The Fungus That Lives in Your Lungs Forever 😱
The speaker recounts personal and secondhand experiences with Valley fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling prehistoric spores in dust near Coalinga, California. The infection can permanently reside in the lungs and has caused serious medical consequences for military personnel, including lung loss and medical retirement.
Summary
In this short clip, the speaker discusses Valley fever, a serious fungal lung infection linked to inhaling spores found in dust in the Coalinga, California area. The speaker references Mike Ritland, a well-known Navy SEAL, who contracted the disease so severely that he lost a lung as a result. The infection is described as being caused by prehistoric fungal spores present in the local dust, which when inhaled during windy conditions can take hold in the lungs permanently.
The speaker shares a personal account of contracting Valley fever as well, though not to the same devastating degree as Ritland. Their symptoms included extreme illness, significant weight loss, and sunken eyes. The speaker also notes that the condition had serious consequences within military circles — someone from their sniper school was medically retired due to the disease. As a result of these health risks, the SEAL Teams have reportedly stopped conducting operations or training in the Coalinga area.
Key Insights
- The speaker claims that the SEAL Teams no longer go to Coalinga specifically because of the risk of Valley fever from fungal spores in the dust.
- The speaker states that Mike Ritland, a Navy SEAL, lost an entire lung as a result of contracting Valley fever.
- The speaker describes the spores as 'prehistoric,' suggesting the fungus is an ancient organism embedded in the regional soil and dust.
- The speaker personally contracted Valley fever and experienced severe symptoms including major weight loss and sunken eyes, though did not lose lung function.
- The speaker reports that at least one person from their sniper school was medically retired due to Valley fever.
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] Mike Ritland got it. He lost a lung from this. That is the reason the SEAL Teams no longer [music] go to Coalinga. Apparently, there is like fungus in the dust that's like prehistoric or whatever. If you're like in that dust all day and the wind's blowing and you breathe it, the spores can form in your lungs. >> Holy sh- >> They say you have it forever. I got Valley fever not to the point where [music] I lost lung function, but I got really, really sick, lost a ton of weight, my eyes sunk in. >> But one person from my sniper school [0:31] medically retired.
Full transcript available for MurmurCast members
Sign Up to AccessMore from Shawn Ryan Show
This is Why Strickland Won’t Ever Retire
A middleweight champion discusses why he won't retire despite favorable odds, explaining that he thrives on the structure and purpose that fighting provides. He reveals that idle time away from training camp negatively affects his mental health and personal behavior.
This Was His Tinder Profile Pic 😂
A man recounts how he met his wife on a dating app 10-7 years ago using a horse photo as his profile picture to appear non-threatening. He discusses his wife's successful background, the prenuptial agreement her wealthy father required, and an emotionally difficult story about meeting her father while having monkeypox and sharing a traumatic childhood memory about his brother planning to stab his father.
Could Sean Strickland Give Kids a Way Out? 😳
Sean Strickland discusses his desire to help at-risk youth after his fighting career ends, viewing himself as a role model who can show kids there's a way out of difficult circumstances. He expresses interest in meaningful charitable work focused on self-help, disaster relief, and youth assistance, and plans to earn enough money to live modestly while dedicating himself to helping others.
He Picked the WRONG House 😳
A homeowner confronts a man hiding near his truck after receiving a doorbell alert, only to discover the man was fleeing after assaulting his sister. Police arrive and direct the homeowner to release the suspect, who has an existing warrant and must turn himself in.
The 700 MPH Ejection That Changed an F/A-18 Pilot’s Life | Official Preview
Navy F/A-18 pilot Kagan Gill survived the fastest ejection in naval aviation history at 695 mph during a 2014 training exercise, suffering catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injury and paralysis. Despite dire medical prognoses and subsequent battles with PTSD, addiction, and suicidal ideation, Gill recovered through alternative therapies like peyote and ayahuasca ceremonies, ultimately returning to flying and becoming a mental health advocate.