On Mon, 3 Dec 2018 07:43:48 -0800 (PST), wrote:

Hey Jeff, medical issues FIRST.

Yep. My current problems are two kidney stones. Tried to use laser
lithotripsy to remove one. That didn't work. So, we try again on Dec
11. Meanwhile, no new projects. If everything goes well, I should be
back in service in about 2 weeks. We're going to leave the 2nd stone
alone, which I suspect might not be a good idea.

I think I'm over the hump with my flu. I think that it was the flu
that caused my brother to have a heart attack the other evening.
While in the ER, it was packed and the orderly told me that
they were all there for flu. The shots missed again this year.
Wrong variation.

Far too many of my friends had various problems with the flu shots.
Several were hospitalized. I decided the risk was too much and did
not get any flu shots. I don't know the circumstances of your
brothers heart attack but the only possible connection with the flu I
can contrive is that the constant coughing might have dislodged some
plaque (grease) from the lumen (blood vessel wall) which got stuck
somewhere in the heart plumbing. At least that's the usual failure
mode.

My brother will be having a stint put into his heart this
afternoon. He may have to have a bypass but he is adamantly against
full surgery so if that's necessary he won't be long on this world.

I had a triple bypass operation in 2002 and 2 stents installed in
2016. I'm on a nitrate vasodilator (Imdur), blood thinner (Plavix),
and magic miracle elixir (Ranexa). Let's just say I've had a bit of
experience with cardiology. The bypass should last about 15 years.
The stent, about 5 years. For long term, stents are at best a
temporary measure.

Despite your brothers fear of a bypass operation, I can say it was the
best thing that ever happened to me. I was dead tired all the time
before the bypass. Exercise helped, but not much. During one of
those exercise sessions (clearing the culvert under the road for
winter), I experiences some nasty chest pains and profuse sweating. 4
days later, the doctors did the bypass operation. I was lucky and did
not have a heart attack. It took me about 6 months to recover after
which I felt like I had rolled back the clock about 10-20 years.
Highly recommended.

If you brother is unwilling to do the bypass, perhaps a nutritional
solution:
https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/shopping/books/starch-solution/
I don't use this method, but several friends have done very well with
it. Basically, it's a major diet and lifestyle change, which requires
cooking ability, quite a bit of self control, exercise, and possibly
some tech support from the doctor. In other words, a lifestyle change
designed to slow or reverse heart disease.

Questions and details by email as this is rather off topic for this
newsgroup.


--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558