I’m reaching out to you this week because I have quite a story to tell. Or, rather, my co-host does. On March 9th, I recorded an episode with my podcasting partner/frenemy Steve Olivas. After several minutes of our usual inane banter, he casually mentioned that, the day before, he’d experienced tightness in his chest and shortness of breath. The rest of the episode is me haranguing him (hilariously, I hope) for not going to the doctor. Well, he didn’t listen. Not that I can blame him. How could he possibly know this was one time in my life I was offering good advice? That very night, all hell broke loose. The second half of the recording covers the aftermath.
Well, I don’t know what to say. I’m glad Steve is alive even though he tried to unalive himself so hard. I’m also very surprised that this time you weren’t wrong and Steve was beyond wronger… I’ll say he is the wrongest. I noticed you were wearing the same color shirt on both episodes… it was just coincidence? Does your laundry schedule aligns every seven weeks to have the same shirt available? Or do you wear that color to make your baby blues even more blue?
As a wife of a man who never wants to go to the doctor, I have had my share of dragging him at least three times against his will to the emergency room. The three times was a dire situation requiring either strong treatments, heart surgery or at least medication and oxygen for a few weeks. Then the scientists wonder “why men die first?” …. Mmmm, maybe because they are so stubborn to go to the doctor or emergency room??? . Again, I’m very happy Steve is still around to tell the tale.
I feel horribly GUILTY laughing through this, because my dad died of a heart attack when he was 68 with 100% blockage in all arteries except one (so he only qualified for a single bypass because the other ones were too dead to bypass) and also two of my YOUNGER brothers ended up needing quadruple bypass surgeries from heart attacks when one was 50 and the other was only 43! So definitely not a funny subject for my family, yet this had me really chuckling throughout. Steve reminds me of my dad in the hospital, no one was more traumatized then the nurses and doctors when my dad died, because he was always the light-hearted one in the room and had them laughing all the time. They even came to his funeral, even though they had only first met in the hospital. I'm glad it turned out well for Steve, and in a way, happy to watch this broadcast (yes, I did view it, because facial expressions were fun to watch, too.).
He was. By the way, he also had none of those typical symptoms Steve mentioned. No pain radiating down any arm or anything, just terrible indigestion, like yiu really wanted to burp but nothing was there. He drank baking soda water hoping byroing would make it go away. He had been chopping down trees alone up at our cottage and just got so winded. Sat on a tree trunk to rest and wave to neighbors passing by on their boats because that’s what you do to be neighborly and he didn’t want them to think anything was wrong with him. LOL! Silly dad. He tried to drive home the next day because he still felt so rotten but it took hours to put on his shoes (he was 5 hours from home) even though there was a great cardiac wing at the local hospital. My mom and brother told him to lay down and they would come get him, after they couldn’t convince him to go to that local hospital via ambulance. Silly man. I miss him.
Oh my gosh, James. I opened my email on a WEDNESDAY EVENING to this title and thought you were dead. Lola was writing to let us know that we wouldn't be getting any more emails from you. I'm really glad you're still with us.
I enjoyed this episode. It reminded me of my triple bypass 13 years ago. I too, thought my symptoms were something besides heart issues. I thought I had bronchitis.
So I went to a doc-in-the-box in FL, since I was on a business trip, to get some meds. I was puzzled when he rolled in an EKG machine and hooked me up. Then he ran the test, looked hard at the results. He then left the room, came back, ran the test again several times. When he informed me that I needed to go by ambulance to the ER; I was unconvinced, but decided I should listen to his advice anyways. However, I didn’t agree to go in an ambulance; I drove back to my hotel and got my wife and drove to the ER. I was confounded when the ER confirmed the previous doctor’s diagnosis. Later that day, I did get an ambulance ride after all, when they transported me to the heart center. The subsequent surgery was successful; however, my recovery period was prolonged by months by an infection in my incision.
I wondered how Steve could stand to laugh during the podcast. I sympathized with his comments about the heart pillow. You need to cough, but you don’t want to cough due to the pain.
Steve’s comments about how his wife stepped up during the whole ordeal are similar to how my wife took over all the details. I’m sure I’m unaware of how much she dealt with while I was completely clueless. She was amazing.
Thanks for sharing this story. Hopefully, someone will view it and remember that chest pain isn’t something you dust yourself off from. You can’t just walk it off.
Wow. Very glad that Steve made it through. Like James‘ medical incidents, this was also very educational - and funny. The best stories are the harrowing ones that have a good ending.
I'm so relieved that Dr. Steve is still with us and upset he didn't listen to you! I ignored symptoms (and didn't tell anybody that something was wrong) right after my second child was born and it almost unalived me.
Also, skipping any part of this video, even if you're doing so because you already saw the first bit, might make it freeze up, so heads up, people! (And don't click to the comments till you're done reading, that stops the video too.)
Oh my Lord, the I was hurting and went to the gym, is so my husband. What is in the genetics of being a male that makes you guys not take care of yourself. Probably goes back to cavemen
Well, I don’t know what to say. I’m glad Steve is alive even though he tried to unalive himself so hard. I’m also very surprised that this time you weren’t wrong and Steve was beyond wronger… I’ll say he is the wrongest. I noticed you were wearing the same color shirt on both episodes… it was just coincidence? Does your laundry schedule aligns every seven weeks to have the same shirt available? Or do you wear that color to make your baby blues even more blue?
As a wife of a man who never wants to go to the doctor, I have had my share of dragging him at least three times against his will to the emergency room. The three times was a dire situation requiring either strong treatments, heart surgery or at least medication and oxygen for a few weeks. Then the scientists wonder “why men die first?” …. Mmmm, maybe because they are so stubborn to go to the doctor or emergency room??? . Again, I’m very happy Steve is still around to tell the tale.
My favorite part of this is that Steve survived. My second favorite part is that we have video evidence I was right.
Hubby says men die first because they want to LOL
Fantastic double/triple podcast. I’m so glad Steve is feeling well.
Glad Steve is ok.
It’s no joke. 💜
I feel horribly GUILTY laughing through this, because my dad died of a heart attack when he was 68 with 100% blockage in all arteries except one (so he only qualified for a single bypass because the other ones were too dead to bypass) and also two of my YOUNGER brothers ended up needing quadruple bypass surgeries from heart attacks when one was 50 and the other was only 43! So definitely not a funny subject for my family, yet this had me really chuckling throughout. Steve reminds me of my dad in the hospital, no one was more traumatized then the nurses and doctors when my dad died, because he was always the light-hearted one in the room and had them laughing all the time. They even came to his funeral, even though they had only first met in the hospital. I'm glad it turned out well for Steve, and in a way, happy to watch this broadcast (yes, I did view it, because facial expressions were fun to watch, too.).
Your dad sounds like quite a guy. I'm sure Steve's nurses were immensely relieved when he left the hospital. Now he's free to bother everybody else.
He was. By the way, he also had none of those typical symptoms Steve mentioned. No pain radiating down any arm or anything, just terrible indigestion, like yiu really wanted to burp but nothing was there. He drank baking soda water hoping byroing would make it go away. He had been chopping down trees alone up at our cottage and just got so winded. Sat on a tree trunk to rest and wave to neighbors passing by on their boats because that’s what you do to be neighborly and he didn’t want them to think anything was wrong with him. LOL! Silly dad. He tried to drive home the next day because he still felt so rotten but it took hours to put on his shoes (he was 5 hours from home) even though there was a great cardiac wing at the local hospital. My mom and brother told him to lay down and they would come get him, after they couldn’t convince him to go to that local hospital via ambulance. Silly man. I miss him.
Genetics can be a problem. It’s what got me.
Oh my gosh, James. I opened my email on a WEDNESDAY EVENING to this title and thought you were dead. Lola was writing to let us know that we wouldn't be getting any more emails from you. I'm really glad you're still with us.
I promise to write my own death email. The grim reaper will have to hold off until I can finish proofreading it and hit send.
Oh no! My dad had the same issues with sleep,but it did work itself out
That's good to hear. Steve's made a few posts lately that said his sleep is getting better, so hopefully he's on the same path.
The last Wrong and Wronger scared me knowing what happened to Steve. Glad he is still with us
Never fear! We are both surprisingly hard to kill.
I enjoyed this episode. It reminded me of my triple bypass 13 years ago. I too, thought my symptoms were something besides heart issues. I thought I had bronchitis.
So I went to a doc-in-the-box in FL, since I was on a business trip, to get some meds. I was puzzled when he rolled in an EKG machine and hooked me up. Then he ran the test, looked hard at the results. He then left the room, came back, ran the test again several times. When he informed me that I needed to go by ambulance to the ER; I was unconvinced, but decided I should listen to his advice anyways. However, I didn’t agree to go in an ambulance; I drove back to my hotel and got my wife and drove to the ER. I was confounded when the ER confirmed the previous doctor’s diagnosis. Later that day, I did get an ambulance ride after all, when they transported me to the heart center. The subsequent surgery was successful; however, my recovery period was prolonged by months by an infection in my incision.
I wondered how Steve could stand to laugh during the podcast. I sympathized with his comments about the heart pillow. You need to cough, but you don’t want to cough due to the pain.
Steve’s comments about how his wife stepped up during the whole ordeal are similar to how my wife took over all the details. I’m sure I’m unaware of how much she dealt with while I was completely clueless. She was amazing.
Thanks for sharing this story. Hopefully, someone will view it and remember that chest pain isn’t something you dust yourself off from. You can’t just walk it off.
After listening to this week’s podcast, I had to put on my Wrong and Wronger T-shirt in honor of your return. Glad our guys are back. ❤️🐝💨
That's rare merch! I'm honored that you have it.
Sounds like Steve's recovery is well on the way. Excellent podcast. Methinks you 2 may have saved a life or 3 with this one.
Wow. Very glad that Steve made it through. Like James‘ medical incidents, this was also very educational - and funny. The best stories are the harrowing ones that have a good ending.
I'm so relieved that Dr. Steve is still with us and upset he didn't listen to you! I ignored symptoms (and didn't tell anybody that something was wrong) right after my second child was born and it almost unalived me.
I survived the saga! Glad to hear you are doing better.
If you watched the whole thing, your ordeal was more harrowing than Steve's.
Argh, I hate when I can't keep a video running when I tab over to other things. Wish YouTube wouldn't *do* that. Audio it is, then.
Also, skipping any part of this video, even if you're doing so because you already saw the first bit, might make it freeze up, so heads up, people! (And don't click to the comments till you're done reading, that stops the video too.)
Yep, I just found that one out LOL
Oh my Lord, the I was hurting and went to the gym, is so my husband. What is in the genetics of being a male that makes you guys not take care of yourself. Probably goes back to cavemen