[John_W]

I played 18 holes of golf two weeks ago Wednesday and Thursday the next day I went to the gym like normal but I started to get a sore throat. The next day after that was Friday, two weeks ago today I felt even worse so I stayed home from the gym. Since I had an already scheduled appt with my VA doctor on Monday I figured I would just wait until then get get medical advice.

On Monday when I saw my doctor I explained I felt very bad and was coughing so much, the nurse went and got me a mask. He listed to my chest and said, you have some bronchitis and here's a prescription for a 5 day Z-pak, it will knock it out of you by Friday.

On Friday I could barely get out of bed and I had taken all the pills. I called my Medicare doctor at Pinellas and they said come in today, which I did. They sent me for a chest x-ray, which indicated I had pneumonia, for which I had just gotten a vaccine last summer.

Anyway, they gave me an anti-biotic injection right then and some strong anti-biotic pills for 10 days. Today one week later seeing my Medicare doctor I am about 90% improved, just some shortness of breath. The first week when I was just on the Z-pak I couldn't eat or sleep, dropped about 10 pounds, which I don't have to spare. A second opinion saved me a lot of suffering.

[CritterLover]

Exactly, John W. We have to be our own advocate when it comes to our health. You can believe that if it doesn't sit right/sound right/feel right, I'm going to speak up. I'll end up being one of "those" old ladies, but I can live with that!

[NYGUY]

It is always true that you have to be your own medical advocate and research and question everything you are told. That is especially true when you live in a rural area such as ours that does not attract the best and the brightest.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by goodtimesintv

I sympathize with you, but from experience I would caution about saying the doctors at UNC Chapel Hill made their diagnosis solely on the MRI done in TV several weeks before getting there. My experience is that the teaching-research hospital probably did its own MRI at that point, and used the prior one from TV as a comparison. Many people don't realize that some forms of common cancers are far more aggressive in growing and spreading than others. Likewise, many people don't realize that not all types of growths are consistently visible in all the given imaging.

It could be that what did not show on the MRI here grew unusually fast in those couple of weeks. If that was the case, condemning the neurologist and entire hospital here would be reckless and destructive overall.

Unfortunately, I have had recent confirmation of how true this one sentence is. My brother was diagnosed approximately a year ago with a very slow growing brain tumor, 11 months after the first diagnosis and during a routine MRI, he was told that his tumor was now classified as a glioblastoma which is deadly and was rapidly taking over the brain. He was immediately placed under hospice care and did not last a month. His wife is having a very difficult time dealing with these two different diagnosis along with the loss of her beloved husband. She also was told that brain tumors can and do change overnight.

[Erika]

Originally Posted by John_W

I played 18 holes of golf two weeks ago Wednesday and Thursday the next day I went to the gym like normal but I started to get a sore throat. The next day after that was Friday, two weeks ago today I felt even worse so I stayed home from the gym. Since I had an already scheduled appt with my VA doctor on Monday I figured I would just wait until then get get medical advice.

On Monday when I saw my doctor I explained I felt very bad and was coughing so much, the nurse went and got me a mask. He listed to my chest and said, you have some bronchitis and here's a prescription for a 5 day Z-pak, it will knock it out of you by Friday.

On Friday I could barely get out of bed and I had taken all the pills. I called my Medicare doctor at Pinellas and they said come in today, which I did. They sent me for a chest x-ray, which indicated I had pneumonia, for which I had just gotten a vaccine last summer.

Anyway, they gave me an anti-biotic injection right then and some strong anti-biotic pills for 10 days. Today one week later seeing my Medicare doctor I am about 90% improved, just some shortness of breath. The first week when I was just on the Z-pak I couldn't eat or sleep, dropped about 10 pounds, which I don't have to spare. A second opinion saved me a lot of suffering.

I always enjoy reading your very helpful tips and suggestions. I hope you experience a full recovery soon and that you enjoy working on putting back the lost pounds.

[dewilson58]

Health is a Blessing.

[Raleighhawk]

Originally Posted by goodtimesintv

I sympathize with you, but from experience I would caution about saying the doctors at UNC Chapel Hill made their diagnosis solely on the MRI done in TV several weeks before getting there. My experience is that the teaching-research hospital probably did its own MRI at that point, and used the prior one from TV as a comparison. Many people don't realize that some forms of common cancers are far more aggressive in growing and spreading than others. Likewise, many people don't realize that not all types of growths are consistently visible in all the given imaging.

It could be that what did not show on the MRI here grew unusually fast in those couple of weeks. If that was the case, condemning the neurologist and entire hospital here would be reckless and destructive overall.

I can assure you, that the UNC Hospital did not do another MRI and soley used the one provided by The Villages Hospital. That is the most frustrating thing about this entire episode.

[jflynn1]

That is a joke right. 1000 right 5 wrong is acceptable. ??????? Not in medicine

[Chatbrat]

Just like a pilot who lands 99% of the time

[OCsun]

Originally Posted by Raleighhawk

I can assure you, that the UNC Hospital did not do another MRI and soley used the one provided by The Villages Hospital. That is the most frustrating thing about this entire episode.

I just want you to know that I believe you. I sincerely hope you and your family can focus on your family needs at this time.

Too much stress will take its toll on you and the entire family. Give yourself time to grieve then revisit your concerns at a later time. The facts will still be there. God Bless!

[outlaw]

When you lose your health, everything else really comes into perspective. At our ages, if you have your health, you are blessed.

[BobnBev]

Contact a good medical malpractice attorney, as well as the state medical review board. Hit them/him where it hurts.

[RickeyD]

Originally Posted by BobnBev

Contact a good medical malpractice attorney, as well as the state medical review board. Hit them/him where it hurts.

I can't help but think. If it were an 8 year old child with the same symptoms, would the initial outcome and treatment be the same. Or, would they be more conscientious with the diagnosis.

[ConnieNonnie]

Please take advice from nnurse. My mom has been a Hospice Patient for 15 months.
I don't know what I would of done without them. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

[Cathy H]

when I was referred to Moffit in Tampa I wanted to have an initial MRI done at Lake Imaging at the Villages hospital campus but the Moffit docs would not accept an image from them, so I had it made at Moffit.