(Long story follows)
Back on Dec 20 I underwent six hours of surgery to remove a mass in my right
butt cheek and thigh. Originally diagnosed as a liposarcoma via MRI, I was
referred to the U of A cancer center where I met a wonderful surgeon, Dr
Jennifer Erdrich. She managed to excise the 2.7 pound mass while sparing my
sciatic nerve. I have a twelve inch long scar and some residual numbness to
show for it. However, the best part is, it was benign! Someone at the hospital
told me I should buy a Powerball ticket, but apparently I used up all my luck
with the surgery.
Whether the foregoing has anything to do with the following is a question;
maybe, maybe not.
Suffice it to say that at age 83, I likely did well to survive 6 hours of
anesthesia with most of my brain cells intact, but there has been a slowdown in
my activity. For the time being, I don't climb ladders, for example. I do,
however, sit in front of the computer and radio. But I don't do contests and
even while writing this, I just went to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.
So I'm cognizant of the need to move around.
But on April 23, after writing off some pain in my left calf as a muscle pull
for a few days, my wife took a hard look and saw a lot of swelling and said you
need some medical attention. Ultrasound is the diagnostic tool of choice for
DVT. Of course, it was after hours and the nearest ER is notorious for slow
service, so I did a search and found a relatively new standalone ER. They
advertised scanning capabilities and that you can make an online appointment.
So off we went, arriving at 10 PM. Unfortunately, while they can do X-ray and
CT scanning they didn't do ultrasound. So it was off to the notorious ER. We
arrived at 11 PM and gave up and went home at 3 AM while never having been
seen. (In hindsight, a mistake) Now it's Thursday morning. My PCP is in a
group that has a radiology facility right across the parking lot. So I make an
appointment, but cannot get in until Friday morning. When the doctor finally
examines me, the swelling is gone and he sees nothing wrong. I insist that I
need a scan so he orders it up. These are priority with them.
So back home an hour later (2 PM) the scan results are on the patient portal.
They are negative for DVT. Looks like I dodged another bullet, figuratively
speaking. After the sun went down and the rattlesnakes came out we decided to
go to a park and walk the dog. After walking the first half-mile we stop to
visit with another dog walking acquaintance. While just standing there, I'm
suddenly hit with some substantial chest pain. It wasn't "I'm going to die
pain" but it really got my attention. So it was off to drop the dog at home and
back to the standalone ER. Now I got the CT scan and learned that I had a
pulmonary embolism. I was started on IV Heparin and prepped for an ambulance
ride back to the notorious hospital. Sixteen hours later a bed opens up and off
we go. The EMTs tell me that you should never go to a standalone ER with
conditions like this. Go to a hospital and tell them that you have chest pain
and you get priority.
I'll spare the details of the next couple of days but I am home. I'm taking
Eliquis for at least six months ($600/month) and other than that pain, I feel
fine. I remain unconvinced that too much sitting was the cause but since that
is the topic I thought to chime in.
Take from this what you will
Wes N7WS
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