[Elecraft] OT: Public service announcement (DVT)

[Wayne Burdick]

Glad you survived these ordeals, Wes! Thanks for the cautionary tale.

Wayne
N6KR


On Sat, May 10, 2025 at 8:15 AM Wes <wes_n7ws at triconet.org> wrote:

> (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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