Just Out Of The Hospital...Lucky To Be Alive!!!!
 

I was having chest pains last week. Worse with deep breaths, coughing and sneezing. I was continuely short of breath too, I would get winded easy. So Thursday night I went to the VA Hospital emergency area. They decided to check me in after chest x-rays.

They found in the left lung a spot. They also found localized pheumonia.

The spot was from what they called a pulminary embolism. A PE is a blood clot that traveled to the lung and got stuck there. It was most noted by a dead area of the lung from being starved of blood and oxygen.

The pheumonia is a bacteria, and it formed around the PE area, as well as in the plurial wall.

They gave me a full gammot of tests, cultures, samples, shots, dyes, scans, and diagnosis.

They couldn't find where the blood clot went, so I was placed on blood thinners and clot disolving IV fluids, as well as 3 "super anti-biotics".

My lung function has improved and my white blood count is stable, and the pain is less, so they released me to my own bed (thank god :D )

I must remain on oral anti-biotics for 10 more days, and give myself shots in the stomach for blood anti-clotting for 3 more days. They require me to come back this afternoon for a heart stress test, and back for x-rays and CT scans of the lungs on July 1st.

I am so glad things worked out as they did. It could have been just as easy for the blood clot to go to the heart instead of the lung. I must take it quite easy now for the next 2 weeks, as the pheumonia can come back easily, and if it does, it comes back worse. Also, I have to be carefull of getting any cuts, as the blood thinner will cause me to bleed much worse. I feel lucky to be able to say hi to everyone here.

OMG sorry to hear all this Don. I'm so glad to hear you're alright. i'm also glad to hear you're listening to your doc and taking it easy! Get yourself better! Take care, Darlin!!!!!! :)

damnn dt.. I wish you the best :) now for the told ya so.. I TOLD YOU TO GO TO THE DOCTOR 4-5 MONTHS AGO DAMNIT ;) rest up feel better and don't make me find you and kick your everlovin butt.........

Wow. Glad you're ok. That usually kills people.

Glad your doing better. It's always hard to hear about that. God speed with your recovery!

We'll say a prayer for a speedy recovery man! Glad it's no worse than it was.

I won't yell atcha. You'll serve as a good warning to all the other guys that won't go see a doctor when they aren't feeling so hot.

I'm glad you are feeling better.

Close call man! Glad you're OK! :)

:bowtie:

HOLY COW DT...... GLAD YOU'RE GONNA BE OK. KINDA MAKES YOU AWARE OF YOUR IMORTALITY DOESN'T IT. TAKE IT EASY FOR AWHILE, & JUST RECOUPERATE. :D :D :D JOHN

Man, you make me think I should go see a Doc! Rest easy DT!

Some people will do anything for a vacation!! lol

Glad you'll be okay.

Now take it easy and find that remote and plant yourself on the couch. Milk out all the TLC you can.

That sounds a little scarey to me, gald you're OK. Take care of yourself. And don't be hitting on the nurses, you're sick you know! LOL!

hope you have a full and speedy recovery!!!

your vets hospital sounds ALOT better for service than the ones down hear in florida, a case like yours they usually treat post-mortem

Wow dude. I'm glad you're ok. That was a close one!

Wow DT!
Glad your doing ok!
Sounds like "someone" is on your side.
Now to catch up with everything on the board :lol:

Denny

Glad you caught it and got in immediately. Yikes!

so tell us. How were the nurses? :p Hope you get better man!

For those that don't know, Liz did tell me a while ago to get to a doctor. I was telling her on chat one night how I was having intermittent chest pains, and how I was always feeling tired. Like most bull-headed men, I ignored the symptoms and concerns. The problem eventually subsided, except for being tired all the time.

Here is my assumption of what happened. I went to Egypt on Dec 11, 2003 and returned on Jan 6, 2004. I believe that during the return trip I developed a condition called "deep vein thrombosis" (a clot that forms in the legs from prolonged lack of activity and cramped airline seats). The clot made it's way to my lung, which is where I initially was having pains in February. I believe the clot eventually either disolved on it's own, or moved to another unknown location. Either of those two cases, there was already the damage to the tissue of the lung wall from loss of oxygen and blood, which made the lung at risk for infections or bacteria.

Fast forward to 1 month ago. I drove for 11 hours from Memphis to Milwaukee, thus creating another blood deep vein thingy. This one was much bigger or worse than the last, thus resulting in the complications I experienced.

I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV ;)

One thing I do know is that men are stupid. We all have to act real tough. We are too proud to recognize that when we have a problem, we should seek help. It's not a laughing matter, nor should health problems be taken lightly. We need to seek medical opinions, and if they turn out to be a false alarm, at least we would be around to laugh about it. I think too many men die needlessly, because we have to show our immortality (our stupidity), to our mates.

Busterwivell, what ever problem you are refering to, yes...get your chevy truck loving @ss in and see a doctor...or I'm going to get Liz after you...and she don't play fair when she is pissed ;) ;)

DT glad you found it in time.What you say will make alot of us think,I personally havent been to a dr in about14 years,maybe i should schedule a app.

wow don, thats a close call
 

man, all i can tell ya is god loves you man, those blood clots ain't nuthin to play around with. pneumonia ain't much better. i know it can make you have pains that feel like a knife is twisting between your ribs on every breath. but i am glad you are okay. these folks are giving you good advise man, take your time and let yourself get better.
you only get to go around once, make the ride last as long as possible.
get well soon, Tony

WOW!!! what a wake-up call! by all means take care of yourself. your gas tank can wait if you want. get some rest, but not too much. dont want another one forming.
side note; both my dad & fater in law died from ignoring early signs of cancer. not a happy thought at all.
those clots can be nasty. trust me, I know. has to do with good friends mom.
count your blessings. find a nice barstool & spend some liesurely time in shop staying lightly active.
Todd

Wow. God bless you DT. Very glad you are around. Will keep you in my prayers.

DT,glad you caught it.

Glad to hear you are okay Don. Rest up, my friend :D

Man.......that was close!
Glad you found it before it found the ole' heart.
Hurry up and get well and make sure you are getting enough vitamins so you can help build the immune system.
Good Luck,
Mike