[Elecraft] OT: Public service announcement (DVT)

[Wes]

(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