What to expect health wise ...

[WebRam]

What to expect health wise being a refrigeration engineer
by jan behnke

Well we all start off young fit and healthy in this game hopefully, I am in my mid forty’s know and have been on the tools in the UK for over twenty years, and am falling to pieces here it is do any of it sound familiar to you.

Bad back.

Right leg shorter than the other caused by carrying my toolbox at the moment it weighs 18kg.

Strained relations with my wife, in the summer I am working too much and in the winter I am not bringing home the money no over time.

Hypo glycaemia caused so the doctor said by irregular hours and eating on the hoof.

At the moment I am on my second hernia, to many compressor changes on my own, the doctor told me to change my occupation ha ha ha.

A constant ringing in my left ear working in noisy plant rooms.

Last but not least, two years ago I took up running to keep fit for the summer months, last august I had to give it up due to very bad pains in my knees, I had them examined by orthopaedic consultant, he told me to give up running completely as my knee joint’s had worn away. Not by the running but this had accelerated the process but by my occupation all the bending down ect, over the years, so I need two knee replacement’s but I am to young to have it dun.

But I am still working, will I last to I retire.

[bilmul]

webram i really don't sympathise, you really should know better, how else are you going to teach all us young uns how to get through life.
as a fridge engineer of 20 or so years of experience of all things worldly i will attempt to answer your points as my employer would.
1, bolt an adjustable from a commercial cabinet to your work boot on the affected leg, this will save time in the future when your leg becomes even shorter.
2,get a new wife this one obviously enjoys the money but doesn't particularly like your company in the winter.
3,go on get a 9-5 job you'll soon get bored and come knocking
4,we can supply earplugs, just use them in the affected ear and the other one will soon balance out.
6, why are you running??? we gave you a perfectly good van.
7, RETIRE!! DON'T BE DAFT YOU'LL NEVER SEE 65 BUT DON'T FORGET TO GIVE US AT LEAST 2 WEEKS NOTICE OF YOUR IMPENDING DEATH. FAILURE TO DO SO CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF HOLIDAY PAY.

if you think another company can answer your queries in a more professional annd sympathetic manner you know where the door is son!

[WebRam]

this article was writen by jan behnke, I just reposted it to this area. It says that in the first line.

Now if you missed "that" what else did you miss :)

[Abe]

Bilmul,

How dare you " slate" our dear Webram with such ailments??
Webbie.........is the epitome of health and goodness
He only "peers" at us lame mortals and sniggers his head off !!

[buddy]

Webram,

Same position as you, Twenty odd years in various positions, (in the Trade) so said before I get any lewd comments, however I have slight ringing in both ears and listen to this - Two kneecaps on each leg, one original and a hard grizzly bit below it that acts as a kneepad, due to kneeling down on concrete/steel plantroom floors - anyone else got any Fridgeman deformities??? :eek:

[shogun7]

I would like to join this disability club too ifI pass he test?
At 37 I had a slight heart attack, went to the clinic and was told I had 4 corinery arteries with
deminished blood flow. Two at 95%, 1 at 90% and 1 at 85%. I was a dead man walking. I got a quadruple heart bypass and recovred quite nicely, except I contracted Hepititus "C" from tainted blood, this eventually destroyed my liver.I was able to work for 20 more years, but a 56 I had to retire because I was very sick. The next 2 years I got progressively worse so I was put on the liver recepient list. Another 2 years passed, still no liver and I was given 3 months to live at te outset. Finally after 3 weeks UCLA called me at 4 am and said they had a liver for me and to get there ASAP. When I arrived they had me on the operating table in less then 1 hour. I consider myself a very lucky man; that was 6 years ago. I now have my blood tested every 3 mos. and the last one was all normal. I work out 3-4 times a week at the YMCA and am n better condition then when I was at50. In order to receive an organ you must pass a number of tests, both mental and physical. NO smoking, drinking or sex.....only kidding on the last :D

[Tony Weston]

Isn't that the truth. I gave up "the tools" 6 years ago, on sales now, better working conditions, but the stress is there re sales targets, can we ever get away with life's "nags"
Regards
The "pomm" in New Zealand

[frank]

NO smoking, drinking or sex.....only kidding on the last

OK - I don't do Smoking. T total - forget it! What about my visit to the Octoberfest?? :D

[shogun7]

What about my visit to the Octoberfest??
Frank, Go and have a good time, LIVE, LOVE and be HAPPY! ;)

[nyTroX]

Bad back, check.

Right leg is shorter, check.
Probably from "repairing equipment" with it.Broke the toe doing that. Steel-toe boots ever since

Relations with wife. Check.
But for "on call status" too much. Heh, Imagine that.

Hypo Glycemia, or whatever. no.
I try to eat good. When I actually do get time.

Hernia, again, no.
Just the bad back. Doctor said to change occupations, too. LOLerz!

Ears are still good, so no.
In my opinion, anyways. I only hear what I want to..

I didn't take up running, so, again no, my knees are ok.
I only run when I have to. Like when a helper/trainee does something incredibly wrong.-"You did WHAT??!!". Off I go..

I guess I still have a couple years before something easier on my body, like a Stunt car driver, actor stand-in, or nuclear-waste tech.