Six months ago after developing a rash and a fever which doctors initially thought was Dengue Fever, a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, I was rushed into hospital and after a week of being tested for over a hundred different viruses, I was diagnosed with a very rare auto immune illness (affecting just five in a million people) where my body is attacking it’s own muscles.
Since then I’ve either been lying in a hospital bed, barely able to raise my head from the pillow, or at home too weak from muscle loss and doped out on drugs to be able to let you know why I haven’t written a newsletter since early December.
Thanks to some powerful new medication, I’ve finally got the energy to write about it.
Read more here: short version or the long, rambling version
Hey Phil
I sure did miss your letters every month all i can say is get better soon.
Ray
Thanks Raymond. I hope to get back to writing them soon.
phil
It’s damn good to hear from you em, em, : ) Phil I really thought you’d gone on to other dimensions. I tried nearly every where I could think of to see what happened, but nothing ever came back as to your where abouts.
None of that sounds good Phil, other than for the new medication and I hope that it proves a real godsend for you and far better health. I\’m just off to read the elongated rambling version for full details : ) and catch up with you in a week or so when your feeling a little better, but if you need someone to write to just fire away.
Good to hear your dulcet tones again Phil…I’ve missed them greatly
honest.
All the best Byron
P.S. get well Phil.
>Phil I really thought you’d gone on to other dimensions.
I’ve always been in other dimensions…never quite fitted in anywhere
phil
Reading your story I got very uptight verging on sad, then I realized these feelings were the same ones I had when my wife got a vicious form of cancer 17 years ago. Our lives were turned upside down, it was not suppose to happen that way, that was not the life script we signed up for or much less wanted.
There were months of chemo and numerous surgeries, years of side issues, however as I noted that it started over 17 years ago, that’s 17 Christmases, 17 birthdays, we shared together.
Phil, thanks for reminding me of how precious life is and may you have a Merry Christmas for years to come.
Dale
Dale
It’s great that your wife survived an aggressive cancer for so long, like most people I used to assume that cancer meant a fairly quick goodbye to this life, but I’ve now known quite a few people who have lived with it for a long timer.
>and may you have a Merry Christmas for years to come
I believe I will Dale. And lasting another 17 years would suit me just fine – well make that 27 – because by then my memory will be so bad I won’t know who I am anyway
Phil
Phil,
I’ve missed you. And what a trip you’ve been on! So happy you’re on the path of recovery.
You were the 1st online marketing expert who helped me get a handle on the basics of IM. It’s my bad, but in all the years I’ve never thanked you more than buying your stuff…
So “Thank You, Phil Wiley, you’ve been a wonderful guide and a trusted friend.”
Your exotic ailment seems to sum up one your life’s principles, “I’d rather wear out than rust out.” (my thinking from following your exploits these past 10 years or so. perhaps I’m wrong).
If I can be of service to you, lay it on me. May your recovery continue until you’re your old adventurous self.
Peace,
Ed
>I’d rather wear out than rust out.
I’ve never heard it put like that Ed, but I like it. Yep, that sums me up I guess.
My old adventurous self seems to be slowly coming back, so perhaps one day I’ll be falling out of helicopters again
http://philwiley.com/ramblings/smashing-times/
Phil
Wow Phil that really is a shocker!
I wondered why you were so quiet. Just thought you were off on your travels again. What a week in the internet marketing world with the news of John Reece selling up everything and travelling with just the contents of his backpack to his name, and now this.
There I was feeling sorry for myself having my treatment for prostate cancer stopped because they found I was also diabetic which needed treating first. You put that into perspective for sure.
Thank God you are a survivor I’m conviced you WILL pull through OK.
Very Best Wishes and God Speed.
I’d rather have what I’ve got than prostrate cancer and diabetes … good luck with it Terry
phil
Hi Phil,
I have followed you since early 2000-2001 or so. Have always valued your advice and enjoyed hearing about your lifestyle.
The doctors are doing the best they can. In addition you may want to consider getting some nutritional support on the natural side to strengthen your body to get through this.
Hoping for a speedy recovery.
Best Regards,
Tim
Since my daughter Kate was born with Phenylketonuria (where her body can’t break down protein and is almost totally controlled by a protein free diet) I’ve always looked after myself nutritionally.
Except at the moment, because of the cravings that a high dose of steroids give you, I can’t stay away from chocolate and cakes
phil
Wow Phil,
So sorry to hear of your troubles. I was wondering where you went, I always looked forward to your emails.
It’s good to hear that the newer medicines have allowed you to regain enough strength to contact us. Getting positive thoughts and prayers from a bunch of people can’t hurt! Count me among those that will remember you in their prayers.
Keep fighting this thing, and I’m hoping for a complete recovery soon.
Hope to hear regular updates from you, but only when you really feel up to it.
Best wishes,
Bruce Arnold
Thanks for the comment Bruce, and your prayers are appreciated.
phil
Phil,
Wow! I hope you get better man. You’ve helped a LOT of people and there are a LOT more people you have yet to help!!!
My prayers are with you.
David Frey
>You’ve helped a LOT of people
Not as many as you David. If I’d got your work ethic and commitment I’d be a happy, really wealthy man
Hey Phil,
Hope you feel better. You are one of the IM pioneers. May God bless you with a full recovery.
Gauher Chaudhry
>May God bless you with a full recovery
I’m working on it Gauher, and hope God is too.
Phil
Hi Phil,
Good to hear you’re back on the track.
I had bad times too. This is what helped me a lot. It changes your mind:
“I feel good. I am healthy” think it, repeat it. Whenever you are aware of thinking.
You will be surprised about the effect.
Good luck,
Mark Biemans
Phil:
What a shock to read this. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I’ve been looking for you on Skype and have emailed you in the last few months. I figured you were off on some new adventure and we’d catch up later.
Phil, you’re one of a kind. Not only are you one of the classiest guys I know but you’re a real and honest voice in an industry otherwise filled with hype and self-promotion.
Get better soon and get back here to the States so I can buy some rounds (and I promise no cops this time
All the best-
Peter
Hello Phil,
So glad that you are back and so sorry for your
predicament.
Marie
Thanks for letting us know, Phil. Wow, you’ve really been through the mill! I have missed your newsletters too. I get over to Noosa a couple of times a year and always wonder if I might happen to spot you there on Hastings Street somewhere, sipping a latte. Now it’s obvious that you were far from being on holiday!
Health and strength to you!
Paul
Thank goodness you’re back. Hope you get well soon and keep the good news rolling!
Best of good health to you.
Ian
Hi Phil,
I remember meeting you in San Francisco many years ago at a seminar, inviting you for a drink and you were indifferent to me, because I could not offer you a JV or similar. I was just a relative newbie then and all I wanted was to meet you and to say hello. I\’ve never forgotten that.
However, I was deeply moved by your plight and wish you a speedy and full recovery. I know little about Dermatomyositis, but I would urge you to stay positive and do whatever you can to help your immune system beat this. I don\’t know if you follow the principles of The Secret, but I will never forget some of the amazing stories in there, where people have beaten serious disease by focusing on how they would feel when they get better and not allowing any negativity to enter their lives. Hocus pocus? Maybe…..but so many wise people have subscribed to this theory……thoughts become things.
I am sure there are thousands of people hoping and believing in your full recovery and I join them.
Get better soon Phil. We have all missed you.
Peter
Life can be a bugger sometimes, but sounds like you are on the mend. Seems to be a few bad bugs getting about. I last saw you in Stocklands for a brief chat.
All the best, get well and take it easy for a while, while you recover your strength
I heard about your hospitalization and want you to know I am praying for you for healing and FAST recovery from this rare immune illness. Hang in there and know that you have an army of people thinking of you and wishing you well. Thank God for some great medications now-a-days. Hopefully you won’t be on it too long. The main thing is it’s helping you now.
Hi there Phil, Gosh we take things for Granted when things are flashing past us don’t we, then when some thing goes wrong we wonder what did we do wrong to deserve this.
Well Mate and fellow Aussie, from me here in Tassie, saying to you that you are now on The World Prayer Chain, that I am a member of and every one from every con-tenet That are in charge of the chain there are Intercession for your healing, And thanks for all your help, in the past and will be in the future, Christian Love, and God’s Speed in Recovery.
Regards Garry Woods Tasmania.
Thanks Garry. It seems I’ve got people praying for me all over the world, even at the church I went to as a baby in far away England.
phil
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Bloody hell Phil……does that mean no more Mad Fish????
And it is so good for your “jam tart” too!
I actually said to MF one night last week that Phil had gone very quiet lately (not like him). Thought you must have extended your visit to the mother land or got a taste for those buckets of warm brew. Certainly didn’t expect to hear such a shocking story.
I know there are heaps of people thinking of you at the moment so the best advice I can offer is to keep writing when you can and don’t lose your sense of humour
Take care mate – John
P.S. Give me a bell if you need someone to unload on for a bit.
Yep, it means no more Mad Fish John. No alcohol at all while I’m on the Methotrexate drug.
To quote the US Gov’s Medline Plus site: Methotrexate may cause very serious side effects. Some side effects of methotrexate may cause death.
Apparently if I have a glass of wine my liver will explode
phil
Hi Phil
Really missed your presence online. Martin Avis alerted me to the reason. I hope that new medicine gives you your life back, so we can all enjoy your newsletters again.
All the best
Andy Williams
Hi Andy
the medicine looks like it’s working. The steroids that have been stopping me concentrating/thinking clearly have been cut down, and the drug that knocks me around for a few days increased. So I hope to be able to spent more time online soon, and get back to writing. Have to wait and see though. My doctors say I’ve just got to sit and rest for at least another month before trying to work.
phil
Hi Phil,
Just wishing you good health and great comeback.
Martin Avis alerted us about you and so glad he did.
Take care of yourself .
Look forward to reading your posts.
Hi Phil,
I heard about your plight from Martin Avis.
I’m sorry to hear of your travails but am glad to hear things are getting better. Hopefully your outlook is getting better and you can continue enjoying life.
I signed up for your newsletter, somehow you had escaped my notice…
I’ll come back and root around on your site now that I know you are someone worth listening to.
Get well and get writing, I’m told it is therapeutic!
All the best,
Phil Davis
>Hopefully your outlook is getting better and you can continue enjoying life
I never stop enjoying life Phil
And I’ve spent half my time in hospital scribbling notes and ideas on scraps of paper. Just got to sort through the pile now.
G’day Phil…Hay…gitcherass outta bed and tell me what I’m spose to buy from ya next. Ya keep tellin’ me to get a ‘REAL COMPUTER’.
Now that I gitted me one, ya bails out an goes on a long walkabout.
Seriously, Phil…my most profound prayers and wishes for a most speedy full recovery soon…miss ya mate. I wondered why I haven’t heard from you in quite a spell.
You know my story. I beat a major stroke followed by terminal lung cancer exactly a year later. Iffen I listened to the doc’s (quack-quack-quak)…I’d be dead 10 years ago because he gave me less than five months to live. But I insisted on the surgery and fooled them all.
The ONLY way to kill a ’1200 Year Old Highlander Immortal’ is by chopping off our head…they didn’t know that. lol. NOW, that the ‘secret’ is out…I gotta keep ducking every time I hear a ‘swishing’ sound behind my head.
Get well soon mate. Take care. I put in a GOoD word for you with my best Buddy.
Best Wishes And God’s Blessings To you And Yours In Everything Always, As Always.
Most Respectfully…
~ ED
So you’re still alive Ed the 1200 Year Old Highlander Immortal’ – and you were 1200 years old when you first wrote to me 10 or 11 years ago, so you’ve got the numbers wrong somewhere.
And still using the quaint web tv technology.
Glad you’re surviving, and I’m sure I will too. Though we all get it in the end, including you old highlanders.
Phil good to hear from you again. I tried a few things to track you down but even as an ex cop couldn’t find you! Remember the stupid daft things in life. I remember you telling me how you jumped off that island and swam a shore with pictures of the queen! Remember? When we were in York? I thought “bloody hell I am having a pint with the Cadburys Milk Tray man!”
This may be a wake up call to all of us? Work smarter..not harder.
All the best- Rob
>with pictures of the queen! Remember?
How can I forget. I thought I was going to get locked up in the Tower of London and have my head sliced off
Just searched my emails and found several from you I haven’t answered. Sorry! But now you know why.
Are you still sailing the high seas in that posh big yacht? Or landlocked in Middlesbrough, or Newcastle or wherever it is?
phil
still on high seas tinkering with net stuff..I need to stop tinkering and just WRITE something lol.
Home 8th August so online lets catch up on messenger or email.
btw is there some kind of Freudian trigger in your captcha system?
1st one was “rent”
2nd was ikea!
whats third going to be “west hartlepool”?
Robski
Hi Phil
Martin Avis said you have been ill, but he did not say you had been that ill.
Good to see that you are making progress in getting better, all the best
igor
Hey Phil,
I also was wondering where you had got to. You are one of the very few whose emails I always open.
Sorry to hear you have been so terribly unwell, but it’s good to hear that you are finally on the mend.
Regards,
Brigitte
hi phil, i do miss your newsletters! there are many forms of auto-immune, my spouse has it too….not severe though…doctor got him to go on vitamin D3 dosage…much better now…supplement too phil!
Hey,
Your ebook was the first book on Internet marketing I ever bought. That was 4 hard drives ago! The human body has remarkable self-healing capabilities. Keep the faith!
I am sorry to hear of your ill health Phil. Really thought you had been taking it easy and living the high life from all your internet success.
Yours are definitely one of the emails I always open . Quality not quantity ! We have missed your DTE attitude.
Hope all turns out well for you.
Bonnie