I finally have something to say about 44.
About 9 weeks ago, I crawled under her and removed the skid plate, in preparation of checking/adjusting the Parking Brake.
While there, I noticed the front driveshaft had three nice, big dimples on one side.
I had never seen this before, so I’m not positive they were always there... I do recall a large “bump” last time I had her off road, but I thought it was from the PS... I had checked there and couldn’t find anything amiss.
I also recalled a time that I forgot to return to 2WD, before I entered a highway, until I reached ~55 and felt a shimmy. That was 5-6 years ago. But, it never happened at lower speeds, so I figured I’d take care of it “later” and put it out of my memory.
Anyway, after checking the rear tube and finding It fine, I decided to drop the front driveshaft and have a new one built.
As soon as I retreived my tools and back under, I noticed some minor chest pain.
I climbed out and waited for my angiogram appointment (below).
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Medical Background:
I’ve been having shortness of breath “under load” for three or four years... ANY incline has left me sick to my stomach and gasping for breath.
Mark (@65swb45) may recall our hike.
Each time, I’d stop and recover and move on... but, the periods between recoveries kept getting shorter and shorter. The last hike, I could only make 1 mile up an incline barely above level.
I scheduled my annual cardiologist visit for March and then had to cancel it when NV shut down.
In early April, I found myself taking deep breaths, every few minutes, because I couldn’t get enough air. Since NV was still shut down, I ordered a volumeter and worked with it daily. I improved steadily, on the volumeter, but was still gasping frequently.
In June, I consulted a Pulmonologist and learned I have “almost 100% lung capacity”... so, why short of breath? She told me to see my cardiologist, to ensure I didn’t have an arrhythmia and then come back to her.
I saw my Cardiologist and he said, my EKG “changed” from last year’s, so I scheduled an angiogram.
The angiogram discovered two blockages in one artery... The Cardiologist performed an angioplasty and broke up the two clots and placed a stent.
A week later, I followed-up and told my Cardiologist that I had no improvement in my shortness of breath. He referred me back to the Pulmonologist.
When I saw the Pulmonologist, she told me she suspected I was no longer able to expel a full breath, so it accumulated and “eventually” I can’t inhale a full breath... thus the gasping.
She gave me enough Breo Ellipta “dust” inhaler to last a month. I used it for 6 days and, 3 days in, the side effects became so debilitating that I could get out of bed until 5 hours after I used it. It remained the same for 3 days.
I called my Pulmonologist and she changed me to a mist inhaler (Stiriva Respimat). I started it this morning and feel better (thus far) than I have in over a year. I’m not weak, totally exhausted and have noticed very few “breathing“ incidents.
I’m hoping this clears up my breathing issues... but scheduled a CT with Contrast, regardless.
I have high hopes that I’ll be able to return to the things I love doing.
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In the middle of all this, I scheduled an appointment with Dan’s Driveline and last Thursday, I took 44 in and had a new front driveshaft installed and the diffs, grabby and tcase flushed. The u-joints were all fine and the rear driveshaft was fine.
So, assuming I can... 44 is ready to go... after I reinstall the skid plate.
