What the hell?!! Where you been? Details, man...
Pains me to see a real solo diver hang up his/her fins.
Downsize! (or is diving out of the realm of reality?)
From "autumn" 2012 to "autumn" 2016, I had a tube in my left ear. Not wanting to take a chance of water accessing my middle ear I remained out of the water. Additionally, I had a cardiac incident in Nov 2012 and was hospitalized for 3 days. Aneurysms were found in my iliac arteries and I was told to not lift anything more than 40 pounds. So, weight lifting was no longer an option, and the combination effectively prevented me from diving.
In Nov 2016, I was again hospitalized, this time for 5 days in Intensive Care. I was diagnosed with Dissected Aorta, Type B. I have been out of work, on temporary disability, since then. It cost me my position, then a job with the company because of the limits of "no more than 15-20 pounds". I swallow 7 presc meds per day to control blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol, reduce sodium, and to allow increased blood flow to my legs so I can walk more than a short distance without significant discomfort. Even so, my legs and I tire on hills or stairs and I take a nap each day. On the positive side though I am in much better condition than I was when I was discharged from hospital; it's been a long, slow, recovery.
The surgeon suggested that I consider filing for permanent disability unless I can find a desk-job with very little stress of any type. I am not allowed, and am pretty much incapable, of doing anything which requires jumping around, etc. so exercise other than walking is not possible. The surgeon said in a year or two or three or ... if I am healing then we can discuss increasing my intensity level.
Despite years of exercise, eating correctly, no smoking or drugs, etc. a combination of genetics and stress threw me under the bus. Very sad.
Now, are you not glad you asked?
