). In the end I bought sensible MK3 for my son, but still have a hankering for a 'real' one having driven a couple during my searches.
Thanks, Stu. Betty is yours, if you want her... -- although I wouldn't want you to feel pressurized.... Just let me know if you're at all interested. It would just be nice (although selfish of me) to know she was staying local to me...!
A final word, before I run out of Kleenex... -- I knew pretty much, I thought, how you would all react; but have still been immensely surprised by (and grateful for) the depth and strength of your responses. It just goes to show that what we all lack in common-sense and sanity, we make up for with big hearts (and small engines...)! I cannot imagine another group of people where I would have had the guts to explain myself so thoroughly: knowing how well it would be taken; and how understanding you would be....
I shall be at Stanford Hall, with Pippin, whatever happens -- even if I have to get someone to drive me there -- as it is Pippin's 24th birthday: and I wouldn't miss it for the world. I really am going to miss driving him, though... -- my first manual car for many a year; the most fun car I've had since my twin-cam Mk1 Escort; and just so representative of what makes them so addictive.... Maybe, one day, I shall have a fleet of Selectas, instead... -- although I wonder how difficult it would be to transplant a 1.2 16v Punto engine and Speedgear box into a Mk2 Panda...? :chin:
And, on that bombshell...
See you all soon...!
