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My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:43 am
by danieLion
Hi folks,

Just wanted to let you know that I was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday the 19th. I just got home.

I got the flu on the 3rd, which gained a cough on the 7th. I went to the doctor on 12th after I started coughing up yellow/green sputum occasionally with some blood in it. They prescribed home-remedy expectorants, rest and codeine cough syrup (which just gave me headaches). I languished for a week like that, then went back to the doctor who sent me to a hospital lab for a chest x-ray and blood test. Thirty minutes later I was escorted to the ER where they quarantined me and took TB, MRSA etc..., precautions by isolating me and wearing masks. They sent me to get a chest cat scan with dye which revealed pneumonia with a necrotizing cavity about the size of a golf ball in the lower lobe of my right lung. The ER doctor told me I had TB but was immediately contradicted by the admitting doctor but who would not get more definitive. They started me on IV fluids and antibiotics, drew blood from my veins and an artery. They took a sputum sample and moved me to an observation unit. They took several more sputum samples and scheduled me for a bronchoscopy to get a deeper sputum diagnostic which eventually revealed the pneumonia and necrotizing cavity were caused my MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a.k.a. A Super Bug, a.k.a. The Anti-bacterial Bug). They adjusted my IV antiobiotics accordingly and I slowly sarted showing signs of improvement.

There was a moment of grave concern for me and my wife right after I was discharged today when our insurance company refused to pay for the most important antiobiotic I'm to take at home ($2,500 for a two week course!). They then refused a pharmacist override who requested they contact the prescribing physician for a diagnostic code which did the trick.

I missed being able to get on Dhammawheel and am glad to be back. I will pick up where I left off as energy allows.

:heart:

Daniel

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:53 am
by daverupa
SN 22.1 wrote:"So it is, householder. So it is. The body is afflicted, weak, & encumbered. For who, looking after this body, would claim even a moment of true health, except through sheer foolishness? So you should train yourself: 'Even though I may be afflicted in body, my mind will be unafflicted.' That is how you should train yourself."
:group:

I had my large intestine removed when I was 15, and learned half of this lesson early. The other half is truly a boon during such times as these.

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:12 am
by retrofuturist
Take care Daniel.

Metta,
Retro. :)

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:30 am
by Modus.Ponens
Good to know that you're recoverinh. Best wishes.

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:40 am
by cooran
May you be healthy and strong
May you be free of mental and physical pain!

With metta
Chris

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:57 am
by manas
Glad to hear you are on the way to recovery, Daniel. Now is the time to allow others to care for you. Just focus on rest and recovery.
:anjali:

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:01 am
by SarathW
Hi Dan
Get well soon. May Dhamma protect you!

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 3:34 am
by Ben
Welcome back Daniel and I hope your health improves completely and rapidly.
I am sorry you have to go through that awful BS with your insurance company.
Take care of yourself.
with metta,

Ben

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 3:38 am
by danieLion
Thanks all.:)

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 3:43 am
by DNS
Wow! Glad to hear you are recovering now. Get well soon!

:heart: :group:

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 4:44 am
by Mawkish1983
How could an insurance company refuse to pay for that treatment? The world we live in is a strange place. I'm glad you're getting better Daniel.

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 5:05 am
by sattva
Glad you are recovering. Remember that your body needs time to gain its strength back. So, take it easy for awhile!

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 5:32 am
by robertk
good to see you back!

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 6:01 am
by mikenz66
Hope you have a speedy recovery. Look after yourself...

:heart:
Mike

Re: My Brush With Death, Hospitalization

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 6:19 am
by tiltbillings
danieLion wrote:I missed being able to get on Dhammawheel and am glad to be back.
Frightening as hell, the loss of control, the deadly threat to one's body and the resulting confusion and fear, and being at the mercy of not always good judgment.

Being so sick is difficult but good Dhamma practice.

Glad your back. Be patient with yourself and take it slow and easy.