Not sure that this belongs here but take care of yourselves

[eddieq]

I have had a persistent cough for some time now that has gotten progressively worse.  I finally went to an urgent care where they took a chest xray and found, "atelectasis" which is partial collapse of a lung or node.  The xray shows a narrow band of collapsed air sacks near the bottom of the one lung node.  It's speculation but the doctor tells me it could be from a blunt force injury.  So while there is a lot of talk about heart stopping blows to the chest, don't ignore symptoms like a cough or shortness of breath after taking a shot.

I'm on a series of meds and basically instructions to keep breathing deeply to try to get those air sacks filling again.  Following up with my family doctor as well.

So for sure, listen to your body.  Stay hydrated.  Keep your fitness level up as much as possible.  Above all have a great game!

[Thunderheads]

If you need to spend more money on a hard shell chest protector ...this story should be the one that encourages that. Regardless of the level ... better protection is ALWAYS a good idea  

[The Man in Blue]

Glad you caught it before it devolved into something worse, @eddieq.

Yes, we need to listen to our bodies, even when we don't think it is telling us anything new.  Stop playing tough guy, drink water, and get it checked out.

Last weekend I worked a "battle of the sexes" game for our local summer wooden bat team.  We worked a 4-man crew which almost went down to a 3-man crew (withholding another "bitching about assignors story").  I love the guys I was with, but due to their age, I was not willing to work 3-man with them.  We ended up with a crew on the field with a combined 170 years of umpiring experience.  What scared me is the fact that they are the kind that will not speak up or recognize when something happens to them.

The next day, I worked three baseball games with an umpire who is undergoing chemotherapy.  She said she was feeling good, but she brought her daughter with her to keep an eye on her in the heat.  I struggled with this one . . . my gut instinct is that we are short of umpires, but not short enough to risk your life.  However, she said getting out and staying active was helping her.  

We can't tell you what your body is telling you, but we can encourage you to listen to your body.

[MadMax]

3 hours ago, Thunderheads said:

If you need to spend more money on a hard shell chest protector ...

We should hear what @eddieq was or has been using. Not to shame him, or deride him, but this is an important data point. 

I absolutely appreciate the awareness & advice, and it’s vitally important, to be sure, but more $$$ ≠ “better protection”. Neither does bulk, volume, or “thickness”. Neither does MLB endorsement. Neither does any umpire, at any level, telling you, “Huhr, this is the one you need, huhr.” 

Instead, it’s about fit, coverage, and construction (method). 

I’m known for my seething contempt for Wilson. This isn’t because the Gold, or Platinum, or the Charcoal are “bad” CPs… if they fit you, cover you, and their protection method doesn’t affect you (dexterity, heat management, etc.), then I’m all for any brand or model you use… I’m just completely against (over)paying full retail (inflated, propped-up) prices for something that categorically does not warrant or deserve them.  
 

Impacts suck; I now have indeterminate nerve damage (as in, no prognosis as to when it ends) above my right knee as the residual effects of taking several (2 in particular) deep-tissue traumas via baseballs hitting me… pre-ThighPro ( @concertman1971 ). What I want to encourage you all with, there isn’t a single piece of protective equipment you should ever be shamed or dissuaded from wearing because “it’s a bad look” or “amateur”. 

 

Too damned bad! Wear it! These assigners, coordinators, and “evaluators” 🙄 aren’t the ones paying your medical bills or health insurance! 

[eddieq]

My chest protector is a diamond ix3 with the abdomen extension. I’m well covered. I also have a big gut so there is that. I don’t ever get any bruising or feel impacts when wearing it. If this was from a pitch or foul ball, it was a freak accident. 

And again it was speculation. The area is certainly a spot where I take shots. I also could have breathed something in. I’m a fire police officer - could have been flare smoke - but the narrow band of damage certainly seems like an injury rather than something I would have breathed in. 
I am on the mend. My only restrictions are how I feel. I have an inhaler for when it’s acute, and one of those beakers I’m supposed to breath through and move the plunger as an exercise in filling my lungs. 
Thanks for the well wishes. Again I say make sure you listen when your body is telling you that something is different (not necessarily wrong - just different). 

[eddieq]

So my wife has just reminded me that I came home from a youth fast pitch game about 6 weeks ago and told her that one of the batters slugged me in the ribs on a swing she let go of so … that may be the source. 🫥

edited to correct

Edited July 3 by eddieq
correction

[MadMax]

28 minutes ago, eddieq said:

youth fast pitch game … one of the batters slugged me in the ribs on a backswing

“Fast pitch”??? As in, softball? 

And, “backswing”? You mean on the follow-thru? Let go of the bat?? 

 

[eddieq]

Yes, I’m a softball ump (although I have plans to cross to the dark side). Youth game. It was a freak thing, she let it go on the follow through and it got me. 

[834k3r]

6 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Glad you caught it before it devolved into something worse, @eddieq.

Yes, we need to listen to our bodies, even when we don't think it is telling us anything new.  Stop playing tough guy, drink water, and get it checked out.

Last weekend I worked a "battle of the sexes" game for our local summer wooden bat team.  We worked a 4-man crew which almost went down to a 3-man crew (withholding another "bitching about assignors story").  I love the guys I was with, but due to their age, I was not willing to work 3-man with them.  We ended up with a crew on the field with a combined 170 years of umpiring experience.  What scared me is the fact that they are the kind that will not speak up or recognize when something happens to them.

The next day, I worked three baseball games with an umpire who is undergoing chemotherapy.  She said she was feeling good, but she brought her daughter with her to keep an eye on her in the heat.  I struggled with this one . . . my gut instinct is that we are short of umpires, but not short enough to risk your life.  However, she said getting out and staying active was helping her.  

We can't tell you what your body is telling you, but we can encourage you to listen to your body.

With apologies to @eddieq for potentially hijacking his thread, but...

I work fairly regularly (Luck of the draw? Deliberate move by the assignor? Who knows?) with a guy who is a Type 1 diabetic and has UC. There have been a few times where I've had to go single-man for part of a half inning--even had to call a couple pitches from behind the mound (thankfully they weren't borderline--one was a ball over the batter's head, the next pitch was a triple to right center).

Last game I did, my right hip flexor was cramping up and I didn't understand why. I was hydrated, so what was the deal? I then realized with my wide stance, my right foot was rotating so it was parallel to the front of the plate. I concentrated on keeping my foot closer to perpendicular to the front of the plate and the cramping stopped.

Bottom line, we all need to listen to our bodies.

[eddieq]

2 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

With apologies to @eddieq for potentially hijacking his thread, but...

I work fairly regularly (Luck of the draw? Deliberate move by the assignor? Who knows?) with a guy who is a Type 1 diabetic and has UC. There have been a few times where I've had to go single-man for part of a half inning--even had to call a couple pitches from behind the mound (thankfully they weren't borderline--one was a ball over the batter's head, the next pitch was a triple to right center).

Last game I did, my right hip flexor was cramping up and I didn't understand why. I was hydrated, so what was the deal? I then realized with my wide stance, my right foot was rotating so it was parallel to the front of the plate. I concentrated on keeping my foot closer to perpendicular to the front of the plate and the cramping stopped.

Bottom line, we all need to listen to our bodies.

Not a hijack at all, really.  The point of the post was "listen to your body".  Heal up, brother!

[The Man in Blue]

5 hours ago, MadMax said:

“Fast pitch”??? As in, softball? 

And, “backswing”? You mean on the follow-thru? Let go of the bat?? 

 

Why this disdain for softball?  I've encountered it since I have been around here, but I've never asked just what exactly the issue is?  It's just as dangerous, just as good, and just as bad as baseball.  Plus, I hate to break it to you, but there are some rules that they actually do better with.

[JonnyCat]

11 hours ago, eddieq said:

So for sure, listen to your body. 

100%! Hope you heal up quickly!

I wasn't going to share this story, but this post hit home pretty hard.

I play softball on Sunday nights, have for almost 30 years with this same team. About 3 weeks ago I was running the bases and when I crossed the plate I was huffing and puffing pretty good, my chest was a little tight, and my jaw started hurting. The symptoms went away after about 30 seconds, but I wasn't feeling too good.

I finished the game and didn't say anything, it was the late game, so I got home about 11pm. I almost went to the ER, but like a good male, I ignored the symptoms and went to bed. I told myself that I would call the Doc in the morning and make an appointment. (BTW, my oldest son is a firefighter/EMT and was awake when I got home. He was pretty mad I didn't sat anything to him that night.)

Anyway, woke up Monday morning and was getting ready to go to work, but I told myself that I was going to make the call. You know, to make an appointment and get checked out. Nothing doing, the nurse told me to get to the ER immediately. My youngest son drove me, got a front of the line pass, and they took me right in. After an EKG, blood work, and a stress test, the cardiologist told me that I wasn't going home today, and that I was more than likely getting some stents or bypass surgery, as I had significant blockage somewhere. 

Anyway, after 2 day in the hospital, I'm the recipient of 3 stents. One of the blockages was at 95%. Fortunately, no heart attack and no bypass surgery. Everyone at the hospital was very glad I didn't ignore the symptoms.

So far feeling pretty good and was cleared recently to resume back to normal. I decided to take  a few months off from umpiring. I'm on blood thinners and I'm not in the mood to take any shots to my body as the bruising would be awful and maybe dangerous. I haven't talked with my cardiologist about umpiring yet and the risks. I'll do that soon.

Being a contractor, dealing with all sorts of aches and pains is par for the course, so I'm used to ignoring SH*#. Honestly, if it wasn't for the jaw pain, which I knew could be serious, I wouldn't have gone in.

Yeah, listen to your body.

[MadMax]

10 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Why this disdain for softball?  I've encountered it since I have been around here, but I've never asked just what exactly the issue is? 

You’re reading too far into my question / statement. In this thread, I’m simply clarifying the sport and the possible event that caused the problem. Why? 

Because when we read “blunt force trauma” or “partially collapsed lung”, we immediately project “95+ MPH fastball” as the culprit, and the knee-jerk reaction is “I gotta go out and buy a $200 1” thick Wilson Gold with the MLB logo on it! Those are Big League speeds!” 

And that’s how they get you/us. 
Besides that, Wilson marketed the Gold, Platinum, and Charcoal as – and I quote – “fast pitch protectors” on their own website!! Those weasels didn’t refer to them, or categorize them as “baseball” protectors; oh no no, they called them “fast pitch” protectors. 

And then we come to find out that it wasn’t a ball afterall, but potentially a bat!!! Flung by a youth player!! 
Make no mistake, I’m not, in any way, minimizing or dismissing Eddie’s injury, or what type / level of ball he was calling. Instead, this just reinforces my own push, as a gear tinkerer / developer to implement my “riot shield” coverall for youth baseball ⚾️ and softball 🥎 umpires, and emphasize that we, more than ever, need to focus on fit, function, and features rather than bulk & logos. 

This happened in softball. Know what the number one challenge to getting more female umpires involved? Lack of well- or properly-fitted gear. So why aren’t we looking at producing better gear that can fit and adjust-to-fit a variety of body types? 

No, TMIB, I was not emphasizing “softball?!?” to be snide or show contempt or disdain for it; instead, it was to punctuate that in softball, too, BFT can and does occur… 

[dumbdumb]

13 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Why this disdain for softball?  I've encountered it since I have been around here, but I've never asked just what exactly the issue is?  It's just as dangerous, just as good, and just as bad as baseball.  Plus, I hate to break it to you, but there are some rules that they actually do better with.

same as the disdain for professional umpires of professional players v professional umpires of amateur players. LL vs middle school vs jv baseball vs varsity baseball vs d3 vs d2 vs d1. (not saying literally everyone, but everyone)

jv women vs varsity women vs d3 women vs d2 women vs d1 women etc.

just like accountant 1 vs accountant 2 vs accountant 3.

everything (dont take that totally literally, i aint no english major on either spelling, content/context/cognition/comprehension and those other intellectual words, what it means exactly and to who/whom etc etc) just has to be categorized with no exceptions, even manhood (where's that ruler).

disdainment is everywhere, and dont take that literally either. do vice admirals get to fly? no. where's the fun in that. do people get to disdain. no. where's the fun in that.

[eddieq]

Well I’m glad this sparked a discussion anyway. 
And for the record - that is speculation that a BFI and specifically the sling bat caused my current issue. I ignored the symptoms long enough until it interfered with my daily life was more the point. 
Interesting to hear similar stories from you all. Take care of yourselves!

[umpstu]

14 hours ago, JonnyCat said:

100%! Hope you heal up quickly!

I wasn't going to share this story, but this post hit home pretty hard.

I play softball on Sunday nights, have for almost 30 years with this same team. About 3 weeks ago I was running the bases and when I crossed the plate I was huffing and puffing pretty good, my chest was a little tight, and my jaw started hurting. The symptoms went away after about 30 seconds, but I wasn't feeling too good.

I finished the game and didn't say anything, it was the late game, so I got home about 11pm. I almost went to the ER, but like a good male, I ignored the symptoms and went to bed. I told myself that I would call the Doc in the morning and make an appointment. (BTW, my oldest son is a firefighter/EMT and was awake when I got home. He was pretty mad I didn't sat anything to him that night.)

Anyway, woke up Monday morning and was getting ready to go to work, but I told myself that I was going to make the call. You know, to make an appointment and get checked out. Nothing doing, the nurse told me to get to the ER immediately. My youngest son drove me, got a front of the line pass, and they took me right in. After an EKG, blood work, and a stress test, the cardiologist told me that I wasn't going home today, and that I was more than likely getting some stents or bypass surgery, as I had significant blockage somewhere. 

Anyway, after 2 day in the hospital, I'm the recipient of 3 stents. One of the blockages was at 95%. Fortunately, no heart attack and no bypass surgery. Everyone at the hospital was very glad I didn't ignore the symptoms.

So far feeling pretty good and was cleared recently to resume back to normal. I decided to take  a few months off from umpiring. I'm on blood thinners and I'm not in the mood to take any shots to my body as the bruising would be awful and maybe dangerous. I haven't talked with my cardiologist about umpiring yet and the risks. I'll do that soon.

Being a contractor, dealing with all sorts of aches and pains is par for the course, so I'm used to ignoring SH*#. Honestly, if it wasn't for the jaw pain, which I knew could be serious, I wouldn't have gone in.

Yeah, listen to your body.

Have to give a big response to this comment. In the summer of 2008 I was going through a pre-screening for a previously scheduled procedure. Being a semi athlete raised in the 60's and 70's I was always taught to play through the pain. But, for some reason, when asked about any issues I responded that I don't want to come off as a pussy, but I've had some issues with chest pain at certain times. Couple of days later was getting a 6 way bypass. Wish I hadn't been such a play through the pain idiot. Could have dropped over on a baseball field. Listen to your body guys.

[dumbdumb]

guy out at work had one that was almost missed with his heart. they called the area of his 95% clog, the widow maker clog/area.

[BLWizzRanger]

Its just not clog viens either. Early stages of cancer have ways of showing signs that can be easily brushed off too. And sometimes, cancer aches and pains only show up in the later stages. Dont wait too long to get checked out.

Sent from my SM-F721U1 using Tapatalk

[eddieq]

Playing softball in my 20’s and early 30’s helped me find a bone tumor. I took a big hack and ripped some scar tissue/adhesions away. Felt like a truck drove through my shoulder. Visit the doctor and there was a bone tumor (osteochondroma) that was, according to my surgeon, “a big sucker”. Took it out, did the PT, all good 21 years later. The tumor was at the top of the humerus bone impinging on the movement. I just dealt with it. Until. 

[JonnyCat]

1 hour ago, umpstu said:

Have to give a big response to this comment. In the summer of 2008 I was going through a pre-screening for a previously scheduled procedure. Being a semi athlete raised in the 60's and 70's I was always taught to play through the pain. But, for some reason, when asked about any issues I responded that I don't want to come off as a pussy, but I've had some issues with chest pain at certain times. Couple of days later was getting a 6 way bypass. Wish I hadn't been such a play through the pain idiot. Could have dropped over on a baseball field. Listen to your body guys.

Scary stuff for sure, 6 way, that's crazy. Glad you're doing well. That was probably the most unsettling part when the cardiologist told me stents or a bypass. They don't know exactly what needs to be done until you get the angiogram. Fortunately, it was stents, that's an easy procedure. I can't imagine what bypass surgery would be like. In fact, this was the first time in all my 60 years that I stayed the night in a hospital.

Being in construction for so many years, I'm always a little beat up, so I do try to play through the pain. I've got to be more careful.

Thanks for sharing, and I hope you stay healthy.

[Richvee]

23 hours ago, JonnyCat said:

100%! Hope you heal up quickly!

I wasn't going to share this story, but this post hit home pretty hard.

I play softball on Sunday nights, have for almost 30 years with this same team. About 3 weeks ago I was running the bases and when I crossed the plate I was huffing and puffing pretty good, my chest was a little tight, and my jaw started hurting. The symptoms went away after about 30 seconds, but I wasn't feeling too good.

I finished the game and didn't say anything, it was the late game, so I got home about 11pm. I almost went to the ER, but like a good male, I ignored the symptoms and went to bed. I told myself that I would call the Doc in the morning and make an appointment. (BTW, my oldest son is a firefighter/EMT and was awake when I got home. He was pretty mad I didn't sat anything to him that night.)

Anyway, woke up Monday morning and was getting ready to go to work, but I told myself that I was going to make the call. You know, to make an appointment and get checked out. Nothing doing, the nurse told me to get to the ER immediately. My youngest son drove me, got a front of the line pass, and they took me right in. After an EKG, blood work, and a stress test, the cardiologist told me that I wasn't going home today, and that I was more than likely getting some stents or bypass surgery, as I had significant blockage somewhere. 

Anyway, after 2 day in the hospital, I'm the recipient of 3 stents. One of the blockages was at 95%. Fortunately, no heart attack and no bypass surgery. Everyone at the hospital was very glad I didn't ignore the symptoms.

So far feeling pretty good and was cleared recently to resume back to normal. I decided to take  a few months off from umpiring. I'm on blood thinners and I'm not in the mood to take any shots to my body as the bruising would be awful and maybe dangerous. I haven't talked with my cardiologist about umpiring yet and the risks. I'll do that soon.

Being a contractor, dealing with all sorts of aches and pains is par for the course, so I'm used to ignoring SH*#. Honestly, if it wasn't for the jaw pain, which I knew could be serious, I wouldn't have gone in.

Yeah, listen to your body.

  Very similar situation for me. Except I almost waited too long. Fall of ‘21, getting a little discomfort exercising, exerting.   It would subside within minutes. Went to primary doc, took an EKG. All normal and I made an appointment with a cardiologist . (Not an emergency, so appointment is 2 weeks out.) 

a few nights later walking the dog, the discomfort comes on, like a fool, I go to bed. Still had discomfort in the AM and drove myself to the ER.

Same outcome as you. 3 stints. 
I’ve been on clopidogrel ever since. My cardiologist didn’t have an issue with me umpiring. Just make sure you’re aware of, and monitor bruises closely. 
This season, my left knee  has been cranky, and when it swelled, my lower leg also swelled a bit. My first stop was an ultrasound for possible clots before seeing  the orthopedist. 
The whole experience has taught me not to ignore the body…. Especially as we age. 

[JonnyCat]

14 minutes ago, Richvee said:

The whole experience has taught me not to ignore the body…. Especially as we age. 

That's for sure. Glad you're doing well and thanks for sharing your story. I'm not ready to give up umpiring and I also wasn't sure if my cardiologist would sign off on it. Hopefully, he'll be okay with it like yours is.

[The Man in Blue]

20 hours ago, eddieq said:

Well I’m glad this sparked a discussion anyway. 
And for the record - that is speculation that a BFI and specifically the sling bat caused my current issue. I ignored the symptoms long enough until it interfered with my daily life was more the point. 
Interesting to hear similar stories from you all. Take care of yourselves!

 

Yep, sorry for that little detour highjack (and misreading @MadMax).

 

I'll add another wrinkle to the mainline conversation . . . Listen to your own body over the doctors at times, too.

Not as severe as the heart stories on here, but several years ago my hip started bothering me around late April to early May.  I worked through May, and it would come and go.  By June it felt as if I was running on a flat tire.  My hip had no real "resistance" and just would "flump" when I landed on it most of the time while running/jogging around the field.  I sucked it up and went to the local prompt care facility.

They said, "We don't see anything, but we can give you a cortisone shot and stay off it for a few days."

I asked, "What does that do?" (I thought I already knew the answer.)

"It's just a pain killer that should last for awhile."  (I did know the answer.)

I said no.  I didn't want the pain gone IF we didn't know what the problem was.  The pain was telling me something was wrong.

I am damn glad I rejected that and kept pushing them.  It took three more doctors and a few weeks, but by July I had been shut down and put on crutches due to transient osteoporosis (uncommon, but it does occur in middle aged men and pregnant women) . . . essentially the ball joint in my hip had turned into a sponge.  Had they numbed me up and sent me back out without any answer, I would have literally destroyed my hip.  By September it worsened.  The doctor said get in here now, as he was afraid the ball had collapsed in on itself and I was looking at a hip replacement at a little over 40 years old.  Fortunately, it hadn't, but I spent 6 weeks essentially on bed rest and completely off my feet so it could heal.

Echo: Listen to your body!  

[love to ump]

stop it....I know I am old.....but reading all this is just too much of a reminder....you guys are old too!!

We are a bunch of old farts who want to stay a part of the kids game!

[umpstu]

18 hours ago, JonnyCat said:

Scary stuff for sure, 6 way, that's crazy. Glad you're doing well. That was probably the most unsettling part when the cardiologist told me stents or a bypass. They don't know exactly what needs to be done until you get the angiogram. Fortunately, it was stents, that's an easy procedure. I can't imagine what bypass surgery would be like. In fact, this was the first time in all my 60 years that I stayed the night in a hospital.

Being in construction for so many years, I'm always a little beat up, so I do try to play through the pain. I've got to be more careful.

Thanks for sharing, and I hope you stay healthy.

I actually had an angiogram prior to the surgery. When I came out of the angiogram the Dr told me they had discovered some clogging and I said, let's put in some stents. He said, "Oh no. You're way past stents". Scary when the cardiologist says he can't guarantee you'll come out of the surgery alive. Since then I've become a diabetic, but have lost a lot of weight so it's much easier to get around a ball field.  Some heart warning signs I had were shortness of breath while walking short distances in an air conditioned building, a sensation in my chest that I don't know how to describe. On Thanksgiving of 2006 I had that sensation while eating some apple crisp with ice cream. Said to myself that God wouldn't kill me while I was eating. This was while I was living by myself in the country. Walking up any amount of stairs was a real chore, even just 8 steps. Man, don't be that macho idiot. If you're having any signs get to your Dr if it's a weekday. If it's at night or weekend, get to the ER. Don't be that macho idiot.