7 ms·

I’m a little confused why only 48 hours after his return from space, he’s sleeping at home with his girlfriend and debating whether to take aspirin or go to the

by baddox 9y ago

I’m a little confused why only 48 hours after his return from space, he’s sleeping at home with his girlfriend and debating whether to take aspirin or go to the emergency room. I would have expected significant medical attention for much longer than 48 hours, given that this was the primary purpose for his extended stay on the ISS.

simplicio 9y ago
Yea, especially given much of the purpose of his flight was to examine the effects of that long in space. I have trouble believing that NASA didn't, if nothing else, give him a phone # to call right away if he had any unexpected symptoms. The whole "should I go to the emergency room" thing kinda seems like a narrative added after the fact to add excitement to his article/book. (not that I doubt the episode was scary, but I do doubt the fact that NASA would've left any uncertainty about what to do in such a situation)
- neurotech1 9y ago
  They have on-call flight surgeon(physicians) for the Astronaut Office. This includes post-mission support. The narrative seems like it was slightly dramatic to support the story. Similar "unusual" symptoms have occurred on previous missions with other astronauts. Also, being a senior astronaut, he is likely personal friends with at least one of the assigned flight surgeon.
  - dsfyu404ed 9y ago
    He's probably picked up a heck of a lot of expertise on basic medical stuff over the years so he can almost be his own CNA. They probably decided that having him at home in a normal environment with a fitbit or something logging his heart rate and whatnot was better than having him in an unfamiliar hospital.
    - neurotech1 9y ago
      Astronauts are qualified as EMT as part of their astronaut training.
markatkinson 9y ago
Funny I thought the same thing. Or even an in house doctor for check ups and assistance.
- coleca 9y ago
  So it sounds like even NASA astronauts even have a crappy healthcare plan like the rest of us.
  - astrodust 9y ago
    Many countries have universal healthcare, but the US has universally bad healthcare.
    - gozur88 9y ago
      I know you're making a joke, but what you're saying is not at all true. Most people in the US have quite good healthcare. That's why it's so hard to change anything.
      - joering2 9y ago
        Say what? I cannot find a single friend or family member who wouldn't be complaining at the healthcare; and those who are healthy just complain how high deductibles are in case they got sick. Have you ever been to Europe? Some west-block countries like Germany? Same wait time for private sector only at the 10% cost surgeries, xrays you name it, with the same equipment that USA is using in most cases.
        astrodust 9y ago
        I've had relatives that have had quadruple bypass surgery here (Canada) and had to fill out more paperwork when applying for a library card than when checking out of the hospital. I've also had American relatives that could not, no matter how hard they tried, no matter how many times they called, begged and peaded with their insurance company, to get the treatment they desperately needed. It's like those companies would prefer to drag out the process until you're dead than pay out a nickel.
bigiain 9y ago
On the other hand, if they'd tried to check _me_ into hospital, Id be all "Where do I sign, I'm checking myself out. I'm going to dinner and bed with my girlfriend who I haven't seen for a year!!!" (Which is only _one_ of the reasons I didn't get to be an astronaut... ;-) )
gozur88 9y ago
I would have thought even if they're not treating symptoms they'd want to know things like blood pressure and blood chemistry change over time. Like, "We're going to keep drawing blood every hour until things look to be long-term stable."
markbnj 9y ago
Came here to say this as well. You'd think he would have a number to call, or something, and ten minutes later there's medical attention coming down like a waterfall.
njharman 9y ago
The man just gave a year of his life. I expect NASA has a strong fairness and mental health reasons to reunite him with his family and loved ones as quickly as possible. Allowing him to spend his 3rd night back on earth at home seems like a small price for science to pay.
- baddox 9y ago
  Unless of course he had a medical emergency, which this sounded pretty close to.
- davidbanham 9y ago
  For sure, with the added instruction "Hey dude if your legs blow up like balloons and you come out in a weird rash call this number, k?"
mathattack 9y ago
That was my first reaction as well. Monitor and keep him near the experts.

by baddox 9y ago

simplicio 9y ago

Yea, especially given much of the purpose of his flight was to examine the effects of that long in space. I have trouble believing that NASA didn't, if nothing else, give him a phone # to call right away if he had any unexpected symptoms. The whole "should I go to the emergency room" thing kinda seems like a narrative added after the fact to add excitement to his article/book. (not that I doubt the episode was scary, but I do doubt the fact that NASA would've left any uncertainty about what to do in such a situation)

neurotech1 9y ago
They have on-call flight surgeon(physicians) for the Astronaut Office. This includes post-mission support. The narrative seems like it was slightly dramatic to support the story. Similar "unusual" symptoms have occurred on previous missions with other astronauts. Also, being a senior astronaut, he is likely personal friends with at least one of the assigned flight surgeon.
- dsfyu404ed 9y ago
  He's probably picked up a heck of a lot of expertise on basic medical stuff over the years so he can almost be his own CNA. They probably decided that having him at home in a normal environment with a fitbit or something logging his heart rate and whatnot was better than having him in an unfamiliar hospital.
  - neurotech1 9y ago
    Astronauts are qualified as EMT as part of their astronaut training.

markatkinson 9y ago

Funny I thought the same thing. Or even an in house doctor for check ups and assistance.

coleca 9y ago
So it sounds like even NASA astronauts even have a crappy healthcare plan like the rest of us.
- astrodust 9y ago
  Many countries have universal healthcare, but the US has universally bad healthcare.
  - gozur88 9y ago
    I know you're making a joke, but what you're saying is not at all true. Most people in the US have quite good healthcare. That's why it's so hard to change anything.
    - joering2 9y ago
      Say what? I cannot find a single friend or family member who wouldn't be complaining at the healthcare; and those who are healthy just complain how high deductibles are in case they got sick. Have you ever been to Europe? Some west-block countries like Germany? Same wait time for private sector only at the 10% cost surgeries, xrays you name it, with the same equipment that USA is using in most cases.
      - astrodust 9y ago
        I've had relatives that have had quadruple bypass surgery here (Canada) and had to fill out more paperwork when applying for a library card than when checking out of the hospital. I've also had American relatives that could not, no matter how hard they tried, no matter how many times they called, begged and peaded with their insurance company, to get the treatment they desperately needed. It's like those companies would prefer to drag out the process until you're dead than pay out a nickel.

bigiain 9y ago

On the other hand, if they'd tried to check _me_ into hospital, Id be all "Where do I sign, I'm checking myself out. I'm going to dinner and bed with my girlfriend who I haven't seen for a year!!!" (Which is only _one_ of the reasons I didn't get to be an astronaut... ;-) )

gozur88 9y ago

I would have thought even if they're not treating symptoms they'd want to know things like blood pressure and blood chemistry change over time. Like, "We're going to keep drawing blood every hour until things look to be long-term stable."

markbnj 9y ago

Came here to say this as well. You'd think he would have a number to call, or something, and ten minutes later there's medical attention coming down like a waterfall.

njharman 9y ago

The man just gave a year of his life. I expect NASA has a strong fairness and mental health reasons to reunite him with his family and loved ones as quickly as possible. Allowing him to spend his 3rd night back on earth at home seems like a small price for science to pay.

baddox 9y ago
Unless of course he had a medical emergency, which this sounded pretty close to.
davidbanham 9y ago
For sure, with the added instruction "Hey dude if your legs blow up like balloons and you come out in a weird rash call this number, k?"

mathattack 9y ago

That was my first reaction as well. Monitor and keep him near the experts.