Sharing stories

Tarzan · 27th June 2009, 09:23 AM

Okay, I am bored. I just had sinus surgery for the second time and have been layed up for a few days(got some good drugs as you can tell by the picture):

First off, in 1999, Humboldt county CA, I was falling timber for Columbia Helicopters, cutting some nice second growth redwood, busheling away when I hacked into a loaded limb about 3 inches diameter; nailed me right on the end of the nose; instantly started gushing blood and eyes welled up with tears; Nose looked like bozo the clown(I kind of felt like him too). Started having trouble after that with my sinuses when...along came another nose breaker...2001, same area, same company, working on my 12th straight day; fell two small, grown together second growth redwoods on a steep sidehill. They lodged against a small fir and everything looked stable, at least to a physically and mentally exhausted timberfallers eye. Jumped on and plugged in my tape ran down to 40' where they were about 12" diameter, (remember they were two exact same size trees grown together, as is fairly common with second growth redwood). Last thing I remember was bending over to take my measurement. Next thing I remember was feeling my self tumbling with these two trees sliding up my back; life flashing before my eyes, literally; trees slid over my back, all action stops and they are at my feet with me sitting on my butt in the brush. I was ALIVE Turned around and looked up the hill where it all started...about 100', kind of funny how I only remember about last ten? Then I notice blood all down front of my shirt? Also notice I can only see out of one eye; could not see out of other eye but felt something dangling on my cheek eyeball popped out? Took my glove off and started feeling around; pushed up on dangly piece and...tada...I could see again! It was my eyelid that was torn down and hanging over my eyeball. Nose was gushing blood, had a hole poked under my chin that was bleeding, my back, chest, shoulders, stomach, neck, head, legs, arms, and feet all felt kind of weird. Called my partner on the radio which I was carrying in a chest pack, and he helped doctor me, and helped me out of the brush. Still not sure how I made it out of that one alive and with only a torn eyelid, broken nose, and some sore joints. I have a picture somewhere; kind of looked like Frankenstein; luckily I am a good healer. Okay, so the lessons learned? Slow the hell down so nothing like a loaded limb gets you, and don't work yourself, or let others force you to work yourself into a state of fatigue where you might let something slip by, like an unstable leave tree on an unstable slope. It has been 8 years since these two mishaps. My eyelid took about a year till I could close it all the way,(yes I slept with one eye open), it also played hell with getting saw chips in it. My shoulder is kind of bad (rotator cuff), but my nose has probably been the biggest problem. I had the first nasal surgery in 06 while living in Alaska, and now I had to have another to get it opened up some more, and get rid of scar tissue from the first surgery. Hopefully I will be able to breathe out the right side of my nose now, and be able to blow it, and sleep on my left side, and not get so dang many head colds! Sorry about the long post, just have nothing better to do but share why I feel so miserable today. Be safe out there.

Cody

Eric Frei · 28th June 2009, 08:47 PM

Lordy, you're a tough camper and a lucky one!

Sean Freeman · 28th June 2009, 09:19 PM

You are one tough cookie Cody

take my hat off to you.

Tarzan · 29th June 2009, 05:53 AM

Well, as the saying goes: If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough"!

Therrin · 29th June 2009, 11:33 PM

You're one tough guy!

All joking aside, damn .... Glad to see you're still on 2 feet and going good.

Bruce Hopf · 5th July 2009, 04:04 PM

Loaded Tree Limbs are nothing to laugh at. I had four of my top front teeth snapped by a loaded tree limb. I had cut through a tree limb, and as the Guide Bar and Chain went through, the loaded limb came up over the top of the bar, and sent me back about three steps.
Went to my truck, looked in the mirror, rinsed out my mouth, and right back to work, as if nothing happened. $700.00 later, for Dentist Bills, I was good as new. Glad that you are OK, and good luck with your Surgery. Hope everything works out OK for you. Bruce.

Tarzan · 8th July 2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hopf

Loaded Tree Limbs are nothing to laugh at. I had four of my top front teeth snapped by a loaded tree limb. I had cut through a tree limb, and as the Guide Bar and Chain went through, the loaded limb came up over the top of the bar, and sent me back about three steps.
Went to my truck, looked in the mirror, rinsed out my mouth, and right back to work, as if nothing happened. $700.00 later, for Dentist Bills, I was good as new. Glad that you are OK, and good luck with your Surgery. Hope everything works out OK for you. Bruce.

Yeah, after you cut millions of limbs your chances really go up of getting whacked by one. Thanks for your good wishes Bruce

Bruce Hopf · 8th July 2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarzan

Yeah, after you cut millions of limbs your chances really go up of getting whacked by one. Thanks for your good wishes Bruce

Not a problem. I know what it is like to get the old Rotor Rooter

, shoved up the nose.

. I had severe Chronic Sinus Infections, for a few years, until I had the surgery a little over three years ago. Still have the Odd Problem with them, but not as bad as I did before the surgery. Take care of your self, and follow what the Doctors say. Bruce.

27th June 2009, 09:23 AM	#1
Tarzan Sappling Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Western Montana Posts: 14	Sharing stories Okay, I am bored. I just had sinus surgery for the second time and have been layed up for a few days(got some good drugs as you can tell by the picture): First off, in 1999, Humboldt county CA, I was falling timber for Columbia Helicopters, cutting some nice second growth redwood, busheling away when I hacked into a loaded limb about 3 inches diameter; nailed me right on the end of the nose; instantly started gushing blood and eyes welled up with tears; Nose looked like bozo the clown(I kind of felt like him too). Started having trouble after that with my sinuses when...along came another nose breaker...2001, same area, same company, working on my 12th straight day; fell two small, grown together second growth redwoods on a steep sidehill. They lodged against a small fir and everything looked stable, at least to a physically and mentally exhausted timberfallers eye. Jumped on and plugged in my tape ran down to 40' where they were about 12" diameter, (remember they were two exact same size trees grown together, as is fairly common with second growth redwood). Last thing I remember was bending over to take my measurement. Next thing I remember was feeling my self tumbling with these two trees sliding up my back; life flashing before my eyes, literally; trees slid over my back, all action stops and they are at my feet with me sitting on my butt in the brush. I was ALIVE Turned around and looked up the hill where it all started...about 100', kind of funny how I only remember about last ten? Then I notice blood all down front of my shirt? Also notice I can only see out of one eye; could not see out of other eye but felt something dangling on my cheek eyeball popped out? Took my glove off and started feeling around; pushed up on dangly piece and...tada...I could see again! It was my eyelid that was torn down and hanging over my eyeball. Nose was gushing blood, had a hole poked under my chin that was bleeding, my back, chest, shoulders, stomach, neck, head, legs, arms, and feet all felt kind of weird. Called my partner on the radio which I was carrying in a chest pack, and he helped doctor me, and helped me out of the brush. Still not sure how I made it out of that one alive and with only a torn eyelid, broken nose, and some sore joints. I have a picture somewhere; kind of looked like Frankenstein; luckily I am a good healer. Okay, so the lessons learned? Slow the hell down so nothing like a loaded limb gets you, and don't work yourself, or let others force you to work yourself into a state of fatigue where you might let something slip by, like an unstable leave tree on an unstable slope. It has been 8 years since these two mishaps. My eyelid took about a year till I could close it all the way,(yes I slept with one eye open), it also played hell with getting saw chips in it. My shoulder is kind of bad (rotator cuff), but my nose has probably been the biggest problem. I had the first nasal surgery in 06 while living in Alaska, and now I had to have another to get it opened up some more, and get rid of scar tissue from the first surgery. Hopefully I will be able to breathe out the right side of my nose now, and be able to blow it, and sleep on my left side, and not get so dang many head colds! Sorry about the long post, just have nothing better to do but share why I feel so miserable today. Be safe out there. Cody

28th June 2009, 08:47 PM	#2
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,811	Re: Sharing stories Lordy, you're a tough camper and a lucky one! __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

28th June 2009, 09:19 PM	#3
Sean Freeman Monument Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,985	Re: Sharing stories You are one tough cookie Cody take my hat off to you.

29th June 2009, 05:53 AM	#4
Tarzan Sappling Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Western Montana Posts: 14	Re: Sharing stories Well, as the saying goes: If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough"! __________________ Tough times never last, but tough people do. Cody

29th June 2009, 11:33 PM	#5
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Re: Sharing stories You're one tough guy! All joking aside, damn .... Glad to see you're still on 2 feet and going good.

5th July 2009, 04:04 PM	#6
Bruce Hopf Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North of Sebringville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,176	Re: Sharing stories Loaded Tree Limbs are nothing to laugh at. I had four of my top front teeth snapped by a loaded tree limb. I had cut through a tree limb, and as the Guide Bar and Chain went through, the loaded limb came up over the top of the bar, and sent me back about three steps. Went to my truck, looked in the mirror, rinsed out my mouth, and right back to work, as if nothing happened. $700.00 later, for Dentist Bills, I was good as new. Glad that you are OK, and good luck with your Surgery. Hope everything works out OK for you. Bruce. __________________ McCulloch chain saws 1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's, 2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener, 1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver 2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10 Stihl chain saws 2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084, Strunk chain saws 1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

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