Discovering in my late 50s that I have some dead cerebellum; could it be the source of my excessive earworms? And what does Billy Squier have to do with it?
My mom had a CT scan that showed scar tissue from a long-ago stroke that she didn’t remember having. However, my sister remembered that my mom had side swiped a car after “dozing off” at the wheel, which made us wonder if that was actually a mini stroke.
What a mystery! Glad to hear you’re symptom free so far tho!
Glad to hear you're doing OK - aging sucks, in so many ways. I thought I was having a heart attack and it turned out to be my 'Very First Panic Attack' - but that required an ambulance, etc. to inform me. Which, of course, contributed to others' panic attacks ...
It's certainly a perfect earworm for your issue, but the claim that 'The Stroke' isn't sexual is about as accurate as saying NWA's 'Just Don't Bite It' is about how to win a competitive hot dog eating contest.
Ha! Great comparison! NWA v Billy Squier. Not heart/panic attack v stroke. Panic attacks are no joke. I didn’t get taken in an ambulance, but I made my next door neighbor drive me to the emergency room when I was 25. After waiting for over 90 minutes I realized it was a panic attack and sheepishly went home.
Ok so the earworm is absolutely appropriate. Sorry Steve's Wife. It's that thing, you know? You're at a very serious Event™️ and you think about the Event™️'s complete antithesis: the "alien photobomb/vomiting" scene from SCARY MOVIE while holding my infant goddaughter MID-baptism comes to mind.
My earworm and weirdly inappropriate mash-up?
Pop, my dad's side grampa, was barely gone after a FIGHT with congestive heart failure. I'm in the hospital, wrung out, unable to cry any more, and reeking of one of my aunt's Marlboro silvers that I'd bummed. Fuckin "Mr Brightside" starts up, loud, on Brain radio.
I'm glad you're okay! As frustrating as idiopathic* diagnoses are, I suppose they're better than the alternative.
In my case, I blew out my knee at the start of 2020 (0/10, do not recommend). I wasn't surprised to see one of my injuries was a torn ACL. I was very surprised to learn it had been torn for quite a long time.
*I only know this word because it was used to describe my injury.
You only have a decade and a little on me Brad, which, in our ages, is practically twinsies. I just saw an old friend yesterday who I hadn’t seen in about 15 years and he was reminiscing about times we shared together and more than half of them I couldn’t remember at all! It’s possible he was misremembering, but I think it is more likely the memory is locked behind a “do not access” area. All that to say, your summary of my post was spot on. Wait, who are you again?
So, lemme get this straight (comprehension was never my strong suit): You saw a doctor, got a long look at somebody's cat, and found out from Billy Squier that you'd been manipulated by an unscrupulous record executive? Well, here's what I suggest (aren't you glad you consulted Dr. Brad)?👨⚕️
Seedless to nay, I'm glad you're OK, Boobie, and as I've got to have well over a decade on you (if not two), things like brain and heart health are always top of mind for me! That's why I seem to be on a mission to squeeze everything still in my memory bank onto these pages called 'Stack!
Oh shit, man, I'm so sorry to hear it's all under control but glad that at least you had a stroke! Oh, sorry, no, let me try this one more time 🤣 Now seriously, I am so glad that you're okay. Crazy that you wouldn't have known about this if you hadn't decided to get those headaches checked. I don't blame you at all for finding some refuge in humour, even if dark. Laughter is the best medicine. Please take care. In any event, the good thing is now you know, and knowledge is power. Sending you good vibes. PS: Your dialogues with your wife deserve their own sitcom.
Not sure how I just saw this. Seems easier than ever to overlook comments now. Yes, the scarecrow was/is my favorite character. Though I love them all. I wonder if it’s the most beloved children’s book/film that also is for adults too.
Wow that’s scary but I’m glad you got the thorough checkup and have been given a clean bill of health.
I had a heart attack scare in 2020 in that the emergency department (at the time) and the cardiologist (on reviewing the EKG after the fact) thought that I’d had a heart attack. That was in August. Over the course of the following four months I had a battery of tests and heard just before Christmas from the cardiologist that he’d fed all of my test results into some sort of algorithm that generates my 10-year cardiac risk score. The result was 1.5% (chance of a heart attack in the next ten years) which he said was statistically as good as zero, meaning I could stop the daily baby aspirin and prescribed statin. A stressful time but so glad I went through the thorough testing regimen and got the clean bill of health.
I’m so happy you’ve ended up in the same place of good health. Long may it continue.
That sounds eerily similar to what my mom experienced when I was in high school. We thought she had a heart attack, they treated her as if she did and then, years later, after a bunch more tests, they said that there was no signs of a heart attack. I don't recall what they said happened to her instead though. I assume the statin was for cholesterol, which I was borderline recommended too as my cholesterol is just over 200, but I've gotten it down 30 points in the past 8 months (It was 238 in January) with diet and exercise.
This was all a bit surreal, not just because of the uncertainty around what is/was going on with me, but because I have been healthy my entire life. I have never been admitted to a hospital in almost 58 years. All my injuries and procedures have been same day. I just knocked on 100 pieces of wood.
Glad to hear you got this checked out Steve and that you're in good health. Something like this happened with my brother Mike. He also has no memory of having a stroke either. There's a lot of strange stuff going on around our brains, huh?!
Lots of weird stuff! I thought it was just a wacky imagination but apparently it’s physical/biological too. Has your brother had any symptoms of a stroke or other changes?
Seems like we're kindred spirits, Steve. I'm still feeling the effects of my stroke less than a month ago. Luckily, I'm on the road to recovery. I hope and wish the best for you. -- Jim
So glad you had a great and thorough medical experience! I absolutely love your sense of humor!
I probably would have conjured up the same song 😂 I love the deep dive and explanation that it wasn’t a song about sex!
For some reason, while singing this song, my mind drew up the video for Rock Me Tonight! Which is so overly sexual it’s hilarious! I’m pretty sure it was someone’s Substack that led me to the video at some point in the past several months… https://youtu.be/fR0j7sModCI?si=jAfILa-4vTHllnxt
OMG that video is so notorious! I heard a podcast discussing it not too long ago. I didn’t realize it essentially derailed Billy’s career. Kenny Ortega, the director, defends it and says Billy chose all the wardrobe. I’ll try and find it and share it with you.
I was also curious to see if it was the same thing I remembered reading or seeing having to do with it lol, but, no I haven’t heard of this podcast! Going to have to explore this one.
It’s a fun one, but they do tend to ramble on too much at times. I listen to podcasts on 3 platforms (I know, I’m nuts). So I had to search on Pocket Casts, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. I do get sucked in by titles with puns, so this one jumped out at me.
My mom had a CT scan that showed scar tissue from a long-ago stroke that she didn’t remember having. However, my sister remembered that my mom had side swiped a car after “dozing off” at the wheel, which made us wonder if that was actually a mini stroke.
What a mystery! Glad to hear you’re symptom free so far tho!
Glad to hear you're doing OK - aging sucks, in so many ways. I thought I was having a heart attack and it turned out to be my 'Very First Panic Attack' - but that required an ambulance, etc. to inform me. Which, of course, contributed to others' panic attacks ...
It's certainly a perfect earworm for your issue, but the claim that 'The Stroke' isn't sexual is about as accurate as saying NWA's 'Just Don't Bite It' is about how to win a competitive hot dog eating contest.
Ha! Great comparison! NWA v Billy Squier. Not heart/panic attack v stroke. Panic attacks are no joke. I didn’t get taken in an ambulance, but I made my next door neighbor drive me to the emergency room when I was 25. After waiting for over 90 minutes I realized it was a panic attack and sheepishly went home.
Ok so the earworm is absolutely appropriate. Sorry Steve's Wife. It's that thing, you know? You're at a very serious Event™️ and you think about the Event™️'s complete antithesis: the "alien photobomb/vomiting" scene from SCARY MOVIE while holding my infant goddaughter MID-baptism comes to mind.
My earworm and weirdly inappropriate mash-up?
Pop, my dad's side grampa, was barely gone after a FIGHT with congestive heart failure. I'm in the hospital, wrung out, unable to cry any more, and reeking of one of my aunt's Marlboro silvers that I'd bummed. Fuckin "Mr Brightside" starts up, loud, on Brain radio.
Thanks for backing me up!
I'm glad you're okay! As frustrating as idiopathic* diagnoses are, I suppose they're better than the alternative.
In my case, I blew out my knee at the start of 2020 (0/10, do not recommend). I wasn't surprised to see one of my injuries was a torn ACL. I was very surprised to learn it had been torn for quite a long time.
*I only know this word because it was used to describe my injury.
Thanks Kevin. I like to call my conditions idiotpathic 😆.
You only have a decade and a little on me Brad, which, in our ages, is practically twinsies. I just saw an old friend yesterday who I hadn’t seen in about 15 years and he was reminiscing about times we shared together and more than half of them I couldn’t remember at all! It’s possible he was misremembering, but I think it is more likely the memory is locked behind a “do not access” area. All that to say, your summary of my post was spot on. Wait, who are you again?
So, lemme get this straight (comprehension was never my strong suit): You saw a doctor, got a long look at somebody's cat, and found out from Billy Squier that you'd been manipulated by an unscrupulous record executive? Well, here's what I suggest (aren't you glad you consulted Dr. Brad)?👨⚕️
Seedless to nay, I'm glad you're OK, Boobie, and as I've got to have well over a decade on you (if not two), things like brain and heart health are always top of mind for me! That's why I seem to be on a mission to squeeze everything still in my memory bank onto these pages called 'Stack!
Carry on, and have a great week!
Oh shit, man, I'm so sorry to hear it's all under control but glad that at least you had a stroke! Oh, sorry, no, let me try this one more time 🤣 Now seriously, I am so glad that you're okay. Crazy that you wouldn't have known about this if you hadn't decided to get those headaches checked. I don't blame you at all for finding some refuge in humour, even if dark. Laughter is the best medicine. Please take care. In any event, the good thing is now you know, and knowledge is power. Sending you good vibes. PS: Your dialogues with your wife deserve their own sitcom.
I love the scarecrow
Not sure how I just saw this. Seems easier than ever to overlook comments now. Yes, the scarecrow was/is my favorite character. Though I love them all. I wonder if it’s the most beloved children’s book/film that also is for adults too.
Wow that’s scary but I’m glad you got the thorough checkup and have been given a clean bill of health.
I had a heart attack scare in 2020 in that the emergency department (at the time) and the cardiologist (on reviewing the EKG after the fact) thought that I’d had a heart attack. That was in August. Over the course of the following four months I had a battery of tests and heard just before Christmas from the cardiologist that he’d fed all of my test results into some sort of algorithm that generates my 10-year cardiac risk score. The result was 1.5% (chance of a heart attack in the next ten years) which he said was statistically as good as zero, meaning I could stop the daily baby aspirin and prescribed statin. A stressful time but so glad I went through the thorough testing regimen and got the clean bill of health.
I’m so happy you’ve ended up in the same place of good health. Long may it continue.
That sounds eerily similar to what my mom experienced when I was in high school. We thought she had a heart attack, they treated her as if she did and then, years later, after a bunch more tests, they said that there was no signs of a heart attack. I don't recall what they said happened to her instead though. I assume the statin was for cholesterol, which I was borderline recommended too as my cholesterol is just over 200, but I've gotten it down 30 points in the past 8 months (It was 238 in January) with diet and exercise.
This was all a bit surreal, not just because of the uncertainty around what is/was going on with me, but because I have been healthy my entire life. I have never been admitted to a hospital in almost 58 years. All my injuries and procedures have been same day. I just knocked on 100 pieces of wood.
Scary. Sometimes that fickle finger of fate pokes us in the face. Stay healthy, Steve. Enjoyed the story!
Glad to hear you got this checked out Steve and that you're in good health. Something like this happened with my brother Mike. He also has no memory of having a stroke either. There's a lot of strange stuff going on around our brains, huh?!
Lots of weird stuff! I thought it was just a wacky imagination but apparently it’s physical/biological too. Has your brother had any symptoms of a stroke or other changes?
Not really. He’s had other issues but I don’t think they’re related.
Seems like we're kindred spirits, Steve. I'm still feeling the effects of my stroke less than a month ago. Luckily, I'm on the road to recovery. I hope and wish the best for you. -- Jim
I thought of you as I was writing this. Glad you are recovering well. Hopefully you have people around to help you as you need it.
Wow, Steve; that's wild -- so glad it seems that you're OK!!
Sorry to hear about this, Steve, but really glad you’re OK!! Also, is this a good time to talk about that money you owe me from several years ago?
The check’s in the mail!
So glad you had a great and thorough medical experience! I absolutely love your sense of humor!
I probably would have conjured up the same song 😂 I love the deep dive and explanation that it wasn’t a song about sex!
For some reason, while singing this song, my mind drew up the video for Rock Me Tonight! Which is so overly sexual it’s hilarious! I’m pretty sure it was someone’s Substack that led me to the video at some point in the past several months… https://youtu.be/fR0j7sModCI?si=jAfILa-4vTHllnxt
OMG that video is so notorious! I heard a podcast discussing it not too long ago. I didn’t realize it essentially derailed Billy’s career. Kenny Ortega, the director, defends it and says Billy chose all the wardrobe. I’ll try and find it and share it with you.
For sure!
I think this is the one — it took me forever to track it down. I didn’t replay it, but even if it’s not it, it looks like a good episode! https://open.spotify.com/episode/5NCUMaf7fF0pDSTVbnbeb4?si=ndClMO0sSBWRF6-qFz2H2w
I was also curious to see if it was the same thing I remembered reading or seeing having to do with it lol, but, no I haven’t heard of this podcast! Going to have to explore this one.
It’s a fun one, but they do tend to ramble on too much at times. I listen to podcasts on 3 platforms (I know, I’m nuts). So I had to search on Pocket Casts, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. I do get sucked in by titles with puns, so this one jumped out at me.
That’s a lot lol!! I have trouble not getting overwhelmed with just one platform!
Thank you!!! 😊 I know how it goes trying to remember where you saw or heard something!! I appreciate it!
Well, that was quite a ride! So glad you're okay, and grateful for the Billy Squier earworm... as long as it doesn't eat any of my brain.
Pretty sure it’s only contagious if you watch the “Rock Me Tonite” music video. See Kristin’s comment for video link…;)