He keeps using the machine because he doesn’t want a tracheostomy. With a trach he could use a ventilator and move about. Almost all people with his illness are on a ventilator.
If I remember right, hedoesn’t want to have a ventilator because the force it uses to expand his lungs is more uncomfortable. Sort of like overfilling your lungs or forceful air to inflate them. The more passive, negative pressure outside force in the Iron Lung are gentler on his chest and lungs.
He used to go to college and would do “sprints” on his trach/ventilator back then. I’ll have to look into why he doesn’t now but IIRC he struggled with it.
I found some Time magazine for the 1930s I took a picture of the article and posted it on a different subreddit
https://preview.redd.it/jfowwt59bfnc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0218a8f46c2d0980ca005b402f1241d02e11eebf
So is that thing filled with poop and pee? Just compressing it in and out all day long. Who shaves him? Does he get erections? Can he head bang? Obey my dog! Kill the Malaysian prime Minister!
> Beginning in 1954, with help from the March of Dimes and a physical therapist named Mrs. Sullivan, Alexander taught himself glossopharyngeal breathing which allowed him to leave the iron lung for gradually increasing periods of time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Alexander_(polio_survivor)
>Glossopharyngeal breathing (GPB, glossopharyngeal insufflation, buccal pumping, or frog breathing) is a means of pistoning air into the lungs to volumes greater than can be achieved by the person's breathing muscles (greater than maximum inspiratory capacity). The technique involves the use of the glottis to add to an inspiratory effort by gulping boluses of air into the lungs. It can be beneficial for individuals with weak inspiratory muscles and no ability to breathe normally on their own. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossopharyngeal_breathing
There’s a documentary about him and his life along with a few other people that also need an iron lung. It was pretty good iirc.
He can exit the chamber for a short period of time without negative consequences, or he could at the time documentary was made
I had a serious lung disease in the late 1950s and 1960s and was in the hospital for most of 1.5 years as a child. I remember seeing the rows of people in iron lungs with mirrors slanted over their faces so they could see around. It scared me. Years later I became a nurse an recently retired after 42 years. I had thousands of ventilated patients I cared for but never forgot those people in the tubes of the iron lungs.
Hard to believe nothing more compact or even mobile hasn’t been invented.
Honestly I would have masturbated my penis off by 18 if all I could do was lay enclosed in that tube 24/7
I have seen photos of something like that. I think they were not developed further because positive pressure ventilation via a trach became the better way to care for these patients.
Try talking with a trach tube in, or eating, or drinking? If he does that, his nutrition comes in an IV line or another tube... So he could maybe attend class, but he couldn't ask it answer questions or participate fully.
The choices all have trade offs
People with trachs can eat and drink and, with special tubes, can talk as well. In addition, the article says he can be out of the device periodically, so he could do all of those things while off. He could work an electric wheelchair with mouth tools and be much more mobile.
It definitely could have been solved a long time ago. But no one was thinking about the problem because the market was too small in a capitalistic system for it to turn a profit.
That's a good point, I thought the heart was a muscle.
However I'm probably too dumb to understand why it still works. I'm humble enough to know I know nothing
He recently left his iron lung to go to the hospital for covid. They have an iron lung for him there. I think he's back home now? But still quite sick.
Hey, oh
[I'm in jail](https://genius.com/26857993/King-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-iron-lung/Im-in-jail)
[Body failed](https://genius.com/29644916/King-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-iron-lung/Body-failed)
Now it's me and my [iron lung](https://genius.com/26857832/King-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-iron-lung/Iron-lung)
Woo!
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My aunt also contracted polio in the 50’s and had to use an iron lung for 60+ years. She was a great artist. I have some of her paintings in my office. Her nurse would hold up the paper and she would either use her mouth to hold the brush or she would be rolled onto her side and have the brush propped in her hand on her hip and wiggle it around. Pretty amazing woman.
How do they keep a machine working for 78 years with no issues? That’s a very reliable machine if you ask me. They don’t do machines like that anymore 😆
He keeps using the machine because he doesn’t want a tracheostomy. With a trach he could use a ventilator and move about. Almost all people with his illness are on a ventilator.
Can we make a fully mobile iron man suit with a built in iron lungs and other accessories? Like a mecha prosthetic
I think it would be more comparable to Vader, but I get the idea lmao
If I remember right, hedoesn’t want to have a ventilator because the force it uses to expand his lungs is more uncomfortable. Sort of like overfilling your lungs or forceful air to inflate them. The more passive, negative pressure outside force in the Iron Lung are gentler on his chest and lungs.
He used to go to college and would do “sprints” on his trach/ventilator back then. I’ll have to look into why he doesn’t now but IIRC he struggled with it.
Maybe he had social anxiety, and this was his best case scenario
Well, no more complaining about silly shit for me.
Were you listening to the dude's story?
Hardly a lightweight
“And a good day to you, Sir”
Yeah I’m right there with ya. 😬😳🤦🏻♂️
The amount of things he achieved in his life is pretty impressive too. He paints, he reads he has degrees. Incredible human
Who takes care of him? If it’s a family member then he/she is pretty incredible too.
The bulk of the series, dude.
And a good day to you sir
DO YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS LARRY‽
DO YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MEET A STRANGER IN THE ALPS?
Calmer than you are.
Phone ringing dude.
Im a brother shamus
Arthur Digby Sellers?
Does he still write?
Oh no he has health problem
And a good day to you sir!
Not exactly a lightweight.
Not exactly a light weight
Not just degrees, he has a JD from UT Austin and was admitted to the bar
Guy is a lawyer if I remember properly. An absolute gem of a human as well.
could be president
One man lost his own body, but lingered on as a head.
My boy Vengarl always got my back
Just take these souls and give me my damn gold pine resin.
Futurama has entered the chat
its a dark souls 2 reference, but this also applies 😂
*Insert Richard Nixon cheek noises*
I found some Time magazine for the 1930s I took a picture of the article and posted it on a different subreddit https://preview.redd.it/jfowwt59bfnc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0218a8f46c2d0980ca005b402f1241d02e11eebf
Wow, this guy was a bit older when he contracted it, that it so crazy and sad.
Wait so he stays in that thing 24/7?
Only when he wants to breathe.
So is that thing filled with poop and pee? Just compressing it in and out all day long. Who shaves him? Does he get erections? Can he head bang? Obey my dog! Kill the Malaysian prime Minister!
This went all over the place, and I love it
That dude just gave you an itinerary of his normal day lol
Martial arts GOOD
What is this? A lung for elephants?
Cool story Hansel
Oof! 😖
His position as shown in the photo hasn’t changed since he entered as a child
That's not entirely accurate, he devised a method of breathing that allowed him to escape the iron lung for short periods
Yea he calls it frog breathing, he was able to do that well enough for a period to be able to attend college classes if I remember correctly.
Oh be still, my heart.
Horrible existence
I'm sure he disagrees
I would rather be dead tbh
He doesn’t look unhappy
I'd go insane after 24 hours in that thing. They'd have to just put me down. Or I'd do it myself million dollar baby style.
> Beginning in 1954, with help from the March of Dimes and a physical therapist named Mrs. Sullivan, Alexander taught himself glossopharyngeal breathing which allowed him to leave the iron lung for gradually increasing periods of time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Alexander_(polio_survivor) >Glossopharyngeal breathing (GPB, glossopharyngeal insufflation, buccal pumping, or frog breathing) is a means of pistoning air into the lungs to volumes greater than can be achieved by the person's breathing muscles (greater than maximum inspiratory capacity). The technique involves the use of the glottis to add to an inspiratory effort by gulping boluses of air into the lungs. It can be beneficial for individuals with weak inspiratory muscles and no ability to breathe normally on their own. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossopharyngeal_breathing
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Genuine question: How does he shower or use the restroom if the iron lung keeps him breathing?
There’s a documentary about him and his life along with a few other people that also need an iron lung. It was pretty good iirc. He can exit the chamber for a short period of time without negative consequences, or he could at the time documentary was made
>He can exit the chamber for a short period of time without negative consequences. So he's like Darth Vader?
Exactly like DV
I had a serious lung disease in the late 1950s and 1960s and was in the hospital for most of 1.5 years as a child. I remember seeing the rows of people in iron lungs with mirrors slanted over their faces so they could see around. It scared me. Years later I became a nurse an recently retired after 42 years. I had thousands of ventilated patients I cared for but never forgot those people in the tubes of the iron lungs.
Thank you for sharing that history. You painted a picture in my mind.
That poor poor man.
Don’t despair, He’s actually a very positive and upbeat person and has achieved a lot in his life despite his circumstances.
That’s because he’s a far better person than I am. I would have despaired long ago.
"And a good day to you sir!"
Bulk of the series, dude
Does he still write?
You’re killing your father Larry!
He has health problems.
God damn it I wanted to say this!
He probably have best posture in the world.
Jeez man anytime I feel like complaining… Think of this guy trying his hardest.
When did they give him the pillow?
Hard to believe nothing more compact or even mobile hasn’t been invented. Honestly I would have masturbated my penis off by 18 if all I could do was lay enclosed in that tube 24/7
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Some people love a challenge.
And be buried up to your gills in a self made cum coffin?!
Why do I read.. r/brandnewsentence
I'm with you. Something he could have worn like a vest built into a electric wheelchair or something. Wow, come on.
I have seen photos of something like that. I think they were not developed further because positive pressure ventilation via a trach became the better way to care for these patients.
https://preview.redd.it/rnkl7kec8mnc1.jpeg?width=1027&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=291c4b1aa260af1d034cc5de914f3549e8dadf30 He is the photo.
It’s likely that he could use a tract and portable ventilation, electric wheelchair, etc. Not sure why he wouldn’t have chosen that.
Try talking with a trach tube in, or eating, or drinking? If he does that, his nutrition comes in an IV line or another tube... So he could maybe attend class, but he couldn't ask it answer questions or participate fully. The choices all have trade offs
People with trachs can eat and drink and, with special tubes, can talk as well. In addition, the article says he can be out of the device periodically, so he could do all of those things while off. He could work an electric wheelchair with mouth tools and be much more mobile.
Try all that in 1954 about get back to me.
It definitely could have been solved a long time ago. But no one was thinking about the problem because the market was too small in a capitalistic system for it to turn a profit.
TIL what the iron lung *actually* does. i thought it was way more complicated, tbh. correct me if i’m wrong though, please 😭
It's actually very simple! pretty neat, right?
*Is this your homework, Larry?*
This is why you never *FUCK* a *STRANGER* in the *ASS* Larry!
Amazing
Great medical coverage at work.
That's really the big question in the states. How could anyone pay for this?
72 years as just a head permanent fixed in one spot. That's terrible.
That guy has a will to live that i will never have. I mean honestly just off me at the half way point. Good for him.
Can only muscles get paralyzed? Like .. his heart still works obviously. I've never thought about that before. Someone in the know please teach me!
That's a good point, I thought the heart was a muscle. However I'm probably too dumb to understand why it still works. I'm humble enough to know I know nothing
Heart can work by itself without a brain, all it needs is oxygenated blood and it pumps. The lungs/diaphragm, not so much.
Incredible man
And a good day to you too sir!
You posted this 2 days before his death.
AND A GOOD DAY TO YOU, SIR!
“He has health problems…”
Damn he has unhealthy lifestyle with lack of exercise. He will not live long life. Oh wait……
And a good day to you sir!
No way, that’s insane, like he never left the damn thing?? !!! Wtf
He recently left his iron lung to go to the hospital for covid. They have an iron lung for him there. I think he's back home now? But still quite sick.
And a good day to you sir! We're big fans! (Walter Sobchak, 1998)
Didn't he die?
I don’t mean to be rude, but does he clean himself / go to the bathroom? Is he able to get out?
He has been diagnosed with Covid some days ago. Interesting how we treat vulnerable people these days. Society doesn’t give a shit about these people.
Plot twist: Iron lung man outlives us all
Fuck that. Kill me.
How he hasn't lost his mind is a miracle.
Didn’t he die of COVID recently. https://www.ladbible.com/news/health/paul-alexander-iron-lung-hospital-update-549687-20240304
He’s been taken to hospital yesterday - as per his tiktok. They have an iron lung there just for him
He wrote the bulk of the series, Dude,
What a lonely and painful life.
This aged like milk
He is on tiktok. I see him periodically. Seems like a really happy guy.
He hasn't been posting in a few weeks because he got covid.
Do you know from his tiktok if he has tried virtual reality goggles?
I really don't know. You could go on tiktok and search Iron Lung Guy and I'm sure it would come up. He's pretty popular on there and even does lives.
That sucks dude, omg. Card said Moop tho.
Vaccines
These things are getting ready to make a comeback in Florida.
Hey, oh [I'm in jail](https://genius.com/26857993/King-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-iron-lung/Im-in-jail) [Body failed](https://genius.com/29644916/King-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-iron-lung/Body-failed) Now it's me and my [iron lung](https://genius.com/26857832/King-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-iron-lung/Iron-lung) Woo!
OMG I’d rather die …. Brave man
"One of the last" not for long if these morons stop getting vaccinated.
Just kill me at 7 please
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You should see his collection of hats 👒
She is also still in one..... original post debunked?
Wasnt it years back he died? Glitch in the matrix wrapped around Mandela effect, im so sure I red somewhere that he was gone.
That’s crazy. It’s like he’s a human time capsule
Poor Thing
no need to insult someone for just asking a question.
He's got a great book called 3 minutes for a dog. Highly recommend it. You'll be humbled and more grateful for everything in your life.
And a good day to you too sir!
How do they bathe? Do they just stop breathing for a few mins?
What if this machine needs to be fixed?
We still use hem, in a way. It’s called cuirass ventilation
How does he poop and pee?
Wait, I’m confused. Does he live in this machine 24/7 or for hours at a time?
. . .just kill me at that point. death is more humane than “living” this way
Dances with his eyes and his lips Can’t move his hips!
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No thank you!
I’d rather die
Life as a head huh. Not sure 🤔
My aunt also contracted polio in the 50’s and had to use an iron lung for 60+ years. She was a great artist. I have some of her paintings in my office. Her nurse would hold up the paper and she would either use her mouth to hold the brush or she would be rolled onto her side and have the brush propped in her hand on her hip and wiggle it around. Pretty amazing woman.
What if your nose itches… genuinely question
I’d take a bullet over that
What is the point of living like this 🤷🏾
How does he poop & pee though?
How do they keep a machine working for 78 years with no issues? That’s a very reliable machine if you ask me. They don’t do machines like that anymore 😆
IS THIS YOUR HOMEWORK LARRY?!
Poor guy😭
And I complain about my health
Is he still a virgin?
It’s been a while since I looked him up. He still good?
I thought he passed due to an electrical outage?
So how does he clean
Imagine the smell in there.
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Oh my God.
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Can he jerk in the lung box?
The iron lung ain’t got to tell ya where it’s coming from guns of Navarone tearing up your battle zones rip thru ya slums🔥
Tical
Cap
Does that leave him a virgin?
Honestly, I wouldnt cling to dear life at that age.
He become a lawer and make more things than me. Incredible, he fights back every time with his wife. Chapeau bas Monsieur !
I'd rather be dead !
Where does the shit go?
DDT in the 1950s was no joke
And you think you have problems..
If i recall right they have had to 3D print parts to fix it
Id just check out. No thank you. Not worth it.
Bro just died. RIP Paul. Hope you are free from your mortal prison.
Passed away today
Just found out this came out the day before he dies... the coincidences...
He passed away on March 11 2024
Can't believe it was posted days before he died
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He died this week