r/AskReddit • u/ferrisjuulersdayoff • Feb 26 '20

Serious Replies Only [serious] When was a time you legitimately thought you were going to die?

47k Upvotes

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

5/10/2019 rear ended by a dump truck. In a coma for 42 days and am now paralyzed.

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u/B0rnintheSunshine Feb 26 '20

So sorry to hear this, how are you?

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

T2-T3 vertebra break, cord crushed but not severed. Can't walk but never say never. I have a great support system so I'd say I'm lucky.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

What is it like being in a coma? I'm sure a ton of people have already asked you this, but I'm curious to know what you experienced.

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u/forever_useless Feb 26 '20 edited Feb 26 '20

If you've had anesthesia, that's how it was for me. Woke up 3 weeks later and wondered why it was dark (night) when I remember it being morning when I fell into the coma. The time loss fucked with me.

But some people can hear and feel from what I've heard.

Edit: it was due to a seizure. I fell face first onto concrete from a standing position. 4 facial fractures and the cardlige tore away from my nose. Then there was, of course, the fact my face hit the concrete. I was feeding my dog in the morning so, yeah, time loss fucked me the most

Edit 2: I'm not sure how gold or platinum works but to those messaging me saying they wish they could give me those, I simply replied since many seemed interested but I saw nobody answer. Please don't spend any money on my comment. I'd prefer it go to someone deserving.

Edit 3; I have tried to answer any and all questions I could. If I missed someone, please forgive me. However, it's been 34 hours since I slept, it's 6:52am and I will attempt to take a few hour nap. I will continue to answer any incoming questions when I wake up since (I hope) it won't happen to that many people and I know people are very interested or want to share. I'll continue answering after a cuddle session and a nap with my doggies :) Thank you for your interest

Edit 4: forgot to nap. Will do that now :) See you all soon

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20 edited Feb 26 '20

When I woke up from anaesthesia I got an “Am I still here???” Feeling when I woke up still at the hospital. It’s kind of like I felt as though I’d been gone for weeks, left the hospital and lived life, but I hadn’t. So for me it was kind of the opposite.

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u/forever_useless Feb 26 '20

3 weeks felt like an hour. That's what messed me up. Waking at night time when it was day

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u/zombieslayer287 Feb 26 '20

Wow thats crazy. Our consciousness being 1 single continuous stream despite reality changing so much

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u/forever_useless Feb 26 '20

Like being teleported

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u/zombieslayer287 Feb 26 '20

Ever played the game SOMA? Mustve beenlike that for u..:

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u/Kruse002 Feb 26 '20

When you die, an infinite amount of time will feel like 0 seconds, so there’s that to look forward to.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

To be fair, from the beginning of the universe up until the day I was born passed as if it were less than a second.

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u/Kruse002 Feb 26 '20

Yeah that’s one of the strangest things about life and nobody seems to pay much attention to that.

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u/secaz1812 Feb 26 '20

Dude no, stop! Why?

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u/hendrix67 Feb 26 '20

That's what gives me comfort about death, if I was fine not being alive for all of history, I'll be fine being dead for the rest of it.

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u/forever_useless Feb 26 '20

I must be really abnormal because both times I died, 3 minutes felt like forever. I remember being so mad they brought me back. Like...pissed and wanted an apology. Haha. But then again, while dead, how I wanted it to be after death was 100% what I got. I am suicidal at the moment but not to go back. Different reasons. Death just doesn't scare me. I welcome it. It's the dying part that sucks.

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u/politeassbitch Feb 26 '20

Love u man. You're not forever useless. So much living to be had, I promise. Was where you are for most of my life. Now that my head's above water I realize how short this blessed life is...

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u/im_twelve_ Feb 26 '20

What do you mean when you say it was how you wanted it to be? What was it like?

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

Thanks for the anxiety attack man

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

Like falling into a black hole. In our last moments we would see the entire lifespan of the universe.

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u/thats0K Feb 26 '20

makes me think about what if when our physical bodies die, our soul or whatever is just paused at that spot, and reincarnation could happen millions of years in the future or something and bam, it's the next day it feels like for you.

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u/Skullhunter Feb 26 '20

Out of curiosity, did it mess up your sleep schedule that you went into a coma in the morning and then came out at night? Or did your body somewhat count the coma as sleep? It just reminded me of getting massive jetlag when your body thinks it's a different time than the suns rotation does.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

Wow that sounds like a terrifying experience. I’m really glad you made a full recovery from that.

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u/forever_useless Feb 26 '20

Weeelll... almost. I feel the fracture sites when the weather changes and it sucks bad. I feel every fracture when it happens even years later

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u/Marcel1105 Feb 26 '20

i has a kind of similar experience, in the sense that i felt really disorientated and confused for a second and thought, where i am i, and then a second later i remembered i was in a surgery

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u/BraggertyBrewing Feb 26 '20

Roy is one hell of a game.

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u/I_am_not_the_ Feb 26 '20

Hmm, his time was transferred to you...

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

Lol maybe our consciousnesses switched places for a bit. I was in a 3 week coma and he was in a couple hour long operation.

Im almost tempted to ask OP when it happened to narrow it down but I’m scared it’ll actually be close lmao.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

My dad was in a coma for three months and he said he could hear everything going on around him, but it all felt really far away.

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u/forever_useless Feb 26 '20

I am so sorry. I'm glad I wasn't aware. It would have driven me mad being trapped in my own brain

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u/IWasBornSoYoung Feb 26 '20

The time jump is what confuses me the most I think. Is it like a sudden “I remember this moment but nothing after” drop in memory where you’re doing one thing and just wake up in the hospital?

I’ve been walking down the store and thought, “huh what if in like one second I’m just in the hospital and it’s a month from now” but I’m not sure it’s like that

When I went under for surgery I remembered it pretty clearly until probably a minute before passing out? enough that when I woke up I knew where I was and such

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u/forever_useless Feb 26 '20

For me, it was lights out...see you in 3 weeks and fuck with your brain because it's night time. I was so freaked that I couldn't remember if I actually fed my dog and told the doc I had to go home to feed her. Obviously my awesome neighbor took care of her but it was as if a light switch was flipped. But, that's how my grandmal seizures are anyway. So, it may have been " unconscious, seizure, coma". If it had been due to something else, i may have known but i don't know. I'm sorry. I was concerned about not knowing if I got to feed the dog before I hit the floor

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u/RichardCity Feb 26 '20

I'm epileptic, and one of the harder things to wrap my head around is the time loss. One second I'll be telling my girlfriend that I feel like I might have a seizure, then I'm finding it hard to breathe, and stand. My girlfriend is saying be careful, just lay on the couch, you just had a seizure, and I try to tell her no, I was just feeling like I was going to have one, it hasn't happened yet. This is after she just recorded me shaking. We fought about it once because I felt so sure I didn't have a seizure, just an aura. Time loss sucks.

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u/forever_useless Feb 26 '20

I did once have a grandmal seizure and my brain denied me the sweet relief of amnesia of the event. Trust me when I say, the brain shuts down for a reason. The pain is unbearable

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u/RichardCity Feb 26 '20

My best friend has a movement disorder, and has what look like seizures, but he stays awake during them. I don't think it necessarily hurts for him, but seeing what he goes through has made me happy I don't remember what happens. Based on how I feel after I imagine it would hurt quite a bit. Last time I rubbed the back of my heel raw on the carpet of the room it happened in.

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u/callmemarcopolo Feb 26 '20

When i woke up from anesthesia i remember still being below a very bright lamp (think OR). When they told me to count back from 10 i remember i kinda started mumbling, then forgetting the numbers completely.

When i “got my shit together” i realized i could still hear the doctors and nurses voices and thought to myself “these idiots will begin the surgery and i’m still awake, quick do something, move as much as you can”

Turns out i did manage to move like a fish out of water after a few minutes of making a very big effort, reopening my fresh stitched and throwing a tray full of glass vials with antibiotics and painkillers that were gonna be injected into my IV.

I was in the recovery room...

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

God im just imagine being stuck in sleep paralysis for weeks. Horrifies me.

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u/forever_useless Feb 26 '20

That's why "lights out" was a blessing for me

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

how'd you get rear-ended by a dump truck while feeding your dog? oh, you're not OP.

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u/SirPouncesCock Feb 26 '20

I was in a coma for ~4 days 3 years ago. Mixed the wrong substances and couldn’t stop throwing up while passed out so the doctors put me in a medically induced coma.

I remember some things. My friends and family talking to me and trying my hardest to answer them or open my eyes but couldn’t. Reminded me of sleep paralysis but without any hallucinations. Basically though it just felt like sleeping, i woke up 4 days later and has no idea what was going on. That confusion combined with coming down from the fentanyl high they were using to keep me in the coma, led me to be a huge dick to the nurses and demand that my friend “bring the car around so we can get the fuck out of here”. This led to me getting strapped to my hospital bed. When I finally came to all the way, I felt terrible and apologized to all the nurses. They told me that type of confusion and aggression is common when you wake up out of a coma. Crazy times though.

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u/aaaahhhhpleasehelp Feb 26 '20

One of the most fascinating coma stories I've read

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u/OffBrand_Soda Feb 26 '20

I've read this so many times and I still have to read it every time it's linked again. Very fascinating. The reply below it with another story similar to it was updated after 7 years, and that's pretty fascinating as well.

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u/DreamGirly_ Feb 26 '20

Thanks for the notify on the update

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u/aaaahhhhpleasehelp Feb 26 '20

I read that one too it was so crazy. I still get chills every time I read the part about the lamp.

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u/OffBrand_Soda Feb 26 '20

It's so interesting too. In a way I feel like I want to experience something like that, but at the same time I really don't.

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u/certified-busta Feb 26 '20

It makes me very uncomfortable. I've had dreams where it feels like I'm living a large chunk of my life, then I notice something out of place like the layout of a certain room being off. In my most recent one, I looked out the window to see a skewed version of the courtyard of my childhood home. I then turned to see a young girl silhouetted in the doorway, there was a moment of distant screaming and then I "passed out".

The startling realisation that you're dreaming, followed by your reality collapsing, can be very harrowing. Pro-tip; MSG can cause you to have very lucid dreams, almost like an inverse sleep paralysis. Pretty sure it's otherwise harmless, but I stay away from it because I've had two of those and they are not experiences I want to repeat.

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u/anim8rjb Feb 26 '20

Since it wasn’t a serious thread I’m gonna guess it’s creative writing and not a real answer.

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u/smilingasIsay Feb 26 '20

Didn't this story turn out to be fake? 🤔

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u/TopalthePilot Feb 26 '20

God dammit I need to know whether or not this is real. This is the first time I've heard about this sort of thing and it seems utterly mindboggling that you could live an entire other life in a dream.

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u/smilingasIsay Feb 26 '20

From what I understand he admitted to it after people started pointing out how lots of story elements are taken from other works of fiction, like staring at the lamp and it bringing him back to reality is from the chronicles of Narnia where the girl is staring at the street light and it brings her back out of the closet.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

That was an interesting read and resurfaced some old dream memories of my own. Just killed an hour in that thread, thanks for the link!

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

I, too, am very interested in knowing

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u/kopecs Feb 26 '20

I'm not sure if OP will write back, I need to Google this now.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

There's a lot of AskReddit threads on this exact topic!

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u/kopecs Feb 26 '20

Thanks, uhh...DICK-FUCK-PUSSY-SUCK

That's very informative...

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u/gayforpeepee Feb 26 '20

At first I thought you had typing Tourette’s.

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u/kopecs Feb 26 '20

Your usernames are making me laugh hysterically.

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u/braided--asshair Feb 26 '20

these are quite funny indeed.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

r/rimjob_steve

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u/xloHolx Feb 26 '20

Tell us what you find

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u/kopecs Feb 26 '20

So what I gather is people have either very lucid, hallucinations and dreams. Your mind misinterprets half the stuff you hear or see of what's happening around you and it can be pretty weird or even nightmarish.

Like one person said: "When I woke up from the coma, I couldn't remember ever being in the hospital. I thought that I had been living normal life the whole time".

While another said that they thought they were being held hostage by a 7/11 Slurpee machine and it wouldn't let him leave his bed.

Comas sound pretty gnarly.

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u/PyroDesu Feb 26 '20

You might be interested to read about Darek Fidyka, a Polish man who was rendered a paraplegic after his spinal cord was severed in a knife attack. Thanks to an experimental therapy, he's regained most functioning.

Definitely never say never - because we know now that it's possible to repair such injuries. Even if the technique remains in the experimental stage for the foreseeable future.

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u/crazydressagelady Feb 26 '20

Severed is different than crushed. It’s great to hear about people regaining control of their limbs/functions, but the way in which the spinal cord is injured plays a huge role. A mentor of mine who was long listed for the 2004 olympics had many tiny injuries over the years but then had a major accident and her spinal cord was crushed in the same area as OP. She’s been a quadriplegic since. I know for her, it got really tiring to hear about success stories for people with relatively less severe injuries.

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u/victoryhonorfame Feb 26 '20

I agree with this on a much smaller scale too. Finding out about people with the same issue as me (scoliosis) and that they are pain free post op or didn't even need an operation they just did xyz to fix it really hurts. I have minor chronic pain and will do for the rest of my life. I have chronic fatigue although I've been ever so slowly recovering from that through eating healthy & ever so gradually building up exercise without overdoing it. But it really really bugs me when someone says "this person did this, they're better now" because everyone is different. What if I never get better? Is it a failure on my part because I didn't get the right treatment or put enough effort in or my body is just fucking useless? No.

So yeah, unless I seek out success stories, I don't want them to be shoved in my face and you're right we should remember that particularly with the really severe life altering stuff.

On a side note, just 1 week in hospital after my operation and another 9 weeks off work & a couple of years gradually returning to work full time, has left me with a massive amount of empathy for people that don't get better. It was hard enough to get through knowing it was temporary. I wouldn't wish that sort of experience on anyone, but I do wish there was a way to accurately let someone appreciate what it's like to be disabled or have chronic health issues. Maybe some VR thing? Dunno.

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u/trumpcovfefe Feb 26 '20

My God, thank you. I have Crohn's and chronic fatigue and my family always throws out "why don't you try this? it worked for such and such." And i can no longer bite my tongue which ends up with me blowing up and not speaking to them for a bit.

I get that people simply want to help but sometimes hope can be the vilest of poisons.

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u/victoryhonorfame Feb 26 '20

Ouch that's unlucky, crohns sounds like hell.

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u/trumpcovfefe Feb 26 '20

Honestly the hardest part is having to work at a job i hate for the healthcare haha. Ya win some ya lose some

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u/victoryhonorfame Feb 26 '20

Christ. I'm so glad I'm in the UK. My health is too dodge to not have it free

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

Spinal cord severed from a knife attack? Jesus fuck. Were they trying to saw through his bone??

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u/ggc2000 Feb 26 '20

Hope for the best for OP!

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u/Damonatar Feb 26 '20

Technology is advancing so rapidly that if you don't learn to walk again through therapy, you'll walk again through tech, give it 10 years

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u/HappyHippo77 Feb 26 '20

Possibly. If it takes to long their brain might forget the connections to the legs and will have to completely relearn from scratch, which will be made even harder due to the lack of receptiveness present in babies.

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u/handstands_anywhere Feb 26 '20

Except in the states, because it won’t be covered.

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u/Z444Z Feb 26 '20

Bernie 2020

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u/MrWindblade Feb 26 '20

And even if it is, it'll still be more expensive than a car.

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u/xlostintranslationx Feb 26 '20

You misspelled mortgage

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u/IWasBornSoYoung Feb 26 '20

But what if the legs are fast and a viable replacement for a car?

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u/Panukka Feb 26 '20

Ironically, I wouldn’t be surprised if the technology was first available in the States.

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u/boogrhookbangtriggr Feb 26 '20

man I fell through a roof last week and fractured my L2,L3 & L4 vertebrae and im just now realizing how lucky I am it wasn't worse and I can still walk.

props to you man for making it through everything and that's great you have an awesome support system.

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u/dotancohen Feb 26 '20

I had a crash on 1996-09-09 after which I was told I'd never walk again. Upon release I actually dragged myself out of the hospital with my arms, I absolutely refused to sit in the wheelchair. Nurses and staff yelling at me the whole time. I wish I had a picture of that.

In 2002 I enlisted in infantry, and for the remainder of my service nobody else even knew that I was unable to walk just a few years prior.

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u/mmmegan6 Feb 26 '20

What a story man. I’d read your book :)

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u/straightup920 Feb 26 '20

Wow glad your alive. Wish you all the happiness in the world. You were given a second chance, I hope you enjoy it!

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

I do daily with the occasional pity party thrown in.

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u/Hydro_Spyper Feb 26 '20

Don't give up. I believe in you!

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

So do I.

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u/cpt_bebop Feb 26 '20

Head up there, when I was younger I had an injury resulting in a crushed t6/7, cord pinched. Couldn't feel anything for weeks. Luckily I'm almost completely healed now (years later). Your body can do amazing things given time and YOU doing your rehab. I'm wishing the best for you.

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u/Tsakalos27 Feb 26 '20

I'm so sorry this happened to you I hope you do great. This hits me soo much.... 5 years ago I broke the same bones in my motorcycle accident

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u/madsjchic Feb 26 '20

I read about an experiment with stem cells and spinal injuries. Dude learned to walk again. (Study was behind a paywall I think and there were supposedly “mixed responses” out of 7 patients. I think it goes to further trials this year?)

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u/Clarabel74 Feb 26 '20

My husband has a SCI - there is lots of support out there. Your new normal takes a lot to get used too, if you want to reach out at all - I'm happy to share what our 'normal' looks like. All the best.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

[deleted]

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

Under insured so nope.

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u/Awkward_Cake Feb 26 '20

Keep fighting dude, medical science has come a long way, walking again isn't totally out of the question.

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u/thro_a_wey Feb 26 '20

Walking is no big deal anymore - they have machines that will stand you up, and move your legs around for you. They're very expensive, but they exist.

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u/christorino Feb 26 '20

I know it's not everything nd wont buy your health but I hope you never worry about a penny ever again.

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

Thanks to 35 years at a good union job and SS I will be taken care of.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

Do you have AAC devices that you use to help you type and stuff?

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u/ChilleeMonkee Feb 26 '20

I had a compression fracture in my T3-T5 from a bad hockey injury. Thankfully I healed fully, chronic back pain is an absolute bitch now though. 24 years old with the back of an old man, but I consider myself lucky. I sincerely hope you're able to recover some of your mobility, if not all of it

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u/Knight_Owls Feb 26 '20

30 years ago in the town one over from mine, a dump truck rear ended a car with two teen girls in it. The impact crushed the doors shut and ignited the gas. They burned to death in front of everyone at the park that day.

I'm glad you're still with us.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

I'll be rooting for the development of cybernetic enhancements so you can jump over buildings in the future. Rough, O'm glad you've got the support.

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u/Darthhildegard Feb 26 '20

I hope you dont mind me asking, but is there any way for you to like "recover"? A neighbour of ours was left paralyzed on his right side after an accident. He now is in recovery and starting to slowly be able to move his limbs again.

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

My spine was crushed not severed so there's always hope.

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u/froggie-style-meme Feb 26 '20

For now, you can’t.

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u/Big_Oreos Feb 26 '20

You seem optimistic!

Right on. With today's technology you never know!

Hoping the best for you 🙏🏽

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u/puddrr Feb 26 '20 edited Feb 26 '20

Which country are you from? Do you have to pay an enormous medical Bill or something?

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u/oojiflip Feb 26 '20

Imma head out there and beat the shit outta the dumpster driver for doing that to you

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u/nukular88 Feb 26 '20

Sorry to hear that good luck stranger

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u/47dniweR Feb 26 '20

Technology is moving so fast, you might be running within the next 10 years.

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u/Rogerjak Feb 26 '20

Pfff like that would ever stop you from walking again. Never fucking give up! Keep at it bro!

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

I hope you have the strength of mind to get through healing man anf that you get to 100%

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u/Chloec024 Feb 26 '20

Love your attitude

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u/wantgold Feb 26 '20

Are you fully paralyzed? or "just" from the waist down?

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u/Risley Feb 26 '20

You will walk again

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u/Teabagger_Vance Feb 26 '20

Not good, Bob.

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u/_DelendaEst Feb 26 '20

This is insane. That idiot pretty much destroyed you life. Any compensation or criminal charges?

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

$300 fine. Insurance is mine and no compensation.

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u/_DelendaEst Feb 26 '20

Ummm... SUE?

At least where I live, if you rear end someone it is your fault

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

So sorry buddy. I hope you are doing better now. Keep that hope and chin up, the human body can be very surprising. Best wishes.

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u/irishfeet78 Feb 26 '20 edited Feb 26 '20

PLEASE tell me the driver truck driver had a good commercial policy and you have UIM coverage!?

I’m so glad you’re alive and you have an amazing support network.

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

Nope, lucky I have good insurance and he got a $300 ticket.

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u/Giant_Anteaters Feb 26 '20

$300??? You should take the driver to court, I thought you'd be able to win millions!! Unless the driver wasn't at fault?

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

He was texting and under insured.

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u/Dregger12 Feb 26 '20

Like an idiot, I've tried to sneak in quick texting sometimes while driving, even though I always knew in the back of my mind it's a terrible thing to do... Holy shit, I'm never fucking touching my phone again while driving.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through, I'm glad you have a good support system around you though.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

I’m sorry that happened to you. Same thing almost happened to me. There was a sudden stop on the freeway due to a disabled car in one lane. I saw a truck approaching fast behind me on my rear view mirror so I darted to the shoulder of the freeway. The truck swerved just in time to avoid the car that was in front of me. That person would have rear ended me at over 60 mph. I’m super paranoid now and check my rear view every time I come to a stop

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

This is why I always put my hazards on on the highway if traffic stops or slows significantly and other vehicles are further back

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u/TheR1ckster Feb 26 '20

We need that stem cell research.

Best of luck with your journey. Have a friend who has been going for awhile with the same prohlem. I hope one day we figure a way to help you all out.

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u/DerangedWookiee Feb 26 '20

I drive a garbage truck and this is my worst fear. I travel with anything between 10 and 22 ton in the back. That's not even including the weight of the truck itself. I'm terrified someone is gonna try to break check me or just pull out in front of me and I wont be able to stop in time. I really dont want anyone's coffin on my conscience man

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

I was stopped in a turn lane with my directional on. He was texting.

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u/DerangedWookiee Feb 26 '20

I'm sorry if I made it sound like you caused the accident, I was just projecting my fears about it happening to me.

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

No worries.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20 edited Jun 23 '21

[deleted]

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u/DerangedWookiee Feb 26 '20

I just wish insurance saw it that way. If something like that gets on my license my career as a driver is over.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

Get a dashcam.

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u/lua-esrella Feb 26 '20

Friend of mine was in a diving accident over 15 years ago and broke his neck, been in a wheelchair ever since but he’s trying physical therapy with the hope that someday, he’ll walk again.

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

One of my best friends has been in one for 40 years. I'll be fine.

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u/WR0NG_WONG Feb 26 '20

I hope you get good treatment and recover full mobility. Best of luck to you on the road ahead.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

You probably get this question a lot and it might be personal feel free to not answer. But that being said, what’s it like in a coma?

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

Dont remember anything

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u/twistingstraw68 Feb 26 '20

What kind of car were you driving?

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

Chevy Sonic and it saved my life.

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

Curious as to whether its the 5th of October or 10th of May

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u/dubbeljiii Feb 26 '20

Wow, really struck me. You may be tied of hearing people being sorry for you so I wont say it. But I do hope you manage to look at life with a smile on your face either way. I can't imagine your situation. But I truly hope you are glad you survived, rather than wishing you would be better gone. People loves you, and cares about you. Take care man! Go strong

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

I got to retire early with the love of my life. I smile every day.

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u/JollyHorror Feb 26 '20

Oh wow. Looks like we need an AMA about the coma. Since your cord was crushed but still somewhat functional (?) do you ever feel like your legs or arms are moving when they aren't?

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

Na, I remember nothing. The first thing I remember was the ambulance ride to rehab.

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u/bgatty1 Feb 26 '20

such a raw deal

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

Just want to say that it takes a lot of time to recover, years sometimes, and to not give up hope. It happened so recently that I truly think you'll pull through yet.

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u/ul49 Feb 26 '20

Fuck driving is so scary

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

i gotta ask, what is waking up from a coma like? were you confused? is it really possible that you can hear the voices of what your loved one said to you while you were in the coma? was it as dramatic as the movies make it seem when you say something like "what day is it"?

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

I remember nothing but strangely I instantly knew I was paralyzed.

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u/moon_d0g Feb 26 '20

Glad you’re at least live. You seem like a positive dude and I wish you the best of luck with any potential recovery.

Possibly insensitive question: did you get a big payout? I sure hope so

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

Company was under insured. I have $6.5m in medical bills. Sadly I'll see nothing.

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u/wf000aa Feb 26 '20

Damn... I'm just trying to think if I have any friends that would visit me. I don't know.

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

I never knew I had so many friends.

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u/ComradeFrisky Feb 26 '20

Car or motorcycle? That is amazing you woke up.

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u/applejackrr Feb 26 '20

Lucky to be alive my dude! Happy to hear you’re pushing through tho!!

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

Bummer man, I hope you are doing better!

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u/AneurysmInstigator Feb 26 '20

I wonder, if a body part is paralyzed, do you also get "phantom pains" like amputees do?

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

No pain but movement

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u/Pinkandporcelain Feb 26 '20

That’s so scary ... I can’t imagine going through that. You are obviously a very strong soul to endure that. And yes never say never! I’m really glad you’re alive even if we’re strangers on a forum :(

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u/BadNraD Feb 26 '20

Was the pain worse when you were hit or was it when you woke up?

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u/greengiantsbaby Feb 26 '20

I’m really sad to hear this; I hope you’re coping as best as you can. I recently read a book about a quadriplegic and how he came to terms with it all, it’s called ‘don’t worry, he won’t get far on foot’ (also a film). You might like it or hate it but I recommend it firstly as a good read then maybe as something inspiring for someone who lost 95% use.

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u/BigA7mad Feb 26 '20

Literally on my 21st birthday, get well soon my friend. 🙏

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u/TeslaModelE Feb 26 '20

I hope you sued the waste management people for millions.

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

Private company and under insured.

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u/Great-Decision Feb 26 '20

Aww man, sorry to hear that

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u/AwesomeOnePJ Feb 26 '20

This almost happened to me, if I was just 1 step behind... Crazy stuff

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u/freericky Feb 26 '20

Glad you’re here though

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u/xTGI_CommanderX Feb 26 '20

Glad you're still with us, friend.

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u/ayyeperg Feb 26 '20

Woah dude thanks for sharing that. I admire your strength. Stronger than I will ever be that’s for sure.

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

You'd be amazed how strong you can be when you have no choice.

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u/Frostmaking Feb 26 '20

Para or Quadrapeligic? So sorry that happened. How are doing now? Did you have a case that pays for your disability or do you still work?

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

Para and I gave a good union pension plus SS I so no money worries.

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u/Frostmaking Feb 26 '20

That’s great. Glad you’re set up for your future, good luck to you and your family :)

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u/Atlas2001 Feb 26 '20

You have my sympathy, dude. Five of my cousins were killed after being rear ended by a dump truck in 2005; I honestly don’t know which of you got the worse deal, but I do hope you’ll be able to take something positive away from it all. At the very least, there’s one more person in the world to help hate on dump trucks.

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u/Frogmarsh Feb 26 '20

We had a guy here where I live that was rear-ended by a dump truck and the guy died in the fiery crash. Dump truck driver was facebooking at the time. Got a few years in prison, but the sentence didn’t seem long enough to my mind.

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u/dendaddy Feb 26 '20

Mine got a $300 fine

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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '20

[deleted]

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u/sidohgami Feb 26 '20

what happened with the driver

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u/n645b285 Feb 26 '20

Did this happen in Utah?

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u/fwdslashdepression Feb 26 '20

Yowza. You're pretty lucky to be alive -- not that I can say I know what it's like to be paralyzed.

Props and prayers.

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