Where in the world has Ed been, many have been wondering. He reliably posts 10 times a day or more. What could possibly be keeping him offline and out of communication all this time? Did he have a heart attack and die? Well, close. And now that I have a real computer, I can tell everyone the whole story of what happened.
A week ago (exactly last Saturday), I was experiencing some serious pain in my abdomen, near my kidneys. It was keeping me from sleeping at night, it was so bad. So I drove to the emergency room in Greenville. They ran some urine tests and didn’t find anything wrong with my kidneys, so they gave me some vicodin and told me to call my regular doctor on Monday morning. So I wait…
Fast forward to Sunday night and suddenly I’m having trouble breathing. I can’t walk 5 feet without feeling like I’m gonna fall over, my heart is racing a mile a minute and I keep waking up drenched in sweat. I decide not to wait to see my regular doctor and not to try to drive to the ER, so I call 911. The ambulance came Monday morning and they thought I was having a heart attack. I get to Greenville ER and the doctor there immediately decides to send me to Butterworth hospital in Grand Rapids, a world-class medical facility, especially for cardiac problems.
I get to Butterworth with my heart rate over 160. They did a heart catheter and found no blockages at all. They did a CAT scan and found the lining of my heart a bit thick and the right ventricle a bit stiff, but those things shouldn’t cause the problems I was having. All day Monday they did tests, also finding that my lymph nodes were swelled badly. Tuesday morning about 10 AM, my heart rate goes over 200 bpm and they decide they can’t wait any longer, they have to open me up.
So, Black and Decker to the sternum and they are shocked to find a ton of fluid in my chest, pushing down on my heart and lungs and making my heart go into overdrive to keep oxygen in my system. They do a biopsy on the lymph nodes, clean things up, install three chest tubes and sew me back up. Sometime in the middle of the night, I ripped out my ventilator tube (I told them that better not be on my bill, I did it myself). As for what caused all of this, that’s still not certain.
There are two possibilities left — a fungal infection and sarcoidosis, an auto-immune disorder that essentially has to be diagnosed by ruling out all the other possibilities. It’s treatable and should be able to be handled medically without long-term problems. Looks like I’ll be allowed to leave tomorrow, but I’ll need to stay with a friend to look after me for the first week or so before going home.
It’s all been quite an adventure, and not a pleasant one. But given all the possible alternatives, the news is relatively good and the prognosis is positive. I feel quite lucky, both to have excellent medical care provided by brilliant and committed doctors, nurses, technicians and research scientists, and to have a great family and friends who have rallied around me and provided a great deal of support. Thank you all so much for the well wishes and the positive messages.
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Dan J
December 22, 2012 at 2:55 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Damn! Best wishes for a speedy (and as pain-free as possible) recovery from the surgery. I loathe the process of narrowing down what I *might* have by excluding everything else.
Maureen Brian
December 22, 2012 at 3:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Poor you! Do keep on getting better and taking full advantage of all the good support you have.
brandon
December 22, 2012 at 3:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Damn, that really sucks. I’m glad you’re getting out soon.
sheila
December 22, 2012 at 3:05 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Youch! Get well soon. (And yay for science.)
democommie
December 22, 2012 at 3:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Do you believe in GOD, NOW!? (democommie ducks, with amazing alacrity for a stiff old codger).
Seriously, Ed, all the best. Please tell us that you did not call 911 on Sunday and not have them show up until Monday (unless of course it was close to midnight).
You could always give me, slc1, Raging bee, dingojack and heddle (now, now, I know that there are many other worthies!) the keys to the house. You can depend on me to feed the fish and make sure that nothing in the fridge goes bad–the other people can be sane and reasoned bloggers, I hope!
Cheers.
Zeno
December 22, 2012 at 3:17 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ick, ick, ick! What a nightmare! Good luck and full recovery, Ed.
“Black & Decker” — great line! (Was it really a B&D?)
Zinc Avenger (Sarcasm Tags 3.0 Compliant)
December 22, 2012 at 3:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Stay strong.
Nathaniel Frein
December 22, 2012 at 3:19 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yeeesh. Hope everything works out.
Squiddhartha
December 22, 2012 at 3:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh, man, Ed, I figured you were just taking extra time to work on your book. Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery!
MikeMa
December 22, 2012 at 3:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Black & Decker? Get well.
Cathy W
December 22, 2012 at 3:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh, goodness. I’m glad you were able to get good care, and are on the road to recovery.
Do one thing while you recover: TAKE IT EASY. You won’t be as strong as you feel for a few weeks.
otrame
December 22, 2012 at 3:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I was worried about you. I knew that an OCD blogger like you only posting once a day was not good news. I’m sorry you were an interesting case. You never want to interest a doctor if you can help it. Usually not good. I’m glad it was something treatable. Get well soon. I promise not to pray for you.
Ichthyic
December 22, 2012 at 3:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’d say you need House to make the diagnosis, but I think he retired.
;)
grumpyoldfart
December 22, 2012 at 3:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I hope it all goes well.
slc1
December 22, 2012 at 3:40 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Get well quickly, we miss our daily dose of sarcasm. Lots a crap going on, relative to the fiscal cliff, Chuck Hagel, etc.
Ichthyic
December 22, 2012 at 3:45 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
wait…. did you recently make a trip to a famous fictional chocolate factory?
you… you didn’t try the chewing gum, did you??
shouldbeworking
December 22, 2012 at 3:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Rest and relax. Dingo said he’ll shovel your sidewalks and driveway for you.
theguy
December 22, 2012 at 3:54 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Get well soon. I was wondering about the altered posting schedule.
Hank Fox
December 22, 2012 at 4:06 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Does this mean my plans for total FTB domination have to be put on hold? Crap, I already got the iron glove and the white cat.
Seriously, Ed, glad you’re better.
ajb47
December 22, 2012 at 4:07 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Glad to hear it looks like everything will be fine and get well soon.
dukeyork
December 22, 2012 at 4:09 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Get well soon, Ed! We need you out here.
Did you at least get to meet the Michigan version of Dr. House?
Duke
jakc
December 22, 2012 at 4:19 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It sounds very serious but it couldn’t be too serious as you didn’t start down a long tunnel filled with bright light only to have baby jesus tell you it’s not your time and you should turn back
anubisprime
December 22, 2012 at 4:20 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Speedy recovery Ed…take it easy and all the best!
brianengler
December 22, 2012 at 4:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Damn, Ed! You certainly know how to have fun don’t you? Seriously, very glad to hear that you availed yourself of evidence-based medicine, and that you’re recovering well. Take it easy and take your time. Hope to see you at WIS2 or one of the many other events coming up in the new year.
John Hinkle
December 22, 2012 at 4:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Frightening thought, having to call 911 because you question the ability to get yourself to the ER. My most sincere sympathies.
This all reminds me of a joke: this rabbi, priest, and doctor of medical science walk into a bar and…
Marcus Ranum
December 22, 2012 at 4:30 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Proof that you have a heart! I hope you got pictures!
Get well and soon; I won’t pray for you.
slc1
December 22, 2012 at 4:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I almost forgot the statement from Wayne LaPierre of the National Rat Association about putting armed guards on all the schools in the US, in response to what happened in Connecticut. He wasn’t alone in this regard, our whackjob Virginia Governor McDonnell also recommended arming teachers! Some pretty good fodder there.
Scott Hanley
December 22, 2012 at 4:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I wish you the best of luck through this. I know you’ll keep us up-to-date on your status.
Michael Heath
December 22, 2012 at 4:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Squiddhartha writes:
That’s what I thought. So in spite of all that you continued to post some blog posts every day? Wow.
Here’s hoping for a full recovery real soon. It’s amazing they you can open you up like that; yet you’ll be able to leave the hospital within days, and then be autonomous within a week or so after that. So great news on the expected recovery given what happened prior.
Until about two hours ago we’ve been survivalist mode around here since 4 a.m. yesterday. Perfect timing for the Mayan thing though it was more like Thor’s version of Hell.
We got a huge snow storm with concrete-like* snow Thursday evening losing power that evening until a little while ago (I live in Northern Michigan were big storms are the norm.) Thursday evening we got 15″, on top of the 5″ during the day Thursday. My dad hooked-up a generator to the furnace late yesterday afternoon so we didn’t have to worry about busted water pipes. Most of the work involved clearing the snow and cars out of the roads, and getting some family members situated in temporary digs until the power came back.
Our only casualties were a couple of ceiling tiles and two downed cedar trees. I might be able to save the trees, they’re both pretty resilient.
*Concrete-like snow is so heavy with water it sometimes gets compacted in the snowblower as if its concrete. Too much and the augur can’t blow it out; and then you gotta use a garden spade to dig it out. I had that happen only once in about two hours of blowing snow so I felt fortunate. All this in 25 – 30 mph winds with gusts up to 40 mph.
Funny Diva
December 22, 2012 at 4:45 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
And to echo somebody upthread–don’t overdo it too soon. If they took Black&Decker to your sternum, that’s done some MAJOR structural, uh, modification to how your body holds you up!
Pierce R. Butler
December 22, 2012 at 4:46 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Next time insist on a DeWalt, or at least a Skilsaw!
Area Man
December 22, 2012 at 4:51 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Heh, wait ’till you get the bill.
sabai456
December 22, 2012 at 4:53 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think this is the luckiest part of your ordeal.It’s like a miracle.
Get better.
Michael Heath
December 22, 2012 at 4:58 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Pierce writes:
raven
December 22, 2012 at 5:00 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh Cthulhu.
Words all of the sudden don’t seem adequate.
You did survive so all that is left is recovering. Hope you are back to something vaguely resembling normal soon.
gardengnome
December 22, 2012 at 5:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Peirce @ 31
Next time insist on a DeWalt, or at least a Skilsaw!
Nah, Makita every time.
All the best Ed – take a holiday.
Michael
Dr X
December 22, 2012 at 5:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks for letting us know and I hope you’re well soon.
newfie
December 22, 2012 at 5:07 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wow.. stay strong, Ed.
krisrhodes
December 22, 2012 at 5:13 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
After reading you every day for many years, I started to get worried around Wednesday. Hope you have a good recovery.
Stacy
December 22, 2012 at 5:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Glad you’re still with us. Take care.
Sastra
December 22, 2012 at 5:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
‘Tis a Christmas miracle! Almost.
You poor baby — take care of yourself, and all our best wishes.
democommie
December 22, 2012 at 5:36 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
And here I was thinking that Ed was going to tell us that he spent the time in a “undisclosed location” (Vegas). Well, I guess what happens in Grand Rapids, don’t stay in Grand Rapids!
Jeremy Shaffer
December 22, 2012 at 5:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Damn, here’s to a speedy recovery. Still , seeing you were given some vicodin and that sarcoidosis as a possible diagnosis I feel I should make a House reference but I find that none come to mind.
Wes
December 22, 2012 at 5:52 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wow. That fuckin’ sucks, dude. Hope you get well soon.
John Pieret
December 22, 2012 at 5:53 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Get well soon and, of all things, don’t worry about us … we’ll find someway to amuse ourselves!
ritapita
December 22, 2012 at 5:54 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wow! I’m surprised you were able to post anything at all. Hope your recovery progresses well.
Modusoperandi
December 22, 2012 at 6:13 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes, but other than that how was your week?
Rob F
December 22, 2012 at 6:30 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Get well soon.
typecaster
December 22, 2012 at 6:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wow, is this becoming an FtB rite of passage? First PZ has an interesting cardiac episode, and now you have an adventure. If it happens again, we’ll have to invoke the anti-hazing laws, assuming the Michigan Republicans haven’t repealed them yet.
.
Seriously, get well, and believe the folks who’re urging you to take your time with it. When it’s a choice between posting and catching a nap, pick the nap.
.
My chest hurts just from hearing your description of the procedure.
heddle
December 22, 2012 at 6:34 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Get well Ed.
timberwoof
December 22, 2012 at 6:54 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yowch! Good luck and good health to you.
mishcakes
December 22, 2012 at 7:01 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Feel better, Ed. Glad you have a great support network.
Michael Heath @29 – we’re currently getting dumped on and expect to have upwards of five FEET once this storm is done. :)
Doubting Thomas
December 22, 2012 at 7:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Damn, every time you, PZ or one my other favorite bloggers go dark for a while my mind starts to imagine that one of those wing nuts we love to insult has…
Ed Brayton
December 22, 2012 at 7:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I had some posts built up, which our site tech scheduled for me while I was out. I didn’t have a computer until tonight, so I’m building up some material now for the next few days. Blogging should return to relatively normal now. I actually had several emails from people saying “You’re not posting very often. Is everything okay?” Nice to be a part of other peoples’ routines, I guess.
vmanis1
December 22, 2012 at 7:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
All the best, Ed!
Olav
December 22, 2012 at 7:34 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That must have been scary. I had a medical scare myself a few months ago, so I can sympathise to a degree. But thankfully no powertools were involved in my treatment. That must have been worse than scary. Of course, do get better and take any good advice the doctors might give you. Even if it includes the dreaded “lifestyle changes”. We must all make them, at some point.
tuibguy
December 22, 2012 at 7:59 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
So, um. you gonna be needin the rest of them vicodin?
Glad to hear you got great care, Ed.
cry4turtles
December 22, 2012 at 8:01 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Get well soon. I’m finding it difficult to enjoy the day fully without a dose of Ed.
nooneinparticular
December 22, 2012 at 8:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ed – Wow. Glad you’re feeling better and that it looks like it is manageable. I wish you a speedy recovery and continued good health. Take care and don’t work so hard.
carlie
December 22, 2012 at 8:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
So glad it’s turned out ok so far, Ed. Get better and rest up all you want.
amyjane
December 22, 2012 at 8:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ed- I’m glad you are getting better, but please do as they tell you. That sternum
needs time to mend.
chuckonpiggott
December 22, 2012 at 8:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Take care of yourself Ed.
Speaking as a fellow member of the split chest club it takes a while to get over that.
Marcus Ranum
December 22, 2012 at 8:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I bet you can say “it hurts when I laugh” and it won’t even be funny.
ragingapathy
December 22, 2012 at 9:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I noticed the low post-rate and figured it was time off typical for folks round this time of year. But dang what a turn of events that must have been. I am happy to hear you’ve pulled through and I hope very much your condition improves even more and that some conclusion can be reached about how it happened, the better to avoid repeats. Peace and good health!
tfkreference
December 22, 2012 at 9:06 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Glad you’re ok. Hope that blogging provides good occupational therapy for you Be careful, though, reading all that wingnut crap has got to be stressful at times. Please concentrate on the funny stuff, like creationism and Orly Taitz.
Thanks for the improved mobile template on FTB.
savagemutt
December 22, 2012 at 9:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I thought something was odd as I was expecting a post about Bork’s death.
My best wishes for a quick recovery.
dingojack
December 22, 2012 at 9:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Demo said “You could always give me, slc1, Raging bee, dingojack and heddle (now, now, I know that there are many other worthies!) the keys to the house”.
That’d be a pretty long flight for me just to feed the fish! (‘worthies’ is a little strong, in my case).
Shouldbeworking said “Dingo said he’ll shovel your sidewalks and driveway for you”.
Then
Micheal Heath said “We got a huge snow storm with concrete-like* snow Thursday evening losing power that evening until a little while ago (I live in Northern Michigan were big storms are the norm.) Thursday evening we got 15″, on top of the 5″ during the day Thursday”.
Thanks shouldbeworking – hope you’ve got a loooooong handled shovel, Ed! ;)
Ed – so now you’ve had this, what the hell are we gonna get you Xmas?!?
Oh I know!
Get well soon.
:) Dingo
Crudely Wrott
December 22, 2012 at 9:43 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’d thought something was a bit out of kilter this past week, but dadburn the dadratted dadgum, Ed!
I’m relieved to know that you were able to get good, competent and timely attention. That makes me feel confident that you’ll recover and be your old self again soon. We’ve missed you and want you back.
Now, be sure to listen to the doctors, wink at the nurses and take your medicine on schedule. As well, next time insist on Craftsman tools.
whheydt
December 22, 2012 at 9:54 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You’ve got my sympathy…especially about getting your chest opened up.
I had bypass surgery almost 13 years ago. Take it *real* easy. Unless they’ve found something better, until the bones knit, you’ve just got a few staples holding you together. (And, unless things have changed, coughing hurts like a son-of-a-bitch for a couple of weeks following surgery.)
Noadi
December 22, 2012 at 10:06 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ouch… take care of yourself Ed. As much as I love reading your posts having your chest cracked open is more than reason enough to ease back on posting for a bit.
David C Brayton
December 22, 2012 at 10:14 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Just out of curiosity, did they know what they were looking for when the did the surgery? Or was the surgery essentially exploratory? Did they snap a boring old chest x-ray? I’m pretty sure a fluid build up that leads to tamponade would show up pretty well.
BTW, you can really tell that I’m a dork, eh? Straight to the technical question. Anyhow…What was the worst part–the pain and uncertainty regarding your health? Or not having a keyboard/internet connection?
Has everyone come to visit? Dad and H, Duwayne, K, etc.
Wish them all a Merry Christmas for me from wet (not snowy) California.
julial
December 22, 2012 at 10:20 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Be better. Much better. Soonest.
You have my sympathies.
I’m glad it’s not what Android Ash had even if that’s what it felt like.
KDoug
December 22, 2012 at 10:30 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sorry to hear that you had to go through such an ordeal. I hope things stay on the up and up.
magistramarla
December 22, 2012 at 10:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ed,
When I read that there was a concern about your lymph nodes, I immediately started thinking that you have an autoimmune problem. Several of them can cause a fluid build-up around the lungs or heart, including Lupus. One has an serious effect on the lymph glands – Sjogren’s Syndrome, which I have.
Here’s the link to the SJS website: http://www.sjogrens.org/
I hope that you read this and that it helps.
Here’s hoping that you feel better soon.
mildlymagnificent
December 22, 2012 at 10:45 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh my giddy aunt.
Take care. Don’t be too disappointed if you can’t get back to ‘normal’ as soon as you’d like. Let your friends cosset you for the first few weeks.
And we won’t nag if you’re a bit less active for a while.
Get better soon. Get well when you can.
dingojack
December 22, 2012 at 11:00 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
julial – Guess Ed didn’t like the cornbread either!
:D Dingo
——-
(Whatever you do – don’t go after the ship’s cat)
didgen
December 22, 2012 at 11:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Having worked in medical I want to ask questions that are none of my business, but, a CT didn’t show the fluid? Been hanging out in the San Joaquin valley for fun and fungus? Please feel better, none of those procedures is minor and all are exceptionally painful. Only difficult patients self-extubate, it’s not polite.
stubby
December 22, 2012 at 11:20 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Best wishes, Ed.
Modusoperandi
December 22, 2012 at 11:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
David C Brayton “Just out of curiosity, did they know what they were looking for when the did the surgery?”
They had it narrowed down to a broken heart, butterflies in the stomach, a spare rib, or the wishbone.
DaveC
December 23, 2012 at 12:24 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Glad you had good Docs. Hoping for your speedy recovery.
aaronbaker
December 23, 2012 at 12:26 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Glad to hear you’re doing better.
shouldbeworking
December 23, 2012 at 2:21 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The amount of snow falling on my (formerly) bare driveway is almost enough to give me cardiac pains. Good thing I have 2 loving daughters. They can call 911 for me.
Ed Brayton
December 23, 2012 at 4:43 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
David-
The plan when they opened me up was to install a device to keep the heart under control, to do a biopsy on the lymph nodes and to find out what was going on. At least that’s how I remember it being explained to me while I was panicking and sedated. I think they also thought that my heart just wasn’t going to last long at 200 bpm. The worst part was the dread and uncertainty. I was terrified at the thought of open heart surgery, but when they said that’s what they wanted to do, I immediately consented. I’d spent the previous 36 hours feeling like I was going to die and having no idea why. I wanted answers, to know what was going on so we could get it fixed. Kevin was the one talking to the doctors mostly and he just came to me and said, “You need to do this. They have to get in there and find out what the problem is, one way or the other, so let’s do it now.”
Everyone has been around from the family and my group of close friends. The support has been great, as one would expect. Jill and Susie came up and spent a whole night here. Kevin slept here for three days, watching me like a hawk. Jack has called several times from Colorado. He wanted to send in some Mormon elders to pray over me, but dad told him that probably wasn’t a good idea.
oolon
December 23, 2012 at 5:25 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hope you have a quick recovery and have a good xmas!
Kilian Hekhuis
December 23, 2012 at 5:41 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m a bit late to the party, having been busy with xmas preparations, but needless to say I wish you a speedy recovery and have yourself some great holidays!
Max Hannan
December 23, 2012 at 5:57 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Best wishes for a speedy recovery Ed. As a frequent lurker I was wondering where you had gone! Take it easy and have a good Christmas :)
(And I too was wondering why they didn’t U/S the heart which would have shown fluid- but that’s a vet student for you!)
Joey Maloney
December 23, 2012 at 6:25 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Best wishes for a fast and full recovery, Ed.
mudpuddles
December 23, 2012 at 6:55 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Be well Ed.
JeffreyD
December 23, 2012 at 7:02 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sacrificed a Tea Party nut in your name. May Cthulhu pass you by.
zmidponk
December 23, 2012 at 7:33 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Jeremy Shaffer #43:
magistramarla #74:
It’s not Lupus.
Seriously, it’s damn good to hear you’re on the mend, and I hope that everything goes smoothly from here on out.
harold
December 23, 2012 at 8:07 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sounds terrifying. Good luck.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞
December 23, 2012 at 9:10 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Damn Ed.
I am glad you got excellent medical care.
Hopefully your recovery is swift.
abb3w
December 23, 2012 at 9:43 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’d hoped you were merely taking some time to relax for the holidays. Alas, not exactly.
Hope your doctors figure out in short order how to fix you back up.
Michael Heath
December 23, 2012 at 9:44 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ed wrote:
Like the other commenters who responded here, how long did you have to wait from the time you called 911 to when the ambulance arrived?
Ed Brayton
December 23, 2012 at 9:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I didn’t have to wait. I didn’t call them until Monday morning. There were first responders at the house within 5 minutes, followed by the ambulance a few minutes later. I probably should have called them sooner. i sat up all night trying to sleep, waking up every half hour or so just drenched in sweat. I couldn’t even walk a few steps into the bathroom. My original plan was to call my regular doctor on Monday morning and set an appointment, but it was clear by then that there was no way I was going to be able to drive the mile and a half to her office, so I called 911.
Tobinius
December 23, 2012 at 11:04 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Glad to hear that you are on the mend and in apparent good spirits – so to speak ;)
Cheers!
ema
December 23, 2012 at 11:52 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
On the bright side, your heart isn’t the problem and your coronaries are free and clear. Best wishes for a quick diagnosis and a speedy recovery.
dingojack
December 23, 2012 at 12:04 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Tobinius – I heard that, in the end, Lord Horatio Nelson was in good spirits. ;)
Dingo
——-
ED strange that just a little while ago you were thinking of epitaphs.
Olav
December 23, 2012 at 2:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
JeffreyD:
You may not be aware, but that is a terrible curse to inflict on someone else. The usual good luck wish is “may Ctulhu eat you first”.
JeffreyD
December 23, 2012 at 3:48 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Olav, I belong to the new Apostolic Church of Cthulhu, the softer side of the Elder Gods. We now longer sacrifice seaside villages to HIM. Now we just throw pork chops into evergreen bushes.
highdudgeonaz
December 23, 2012 at 3:59 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sweet merciful crap!
I’m glad to hear you’re on the mend.
catlover
December 23, 2012 at 4:48 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Get well soon! I hope your recovery is speedy, and as pain-free as possible.
That was a very scary thing to live through. Glad you are on the mend!
Please — don’t overexert yourself, and please do what the doctors say.
(I am quite amazed you are able to post here. That is very good.)
I thank science and all the good doctors and nurses and helpers you had
for the good outcome. wow…..
@ Michael Heath — #29: That snow you had sounds just like what we here in
California call “Sierra cement”. Donner averages 100-200 inches a year of
this hard-to-move stuff. Sometimes even the railroad’s rotary snowplows
cannot handle the stuff.
Nick Gotts (formerly KG)
December 23, 2012 at 5:24 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
All the best for a speedy and complete recovery.
leftygomez
December 23, 2012 at 6:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Best wishes for a speedy recovery Ed. Glad to be reading your posts again!
d.c.wilson
December 23, 2012 at 8:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Best wishes on your recovery, Ed.
lynnwilhelm
December 23, 2012 at 9:16 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh, Ed, I’m so sorry to hear about this. But I am glad to hear that you are doing better now. Take care of yourself while you recover.
pocketnerd
December 23, 2012 at 10:49 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ugh. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery!
markhoofnagle
December 23, 2012 at 11:53 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sorry to hear about this Ed. Having your chest cracked is a hell of a thing, I hope you have a fast recovery, but don’t be surprised if this takes some time to get back up to 100%. Get on your feet soon, walk early and often (with assistance until you’re confident), and get better soon.
Ellie
December 24, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Behind o my blog reading. I’m sorry to read about your adventure and sincerely hope you are back to 100% ASAP.
Stacey C.
December 26, 2012 at 9:54 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Just figured it was the holidays…glad to hear that you’re prognosis is for a full recovery!
Time to help one of our own » Zinnia Jones
December 23, 2012 at 11:36 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] Freethought Blogs and continues to run it with incomparable prowess, has just been through the rather terrifying ordeal of open heart surgery. He’s okay and on the road to recovery, but even with insurance, there [...]
Ed Brayton Hospitalized, Needs Help » Greta Christina's Blog
December 23, 2012 at 3:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] Ed Brayton, of Dispatches from the Culture Wars and co-founder of the Freethought Blogs network, had a bad and scary health episode this week, which resulted in him being hospitalized and having his chest cracked open. In his words: [...]
Helping a Fellow Atheist Blogger
December 23, 2012 at 11:43 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] Ed Brayton is one of the founders of Freethought Blogs and he just went through a pretty tough health scare: [...]