On September 2nd I woke up with a fever and was having trouble breathing. I thought it was just asthma but it wasn't.
On the way to the hospital I stopped breathing and had to be intubated with a breathing tube as I went into respiratory failure. When I woke up a week later I was told I had pneumonia and a fever from rhinovirus (the common cold). I was then informed that my heart began to fail.
I have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure...
These last two months have been so hard both physically and mentally. Not only dealing with the diagnosis, but having to relearn how to stand, how to walk, how to just move at all and take care of myself again after all the muscle atrophy and weakness from being in the ICU asleep and stuck in bed for so many days.
There are so many details and updates I can't fit in this post. I went into greater detail on my stream last nignt, so if you want to know more please check that video out on Twitch, my YouTube VOD channel or just ask and I'll do my best to reply.
I want to thank everybody who has helped me so far. Thank you. Thank you for helping me stay optimistic and not have negative thoughts.
- Matt
The results from my latest echocardiogram are in.
A normal heart ejection fraction is 50% and above. When I was in the ICU, mine was 20-25. It has now gone up to around 40. Not perfect, but this is good news and a huge improvement.
To have it go up that much in such a short time is honestly a big relief mentally right now. I have 3 months until my next echocardiogram so I hope I can tell you guys even better news then.
I feel better today than I've felt in a long time. Getting healthier everyday right now and I'm gonna keep working hard to get even better.
So much love to everybody checking in on me, leaving me comments everywhere and supporting me.
- Matt
I had my follow-up echocardiogram. I'll stream sometime this weekend and have the results and updates for you guys.
Everybody who came by the first stream, thank you so much. To all of you who have been commenting on all the different platforms on my posts and video updates too. Thank you. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for being there for me. 🫰
Been a week since my last health and life update so...Still dealing with a lot muscle aches and pains. Pretty much feeling discomfort all day still, but it's the worst at night and in the morning. Probably gonna be dealing with this for a few months while I keep getting stronger. Stamina is slowly getting better. Been doing short walks outside and walking around the house without using the walker. Only take it with me now when I go to appointments or need to go farther than I think I can handle. My balance is still weird when I start getting tired or try to carry things and going up/down stairs is still very slow. I have a couple really important appointments this week and coming up, so I haven't really been back into the internet yet because my mind is consumed. Like I've said in the previous updates, I'm gonna be managing a few different serious health problems going forward that I'll tell you guys about soon when I stream. I feel like once I get this week out of the way with the most important doctor appointment I can try to sit down and figure out when that'll be. 💜- Matt
So I've been home from the hospital for a few days now. I haven't posted since I got home because after a month in the hospital, for the sake of my mentals, I didn't want to just jump right back into the online world so fast while I've been recovering and trying to handle everything that's going on. I still have some mobility issues, low stamina and muscle weakness due to how long I was put under and intubated on a breathing tube. That's getting better as I walk around and do daily activities more though. I have a lot of appointments to go to over the next few weeks and a lot of stuff I'm worrying about right now, but my brain is already starting to think about when I'm gonna stream again and post some content again. Maybe in a week or two...I'm definitely missing everybody right now.
I'm still waiting until I'm fully back online to share with everybody what happened the day I went to the hospital and my health problems going forward. I just really don't wanna have to post or talk about everything more than necessary right now because there's a lot of serious stuff going on and it's hard mentally to talk about over and over. I figure I just wanna get everything out the way my first day back streaming and try to move forward from there.
See you guys soon.
🫰Matt
First time outside feeling the sunshine in 3 weeks! My brother is driving me home! I'm out of the hospital! Still got lots of physical therapy to do until I'm walking normal again and got lots of health problems to manage ongoing...but holy shit it feels good to be outside.
Health Update for Monday September 22nd. I was able to go up and down a few steps today in addition to a few short distance walks with the walker, taking breaks in between. I'll have ongoing health issues and the ones that got me in the hospital to begin with, and I'll fill you guys in on all that when I get home. Looking like this week! I got strong enough practicing over the weekend that my physical therapist is clearing me instead of sending me to a physical rehab place. I still I have to do some physical therapy at home with a nurse who will come to me for a while and then when I'm strong enough to travel to an out patient place myself until all movement is normal again. Things are gonna be slow for a while but getting up those few stairs today and the walking felt like huge progress and I feel great about it. I miss everybody so much. I just looking forward to sitting outside for a few days. I havent been outside since the 1st...
Health update. This weekend I was able to walk about 80 steps with a walker and a nurse following closely behind for support before needing to sit down. Still wobbly walking and it was exhausting. Cant walk up or down stairs yet. I'm making progress but it's frustrating. Everybody keeps reassuring me my progress is great for how long I was intubated on a breathing tube. I know many are still curious about my health conditions and problems that led to this all. I'm just not ready to post all the serious details yet. I will eventually. I'm just trying to focus on relearning walking and moving again right now before I go into everything.
small health update for today. was able to sit and stand normally about 20 times in a row. took like 20 limping side steps each way with a walker. hoping tomorrow we do some forward steps. worn tf out but im trying to go as fast as possible. muscles are coming back after being in bed and out of it for like 10 days.
another quick update today. again, ill give deets on my conditions that caused this health crisis in the future BUT i was "under" asleep from the 2nd to around the 9th. almost a full week with a breathing tube, and still in bed since then without a tube. 3 days ago i could not even lift an ass cheek and barely an arm. today, I stood up straight 100% for almost 2 minutes. the physical therapy people tell me it usually takes 3 days for every 1 day in bed to start standing and learning to walk again and it could take people months for just how long i was out. i am wasting no time or effort of all the nurses taking care of me. ive been laying here doing leg lifts and rolling around til the cramps are too much everyday since I woke up even when they tell me to chill a bit. its crazy how fast your muscles get weak and forget how to do the simplest things.
Hey guys it's Matt. Just a small post for today. Typing on my phone is helping me get strength back in my arms. I know so many of you are waiting for details, but I dont have the energy for much yet. God I cannot wait to get home and see you all & talk in chat/discord again and get back to making vids/streams. Apparently being under for like a week, your ass forgets how to even walk. Im working hard at it daily. Reading all the messages and replies since the post my brother made on my account while I was out of it have truly touched me and helped me. I know so many of you guys have been sending in tips from the twitch page too. This message is taking me like an hour to type so dont think Ill forget about getting back to you all when I can. Thank you all for so many years of great streams, vids and memories. I'll do my best to keep posting updates even if small.
Even hard remembering how to type right now tbh. Everybody who sent messages and comments, thank you so much. They are keeping me going right now. Please keep send me memes, memories, pet pics, anything. To everybody sending in tips and subs from the twitch page...thank you
This is Matt (NormalDifficulty). I'll have actual details for you guys soon. This is real quick for those waiting for an update since my big brother made the post from my account a few days ago. I am awake. I cant walk or stand yet but I'm working hard to get up.
This is Matt's Family. He is in an ICU and recovering. Please send well wishes and keep him in your thoughts. He said his wishes are to tell you he will be back as soon as he can and he is trying to get better. We will keep you updated.