I met with my new pulmonologist on Tuesday so that I could get cleared for my upcoming gall bladder surgery. It is imparative to have healthy lungs for a long surgery because if they are weak the anesthesia used in the surgery could kill you. With that being said, I needed to seek clearance because my bottom alveoli in my lungs had been collapsed for an unknown reason, but after a month of steroid treatments and a brochoscopy it was determined that they had reinflated. But, I was still having some serious symptoms of lung dysfunction, so my Drs decided to err on the side of caution and have me meet with a pulmonologist to see if he had any objections to the surgery. After a rundown with the pulmonologist of my medical history he asked me if there were any blood clots when I was shot in Afghanistan, which there were, I was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after my injury. My Dr believes that a clot has traveled from my leg or pelvic region to my lungs causing the atelectasis (deflating of the alveoli in my lungs) and I am now at risk for a pulmonary embolism which could very easily kill me. The best part of all this is that for five months of me wheezing, dizzy spells and complaining to the VA about my breathing issues is that at no point in time was my lung issue disclosed to me. It was noted before my appendectomy, it was noted on a follow up scan and the notes was seen by several drs who sat and watched me struggle to breath and yet I remained ignorant for the better part of five months. They even sent me back to work for almost two months until my body finally gave out. That was until I requested my own records and discovered it myself. Soon after the discovery, I filed a complaint with the patient advocate at the Syracuse VA hospital and dropped the VA for medical care and entered the private sector (Where theyre actually concerned about you dying and stuff). The chief of medicine at the Syracuse VA ended up calling me to address my complaint by berating me over my lack of medical expertise and non stop repeating the phrase its a normal finding. Well, with todays knowledge of my physical standpoint paired with the VAs illustrious record of excellence I wouldnt be surprised if it was a normal finding at her hospital. So, there you have it, your feel good story for the day. I have a failing internal organ that needs to come out and a possible time bomb that could end my life at any damn moment. Oh by the way, I got that news on Veterans Day.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 01:03:10 +0000
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