The Other Half

I sat on a "weird pain" in my chest for a few days. Basically it was uncomfortable to sleep on my left side, and I felt a bit short of breath. Turns out I was suffering from a double pulmonary embolism, and that the only reason I wasn't doubled over in pain is because by an odd fluke of nature, the interior of the lungs do not have nerve endings (only the exterior) and had I waited any longer I could have died. At that point, a third of both of my lungs was basically gone already. And so, I ended up having to stay for an entire week in the hospital while they dripped anticoagulants into me. If my girlfriend hadn't strongly encouraged me to call my doctor... Who knows.

Guys/gals... If there's any unusual pain in your chest cavity at all, just drop whatever it is you're doing and get it checked out. It might not even seem that bad at the time... it didn't to me and it didn't to Jason Scott... just do it.

Re: The Other Half

#5

Post by mikeash » Wed, Mar 01, 2017, 5:02 PM UTC

"I’d now had been experiencing a heart attack for about a week."

Holy cow. I didn't realize this was possible. This is a good lesson to all of us not to ignore weird, painful phenomena in our body.

Re: The Other Half

#6

Post by lowglow » Wed, Mar 01, 2017, 5:04 PM UTC

I saw Jason perform at Internet Archive's anniversary party this year and was really captivated by his stage presence, showmanship, and ability to wrangle and move a show forward.

Glad he's doing OK. Good vibes, Jason!

Re: The Other Half

#7

Post by magoghm » Wed, Mar 01, 2017, 5:07 PM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #5

"I’d now had been experiencing a heart attack for about a week." Holy cow. I didn't realize this was possible. This is a good lesson to all of us not to ignore weird, painful phenomena in our body.

I had a heart attack two years ago. I spent a few weeks with some weird pain in my forearms (both of them) before realizing it was a heart attack. Never felt any pain in my chest.

Re: The Other Half

#8

Post by zaxophone » Wed, Mar 01, 2017, 5:07 PM UTC

I love Jason Scott. Just a real upstanding guy. Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Re: The Other Half

#9

Post by joebeetee » Wed, Mar 01, 2017, 5:08 PM UTC

A (35ish y/o) family friend died 2 months ago from a heart attack, suspected high cholesterol. He was seemingly healthy, active and not overweight.

Anyone else have experience with cholesterol in early 30's?

Re: The Other Half

#10

Post by ben_jones » Wed, Mar 01, 2017, 5:09 PM UTC

How is it THAT IN 2017 someone is still designing business critical systems with single points of failure?!

Seriously though I wish him a full recovery and we all need to remind ourselves that all too often we lose track of what's really, life stoppingly, important.