15 Years
October 5th, 2009 - filed under MiscellaneousSomething happened shortly after the release of Jetpack in 1993 that changed my life, and not in a good way. A combination of high stress and I’m guessing food poisoning or a stomach virus, gave me severe stomach pains and ulcers. I didn’t have health insurance so I did not go to a doctor. I took massive amounts of Maalox and Rolaids for a month until the pain settled from acute to chronic. I eventually paid to see a doctor but I couldn’t afford any expensive tests so not much came of it. Eventually the pain went away during the day – it only happens when I’m lying down now, usually around 3am.
Back in 1992 I would sleep 10 hours (generally from 2am to noon) and code 12+ hours every day. I created Jetpack in 4 months. I wrote Squarez Deluxe in 1 month. Now, and for the last 15 years, I have been getting 4-5 hours sleep per day and suffering constantly from chronic fatigue. My short term memory and concentration are shot. I’ll be excited about a project and fired up to work, but when I try to code my abilities slip away and I’ll forget everything that was in my head. I usually end up zoning out on TV or playing video games. It’s a constant struggle to get things done, except on the rare days, maybe 1 or 2 a month, when my brain decides to work.
A couple years after this started, I finally got a job with health insurance (in Seattle), and over a year I saw 5 different doctors. They were all completely useless – one actually listened for 3 minutes then told me to take Metamucil for the rest of my life – he spent more time asking me computer questions than trying to diagnose my problem.
- I’ve had these tests: upper gi, small bowel series, endoscopy, colonoscopy, food sensitivity test, fat absorption test, ultrasound. The only abnormality in my blood tests was elevated Gliadin IgG
- I’ve tried 10 different diets, including vegetarian, no lactose, no fat, no salt, & celiac for 3 months
- I’ve been to 10+ doctors, including gut and back specialists, chiropractors, massage, and acupuncture
- I’ve taken countless drugs and herbal remedies, acid reducers, antibiotics, glutamine, hyoscyamine, etc, etc, etc. Once I took a bad combination of anti-yeast herbals, went a little loopy, and ended up in the hospital.
Now I’m in Boston and the doctors seem a little better here. Recently, thanks mostly to the internet and in part to my doctors, I’ve found 2 things that help my pain about 50% – Sucralfate/Carafate (bonds with hydrochloric acid to form a paste that allows intestinal ulcers to heal) and Dicyclomine/Bentyl (smooth muscle antispasmodic, stops intestinal cramping). Now I find it easier to sleep, but after 15 years of this I have a sleep habit of waking up after 4-5 hours. My latest doctor has also found that my gallbladder has some serious issues – but most of my pain is on the sides, not near the gallbladder. I may have it removed soon, and I hope that turns out to be the cause.
In conclusion, I want to make 2 points:
- This is why there is no Jetpack 2 yet
- Universal health care is a basic human right. No one should be excluded because of preexisting conditions, or have their insurance canceled when they get sick. A friend of mine recently had her coverage revoked after being diagnosed with cancer – the reason? She hadn’t disclosed a high blood pressure test 5 years earlier. The decision to deny care should not be made by people whose jobs depend on maximizing profit – it’s just that simple.

