My Trumper BIL suffers from heart disease *

[Oopsie Daisy]

* two heart attacks. He "died" in the ambulance and his heart was restarted. Two stents and he's still alive now... one year later.

The idiot still smokes more than a pack a day but takes Rx meds for his condition. He's now telling us that "he's not allowed to have a Covid vaccine or annual flu vaccine" because of his heart disease. HUH???!!!

Is there ANY world in which this could possibly be true? I think he's lying to us. I can't find anything on the Heart Association website that recommends AGAINST getting either vaccine. In fact, it says that the risks associated with the vaccines are minimal compared to the benefits.

My immunocompromised husband won't allow him in our house (because he's unvaxxed) but he thinks it's because I don't like his politics. I don't, but that's beside the point. --- He's in his mid 50's (but looks like he's 70) and I figure he'll be dead soon enough anyway.

Sigh. You can't pick your family members, but that doesn't mean you have to put up with them (much).

[ismnotwasm]

1. It's bullshit

I suspect someone asked something in a hypothetical or passive aggressive way and got a answer they could stretch into something they wanted

And Anyone who smokes like that a vaccine is the least of their worries

[Oopsie Daisy]

24. You are correct. If he honestly and genuinely cared about whatever risk there may be *

* he would have given up cigarettes. I know that cigarettes are powerfully addictive (it was hard for me to quit) nearly a decade ago. But he's not even TRYING to quit.

He's in his mid-50's and he looks like (and sounds like) a man 20 years older. He can barely complete a sentence without that death-rattle gurgle and continually coughing and hacking-up-a-lung. He wants to do what he wants to do and nobody will tell him anything differently.

[viva la]

32. I'm glad your husband is drawing the boundary.

It's so much easier when the one who is related stands up for you.

There's a self-destructive aspect to Trumperism, really. There's a fatalism but also a carelessness-- "Nothing matters, except ...."
All these nihilistic impulses come together in Trumpism-- "Nothing is really real, truth doesn't matter, science can be ignored, hate is more exciting than love, I don't really matter either, except as his acolyte."

It's hard to help them when they don't care enough about their own well-being.

[Captain Zero]

33. 5 years tops and wouldn't be surprised if covid gets him

I had a friend from HS very similar symptoms and wouldn't take the vaccine. Neither would his wife. They both died in the pandemic of covid.
They were living in the middle of ignorant Florida too.

[Hope22]

2. Boundaries...

…are a beautiful thing. It’s hard to draw the line with family but necessary at times. I’m in the trenches with you. Still standing firm. My best to you!

[Oopsie Daisy]

26. Thanks, Hope22!

He's "nice enough" (except when he's angry-drunk) and I can force myself to make small talk (when the subject is not politics) and I can even fake-it and talk about Jesus if he wants to.

I'm very relieved that we have these boundaries. Even if he was fully vaxxed, I would dread his presence in my home because he smells of stale tobacco, and I always have to air-out the house and soak everything in Febreeze to get the odors out.

He was "respectful" enough to not smoke in the house, but every 20 minutes or so, he'd step outside and power-smoke an entire cigarette... smelling sickening when he returned.

Ugh. But I get it... I never realized how dreadful I smelled until AFTER I quit smoking.

I appreciate your kind words. I hope you have a happy and healthy 2024!

[Hope22]

31. He sounds like a handful!😊

I hope you have a happy and healthy 2024 as well. I’m sure it will not be boring! Take care!💗😁

[flying_wahini]

3. You can't fix your BIL. If he isn't vaxed then COVID will change his mind.

Saying it is contraindicated is wrong. In fact I believe that the opposite is true; if you are compromised in ANY way you should receive the COVID vaccine.
The flu shot, RSV, the pneumonia vaccine, shingrix are very important to at risk people.
Do NOT associate with him (or his wife) as it is a grave risk. Be sure to tell them why too.

[Oopsie Daisy]

21. Yes, we (my husband) has made it clear why they aren't allowed to come in our home *

* I'm not getting involved, other than to let my husband know how much I approve and support his decision.

[hlthe2b]

4. It is absolute bullshit.

Maybe he'll listen to the American Heart Association (though they DO follow science, public health, and the "dastardly" CDC's recommendations.... )

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/10/06/what-people-with-heart-disease-should-know-about-vaccines-today


Unless there is some unique aspect of your BIL's health that you are unaware and thus not conveyed here (and frankly, I have trouble even IMAGINING what that would be), these vaccines are overwhelmingly recommended for him. Might he have one of the extremely rare (and ill-informed) providers that do not advocate vaccinations for COVID-19 or other viruses? I suppose. They too are jerks, but fortunately rare. Is your BIL simply conveying his own attitudes "dressed up in a supposed physician recommendation?" Quite possibly. It is even possible that his physician, perhaps being absolutely beyond "over" the patients coming in to defiantly educate HIM/HER that what they are saying about these vaccines is wrong, a conspiracy, or whatever--merely chose not to argue with him. Do I condone that? No, but they are human too.

[Oopsie Daisy]

10. Yes, I believe that's the case *

>>Is your BIL simply conveying his own attitudes "dressed up in a supposed physician recommendation?
Yes, I believe that's the case ... either he's dressing up his own false beliefs, or he read it in a meme on Facebook (and heaven knows, that's good enough for him.) Still he smokes and drinks heavily... both he and his wife.

Sad.

[IbogaProject]

38. I just wanted to recommend Novavax

It was so gentle. No arm soreness and low side effects, for me none. I think the protection climbs slower over rather than 14 days. I chose it as it's made with the whole spike protein, whereas the mRNA ones only use a few they tested to be the most effective.

[Takket]

5. no, he needs the Vax

The most vulnerable need it the most. Covid is known to attack the heart and weaken it. Anyone with a bad heart should be vaxed to reduce the severity of covid in any way possible.

The only reason not to receive the covid vaccine is because you are allergic to something in it.

[IA8IT]

6. Rich(inherited)/tRump/guns/loud BIL banned from my house with no regrets. SIL still welcome if alone.

My wife died years ago so I don't feel I need be polite and keep the peace. I'm fine having a pig free home.

Good For Your Family To Be Rid Of Him!!!

[Oopsie Daisy]

11. My husband still texts, and talks on the phone with him *

Good For Your Family To Be Rid Of Him!!!

* so it's not as though he's being completely shut-out of our lives (not that I'd complain if it happened) it's just that he's not welcome to visit in our home. I'll take small victories where I can find them and just keep my mouth shut, not inflame the situation, not create feuds or hard feelings. But quietly, I'm smiling inside.

[IA8IT]

22. Good Luck, Health and Happiness to both of you.

[Bayard]

7. How does your sister feel about it?

[Oopsie Daisy]

12. It's my husband's brother who's the antivax-trumper.

My husband thinks he's "not the sharpest knife in the drawer." --- I wonder if his dull wit is because of nurturing (or lack of) or his education (or lack of) or the people he hangs with (mountain-type folk) or the fact that he was a surprise "late in life" baby (twins!!) born to a 50+ year old mother who was resentful about the whole thing anyway.

The other twin isn't much better. Vaxxed, but still an annoying, angry trumper.

[Disaffected]

8. I would say

all Trumpers suffer from heart disease.

And, your BIL is "dead" wrong about not allowed to be vaccinated (it's quite the opposite).

[Oopsie Daisy]

14. You're correct, of course. The fact that he CONTINUES to smoke cigarettes *

* shows what poor judgement he has and that he refuses to listen to facts. (He justifies it by saying "the damage has already been done, why quit now?&quot

Ugh. Stupid people.

[TwilightZone]

9. He's talking nonsense. Send him this:

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/10/06/what-people-with-heart-disease-should-know-about-vaccines-today

and this:

https://www.heart.org/en/beyond-the-table/stories/covid-19-vaccine-is-high-priority-for-cardiac-patients

[Oopsie Daisy]

13. Great links! THANK YOU so much! 💖👍

[WhiteTara]

15. My beloved (not a trumper)

had cardiac arrest and his doctor recommends he get all vaccines. So, trumper= liar.

[Oopsie Daisy]

18. It's a sad situation but *

* if he dies, he dies. He was told the risks and as an adult, he makes his own "informed" (lol) decisions!

Even though he's not allowed in our home, and even though we have set up rules and boundaries, it's just not worth trying to debate or have a public Facebook-Feud with him/them trying to debunk the lies and misinformation that they thoroughly trust and completely believe.

[WhiteTara]

19. no, it's not worth the effort to argue or try

to reason. He knows what he knows and don't try to influence him because he knows.

A man goes to the top of the mountain to see the lama and asks the lama what he needs to do to have a peaceful life. The lama says, don't argue with someone who has a made up mind. The man says indignantly, that's it? that doesn't sound correct. The lama then says, you're right.

[Oopsie Daisy]

20. LOL! I think I'd heard that one before (but hadn't thought of it in a long time)

* the version I remember said "don't argue with arrogant assholes who have made up their mind" (same meaning, just a little more passive-aggressive-nasty.)

[WhiteTara]

25. I think I read it as a "fool" but couldn't remember

the word while typing. I guess I have to own the passive-aggressive phrase...oh dear, here I thought I was straight forward, but I see another flaw in my character.

But I'm holding space for you and your sister as you have to interact with this train wreck of a human. Maybe pray for him to become human while in that form? Is that passive/aggressive?

[Oopsie Daisy]

28. It's my husband's brother...

... and your encouragement to "pray for him" made me laugh.

[WhiteTara]

29. I raise my hand as I drive through our county

and say that prayer/blessing over many many houses.

[WhiteTara]

30. and I'm sorry for your husband, it

must be hard for him.

[Sogo]

16. Did you tell him you won't let him in because of his unvaxxed status,

not because of his politics?

[Oopsie Daisy]

17. Yes, he knows *

* my husband (his brother) made that clear. (The gist was "no offense, but, I'd prefer to live&quot

Secretly, I'm smiling inside.

[CanonRay]

23. Waste of perfectly good stents

Hopefully he won't be around to vote again. Yeah, I'm that sick of these people.

[Zambero]

27. Fitting epitaph

"Here I Lie"

[eggplant]

34. One MI, three stents, and a five-way CABG later...

...I'm up to my fourth Pfizer inoculation. None of my care team has said a single thing about not getting vaxxed. But then again, I actually trust peer-reviewed science.

[Oopsie Daisy]

43. Thanks for the info! Wishing you good health in the new year!

[GreenWave]

35. When a Trumper's lips move, they are lying.

[relayerbob]

36. Absolute nonsense

I have major heart problems, and it is really clear that the vax protects us from the major cardiovascular damage Covid does. He gets it, he will die. Period.

[bluestarone]

37. 100% support for you both.

I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. All 4 No shots. Religious reasons, so they say. I've told them all that it's their decision. THEN i told them MY decision is NO INDOOR get togethers with any of them. Plain and simple. THEY made their choice. I made mine. I'm not against their religious beliefs, until it effects my family. To add here, they are trump supporters.

[Oopsie Daisy]

40. I feel your frustration and admire your decision *

* thanks for confirming what I was automatically presuming: that they are Trumpers. Ugh, and... sorry.

[Skittles]

51. what is the religious objection?

I think they say that because then they don't have to admit they take advice from politicians over doctors and scientists

[SWBTATTReg]

39. We all know people like this, that they'll tell themselves anything, or make up stuff totally off the wall,

for coming up w/ a ridiculous excuse to not get something done, such as a vaccine. If they don't care enough to take care of themselves, knowing the danger they're putting themselves and others in, why should we? It's like talking to a spot on the wall.

And unfortunately, this crowd of tRUMP's seems that way, you can't tell them nothing before they go and get themselves all worked up into a lather. They get upset/excited over literally nothing.

So, I think that you're right in not getting yourselves worked up, and keeping him and his infectious ways away from you and yours, and protecting yourselves. My best to you all.

[Oopsie Daisy]

41. My husband's feelings exactly. If his brother doesn't care enough about his OWN health *

* then why should we even presume that he'd care about OUR health? Previously, we had assumed that -- considering his heart disease -- he would have been vaxxed. We were wrong.

If I had not spotted him "boasting" to another FB friend that he was unvaxxed, we might have never known. He'd have never volunteer the info openly and honestly to us... and at some point in the future, he'd show up (symptom free) and spread the virus to us. My husband is immunocompromised, so he Covid aware and Covid averse.

He's "mostly" nice... but he's also a total asshole. Selfish. Bigoted. I tolerate him.

[IbogaProject]

42. It really captures how crazy and erratic the former guy was

He cast doubt on the masks, whereas he was on tape knowing it would be bad. His nitwit son in law thought it would continue ravaging the minority and blue cities. But we shut down and got serious. Then that misleader decided the shutdowns were getting in the way of his rallys and he went in to inflict so much damage on his own supporters. I quite like that the covid death rate is 3 or 4 GOP to one Democrat, since the vaccines came out. And his mis-administeation pushed their development, yet once he was out he didn't want us to get back to normal so he went antivax. It really encapsulates how dumb, selfish and erratic he was.

[Oopsie Daisy]

46. Agreed!

It's pathetic and sad.

[nolabear]

44. Mr. Bear has had a couple of heart attacks, numerous stents and a bypass.

His doctors encouraged him to get every vaccine humanly possible, and he has. He also has to take prednisone for another condition so his immune system is impacted. He’s also diabetic. Here’s a kicker—he’s working, active, has a black belt in jiujitsu and is my damn HERO for doing everything he can to stay that way.

I have sympathy for addiction. The stupidity of not getting vaccinated just stuns me. That cult is killing its members.

[Oopsie Daisy]

45. Wishing Mr. Bear and you continued good health in the new year!

[nolabear]

47. Thanks! The same to you and yours.

Aging is a trip. Hopefully a long one!

[The Conductor]

48. Typical Trumpis Bullshit

He's full of crap. I had a replacement heart valve and have a heart that is 2/3rds working at best. My doctor suggested strongly that I get the vaccines to prevent further damage. It's the same old crap from the orange goon crowd, doing what they want to do no matter who it hurts - even if they are the ones who get killed.

[Thunderbeast]

49. MAGAWorld is spreading a lie that links Covid vaccination to heart disease

Last edited Fri Dec 29, 2023, 01:37 AM - Edit history (2)

My BIL... who is otherwise fairly intelligent, had a heart issue a few months after his last shot. He then read an anecdote in the MAGAsphere about a 28 year old Marine who died of a coronary after HIS jab. Nothing outside of the conspiracy echo chamber supports the connection, but BIL is convinced.

We quizzed him about what his cardiologist thinks about his theory...

"WHAT DOES HE KNOW" was his answer.

He's 82, and apparently knows WAY more than the CDC about the risks.

[Oopsie Daisy]

50. It's astounding, isn't it?

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

52. My MIL does have a heart condition

She's had two heart attacks as well, and survived them.

Her MD told her to get the vaccine and stay on top of the boosters, because her heart could not handle the beating it would take from getting COVID. That's because if your breathing suffers (as it does with most COVID cases), then your heart has to work harder to keep pumping enough blood to get oxygen to your brain.

Your heart isn't sitting right by the lungs for no reason, you know. Your body depends on the heart pumping the blood your lungs oxygenates to the rest of your body. The faster the heart can get that blood into and out of the lungs for oxygenation, the less likely you are to suffer brain/tissue damage or die.

So the vaccine is *more* strongly indicated for cardiac patients than for average people.

[Oopsie Daisy]

53. Thanks very much for that info *

* and I hope your MIL continues to do well.

I suspect that I'll be attending his funeral within the next year or two.