Pericadioal effusion. Left ventrical damage. Congestive heart failure. Atrial fib.
I don't want to lay down and die, humans don't have an expiration date. Fuck this. Fuck.
Posted Aug 19, 2010, 6:58 AM UTC
leave reddit and go live in the real world!
Watch and listen what this young fella has to say at the end:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7CeoUZbW3Y&feature=player_embedded
Good luck
Come to india, get a heart transplant.There are a hundred legal and illegal ways to go on about that.
[deleted]
Thanks for the recommendations!
Shantaram is a great 'semi-fiction' book about India, if you're looking for one.
I take lungs now, gills come next week.
Come to india, get a heart transplant.There are a hundred legal and illegal ways to go on about that.
Marvelous comment, Brahmins are just Jews in disguise.
My guess is that an operation wouldn't help for what he has. But definitely talk with different doctors about your options, and if a heart transplant really might help, get it done in the US.
Whoa, now that's just absurd.
Not if it extends his life.
actually it's a great idea
Shit bro... thats fucked up. but fuck if you dont have the right attitude. If you come by London, mi casa e su casa.
Where at in London?
We can make this happen.
Central. Swiss Cottage. Lets do this! Bank holiday weekend coming up and shit!
Let me sort this death thing. Cycling across the world in 365 days is do-able right, why can't I stop in London?
Word! smoke some rhino haze, party in shoreditch, pick up some essex honeys or some eurotrash blondies, and live like kings. I would fucking love that.
I think you should travel. If you make it to Shanghai after London, let me know and I'll entertain you for however long you're here. Then I really think near the end you try some sort of crazy procedure somewhere else. Do something wild. I don't know, if it were me; I'd use it as an excuse to finally have nothing to lose and do just about anything that came to my mind.
Can any procedure alleviate it?
You have a place in San Diego if you need it.
I've got a couch in San Diego. Not particularly exotic, but if you ever want to visit, you're welcome. It's gorgeous down here. Some of the best beaches and views in America.
Plus, there's Mexico. Like, right there.
And My Couch!
(In all seriousness, if OP feels like coming to Ithaca, NY (Not that I'd really recommend it), you can stay at my place.)
I grew up right next to Ithaca, I have a saying about it. It is ten square miles surrounded by reality. Screwed up place.
(Not that I'd really recommend it)
Ithaca is a pretty awesome place, wtf.
If you're touring the world in the last year of your life, why would you come to Ithaca? Yea, there's decent scenery, pretty OK wines, decent random places, but there's no reason to come here if you don't live here.
I guess, in the context of "one year to live," it probably doesn't rank as well, but for anyone else, I will always recommend a visit to upstate NY.
It's gorges there!
...Aaaand we come full circle
Fight a bear, run a marathon, get in a high speed chase, eat a 10 pound burger, create something that will last for decades, punch an asshole, high five a loser, eat different cuisine.
Fight a bear
make sure not to do this first
Definitely last
MENTALITY OF A LOSER!
...But don't fight a grizzly. A black bear is perfectly fine.
create something that will last for decades
Get a girl pregnant?
The ten pound burger might kill him on the spot.
Easy way to "Fight a bear" and cross it off your list.
Fight a large hairy gay man (Though they could probably pack a wollup, don't get over confident because of the fact they like guys.)
Find Bear Grills. He's a bad ass, but he can't way over 160 lbs so it'll help. For the love of god make sure he doesn't get his knife or canteen.
Finally beat up this bear. It may have scary ass claws (that it uses for climbing) and the artical says it "Does not cry", but it's the smallest of all the bears at only 4ft tall weighing 132 lbs max.
You rock!
You roll!
You barrel-roll!
I saw this guy with HIV on a talk show once - might have been Oprah - he found out he had HIV and started training to run a marathon. Within a few months all of his symptoms were gone - his t-cell count was back up.
Probably wouldn't have the same effect on someone with heart problems though.
All of this.
Plus, make love to anybody you like the looks of, who wants to make love with you. Don't just screw, fuck, or bang..........make love! (Use a condom, you don't want to catch anything.)
More like you don't want to get the chick pregnant and be like "Oops I forgot the mention I'm dying. Lol babies all yours."
why would he care if he catch anything?
Gonorrhea and Syphilis are not a pleasant way to spend any period of time, regardless of the amount you have left. Anything visible could hurt your chances of further boning as well. There's also the chance he doesn't want to be, you know, a dick and spread STD's to people on the way out.
aha!
Has a qualified second opinion been sought? A third, fifth, ninth?
Not being facetious here, I was in line for super significant abdominal aortic surgery, would have had me off feet for about three months, assuming I lived through it. It took me most of a year, but found a newer (very) less (waaaay less) invasive procedure and the guy to do it, off feet for three days, back to work in less than a week.
I'd spend some of that year looking for a guy with a better answer.
All the doctors have said the same thing. (5)
All doctors said you have a year to live? Then I call bullshit; you're lying.
'k - I just like to verify opinions and options. It's just that I should have died about six times so far, but through a variable combination of right place-right time (accidentally ran into a cardio tech who'd worked with the new aneurysm repair tech team), changing knowledge base and technologies, and just plain blind luck, sometimes with a little hope and occasionally a lot of help (sober for 40 years) - I'm still here. I don't like 'No way' as an answer. They were ready to put me on dialysis back in September, got them to back off, see if things would get better. So far they have. Dialysis off the table now.
All your doctors have told you you have a year to live?
No single doctor I know would say anything like that. Your story is starting to sound a little odd.
Have Johns Hopkins check it out. If they say it's 1 year then it probably is. Regardless, start living each day like it's your last.
[deleted]
Why have none of them recommended that you seek a transplant?
Because this is America and his insurance doesn't cover it.
I can rarely ever get one doctor to see me let alone 9. If he's gotten any more than 1 opinion saying his time is limited don't you think he'd rather spend his time doing something rather than sitting around in doctor's offices all day? Just my $0.02
OP has responded, says he has multiple concurring opinions, which is all I was trying to make sure he had. At this point he decides his best investment, as would I. I just have a problem accepting 'no answer/no hope' answers, but that's just me. Everyone's reactions are unique to them and their understanding of their situations.
Well, sir/ma'am, if you are ever in my neck of the woods I will make it my mission to get you royally fucked up (or really whatever you want to do) and have a good time. Other than that, just do all the cool shit the rest of us Plebes see in the movies and say we want to do one day but never get around to doing. Also, fuck that expiration date shit. Kick its ass and live forever. I believe in you.
You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.
And you sir, are due one Elvira Titty Twirl if we ever meet because I will damn straight take you to a strip club.
If you find her, we can go. This is no shit.
I'm dead serious: If you find an entertainer that can do such a thing, I'm already on my way.
:D
I'm totally going to pose as this guy just for some free drugs.
My mom's husband has had 6 months to live for 8 years.... But we're told that this 6 months is really it (that was 4 months ago.... and he's still good) Live your life, but don't get off of reddit. There's some really funny shit on here.
BASE Jumping
Basically acrobatic stupid energetics.
Spend time with your loved ones, tell them those things you always wanted to. Find one or two things you haven't experienced and make those happen. Make videos for family members to remember you by, do a favor to a friend. Plant a tree. Write a journal.
Wishing you enjoy whatever time you have and a medical breakthrough happens. Best of luck.
[deleted]
Did she pass away 6 1/2 years ago?
[deleted]
Have everyone here write you a bucket list and do everything on it. Ill start.
2.Be in a movie with either a rich guy who owns a hospital or Morgan Freeman.
3.Walk slowly away from a large explosion.
4.Heroin !
And sheep shagging
5.L. S. D.
Join the mile high club.
I never knew Morgan Freeman was a slave
wat
He parsed:
Be in a movie with either {a rich guy who owns a hospital} or {Morgan Freeman}.
as
Be in a movie with either a rich guy who owns {a hospital} or {Morgan Freeman}.
Which doesn't quite work right, but with a bit of imagination makes some sense...
Buy a motorcycle and tour the country. Fuck it, what else is there to do?
"I refuse to tiptoe quietly through life only to arrive safely at death. Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, cigar in one hand, favorite beverage in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming,
DAMN! What a Ride!"
CONSIDER NOT DOING THIS.
MOTORCYCLING IS DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES A HUGE INVESTMENT OF TIME AND MONEY TO BE EVEN REMOTELY COMPETENT.
MOTORCYCLE TOURING IS QUITE LONELY. UNLESS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF YOURS, AND YOU ARE ASOCIAL, AVOID IT.
SERIOUSLY, SPEND YOUR REMAINING TIME DOING THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN WITH THE BEST PEOPLE YOU KNOW. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE LAYING IN A HOSPITAL, FEELING THE FLUID CRUSH YOUR HEART, AND THINK, "WHY THE FUCK DID I SPEND ALL THAT TIME CROSSING IOWA WHEN I COULD HAVE BEEN FISHING WITH DAD?"
Upvote this fucking man
If you did want to do some touring, maybe try getting a van you can sleep in and travel to coastal areas maybe even through the Americas meeting new and interesting people.
Make it happen with http://www.advrider.com/ - you'll likely get overwhelming support and a place to sleep in every corner of our country (assuming America, there's people there in other countries too though!)
I've registered. I do not have enough posts to make a new post. The site seems awesome though.
I only have 16 posts and can make a new thread, so the number of posts needed isn't that high. Send me a message, if you remember, if you do plan on doing this!
I got divorced and took a solo ride to Alaska. It was lonely and almost every hour was spent lamenting a shitty relationships. Only do it if you have companions. That said. Join Advrider.com and tell your tale. You will be treated like a king taken to the best corners of the continent. They are good people.
Get a motorbike even if you don't tour on it. They are the best things ever. Shit dude, go to India, buy a bike and ride it home.
Kill Glen Beck
How many upvotes before this is considered a viable option?
tell the doctors to fuck off. After dealing with dozens of cardiologists (ugh), I figured something out: THEY'RE ALL GUESSING. Not mostly, not sometimes, ALWAYS. Don't mistake their egotistical overconfidence as confidence in your prognosis.
I hope you can find enough peace in your life to enjoy every moment. It's what we all should be doing, we just think we're invincible. Is there a close friend or companion that can help you achieve the things you want to do? you may need some help if there's edema or the blood oxygen is low. Try to take it slow and never, ever set your alarm again.
Not to go armchair here but my sister had all 4 of these symptoms (actually no left ventricle at all) and was in heart failure several times; many, many cardiologists said she'd be dead before age 6...she's 35 now. They always said she was dying, it was ridiculous. We kept looking and eventually found 1 crazy surgeon at UCLA that was willing to take a long shot and now she's the oldest person alive with the condition. I've had MDs tell me it wasn't possible, she only has 1/2 a heart, blah blah blah. She's just alive, man and nobody knows how. And she's the happiest person I know.
tl;dr - Doctors are full of shit; sleep as much as you want & surround yourself with peace & love
[deleted]
I figured something out: THEY'RE ALL GUESSING. Not mostly, not sometimes, ALWAYS.
Uh, no.
Not to go armchair here but my sister had all 4 of these symptoms (actually no left ventricle at all)
It is not embryologically possible to not have a left ventricle at all, as the right and left are formed from a single lumen by way of a septum. I take it you mean a ventricular septal defect? Lots of people have those, they turn in to Eisenmenger's eventually. Being alive at 35 is not all that odd.
no valve opening. Over time it's a the ventricle becomes a pretty useless piece of shit, a "flap" I've heard it called. It's different than ventricular septal defect.
And I'm sorry I didn't realize you were an expert in my family's experiences; care to join the club of presumptuous doctors that say it's not possible? lol
generalize much? romabit is not bright. the thing is the doctors make educated guesses depending on other patients' survival rates - obviously there are some people who don't fall into the meaty part of the bell curve and either die early or later than predicted. they are the exception rather than the rule.
Buy a sword and a cape and start patrolling shitty neighborhoods looking for innocent citizens to protect from evildoers.
You forgot the mask.
whatever you do... do not waste it refreshing the front page.
I can't tell you what to do, and from what I know of CHF (my dad has it), your options are pretty limited. You're either on drugs that make you pee every 15 minutes, or every small exertion leaves you gasping for breath.
If it were me, and I were healthy enough to do it, I'd sell everything I owned (including my car) and buy a touring bicycle, a trailer, some lights, some raingear, and a lightweight tent and sleeping bag, and a one-way train ticket to Seattle. After enjoying my cross-country train ride, I'd spend the next six months biking the Pacific Northwest, then down the coast to San Francisco, and then work my way back east until I dropped. YMMV.
super upvote.
[deleted]
Try to break as many records in Guinness Book as you can in that one year.
Have you had CPX testing? Otherwise they can't even accurately assess your prognosis. I can't imagine any good doctor telling you you have a year to live and that's it. Is he some old fart? You should see a younger cardiologist who actually knows what he's doing.
In any case, it seems you'd be a candidate for an LVAD or transplant, unless there's some reason you're not eligible.
EDIT: Well, looking at your comment history, you appear to be a chronic drug user, and probably not willing to stop, either. So, you dug your own grave. Thus you should probably just spend your last year doing all the drugs you can, since that's what you enjoyed doing so much.
What kind of drugs?
Most people are chronic drug users, probably including you.
He mentioned pot and other heavier drugs. You can look in his own history if you want.
We're talking illegal drugs or drugs that damage the body, not ones that are perscribed and used correctly.
We're talking illegal drugs or drugs that damage the body, not ones that are perscribed and used correctly.
How magical that is, that the only drugs that are not bad for you are the one's that are socially acceptable!
That's not true. Nicotine and alcohol are both socially acceptable, but are quite bad for you when abused.
Although I'd love to side with the common man fighting the insidious drug companies the simple fact is that many street drugs are very tough on the heart.
Your every day Paxil just doesn't damage the ventricles and enlarge the heart like a big line of cocaine.
I'm not willing to dig through his comments. Which heavy drugs specifically?
I think it's considered a well known fact that many prescribed substances damage the body when taken according to the instruction.
I'm not willing to dig through his comments. Which heavy drugs specifically?
I'm not willing to dig through his comments again to give you specifics.
I think it's considered a well known fact that many prescribed substances damage the body when taken according to the instruction.
This is irrelevant to being ineligible for transplants. (Well, not totally irrelevant, but irrelevant if he's being denied for illegal drug use.)
Drink, smoke, travel, do lots of hallucinogens, meet as many interesting people as you can, write things down that you think are important, live as fully and as dangerously as you possibly can.
Enjoy every sandwich.
Truer words were never spoken
So... that is the most truth you can have in a sentence?
Sandwich every Enjoy.
equally as true!
dig her up and make a cage from her bones
After you rape her and kill her when you take her home, of course
yeah, but you take her home afterword, when your excitability has worn off and you are trying to deal with the situation
Glenn?!?
-Warren Zevon, on David Letterman, as he was dying.
[deleted]
I don't know if you are being a troll or just don't understand the quote's origins.
I was looking for this :)
You've got to experience DMT once in your lifetime.
most people have absolutely not idea where to find access to these things.
Hippie gatherings and music festivals.
DMT is actually not terribly hard to find (google "ayahuasca"), but taking it with no previous hallucinogen experience is a terrible idea.
word, start out with shrooms or lsd if you can find it.
Does synthetic DMT make you vomit uncontrollably like ayahuasca?
[deleted]
Yet all it takes is asking someone.
I never knew how close at hand drugs were, until I opened my trap.
Yeah, I went decades without being able to score drugs, and then I was at a party and I mentioned that I'd never tried drugs because I have no fucking idea where to get them, and the reply was a blank look and, "My basement..."
Apparently all you have to do is ask stoners if they want to smoke with you.
[deleted]
I second this with every fiber of my being.
Don't drink or smoke. It might make things worse.
Drinking with A-fib might significantly worsen the prognosis. I recommend you skip the drugs part of this advice.
You forgot to add: Eat more bacon than you have ever eaten in a year.
EDIT: I guess that goes along with living fully and dangerously. Especially dangerously.
Watch The Bucket List. Do that. Good luck.
[deleted]
Can't upvote enough.
Why smoke? Do you think it makes life better somehow? It only makes you more miserable and you feel yourself worse every day.
Wrong.
There are no more days.