Alan and I spent several days last week looking at death.
That sounds a bit dramatic I know, but it’s true. At his doctor’s appointment last Thursday Alan was told that he had an aortic aneurysm. And that it could kill him at any moment.
Let’s back up a bit. This is the second time in less that a year that Alan has been given a serious, life-changing diagnosis. Last year he was told by a Pulmonary specialist that he had COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This for an athlete who never smoked, lives a healthy lifestyle, and aside from asthma, had no previous indication of such disease. We knew that he was very sick at the time, but when we heard that diagnosis we were in shock. Alan, who had really been too sick to train, felt that any hope of recovery or competing in another Ironman had been ripped away from him.
That lasted for about two weeks. He was given a prescription for the appropriate COPD drug, but because he is a stubborn (and brilliant in retrospect) man, he refused to believe, as he put it, that he was now relegated to a life of shuffleboard. He made an appointment with another doctor.
Doctor #2 scoffed, “You don’t have COPD! This is just your asthma!” Alan was put on a prescription for montelukast (I’ve raved about it here before and have since started taking it for my own exercise induced asthma). At the same time, Dr. #1 got back results on the second culture test that she had ordered. The first one, for which Alan had been told to submit his sample after finishing a course of steroids and antibiotics, had come back negative. It seemed ridiculous to us that they would wait until he was (temporarily) well to take the test, so Alan insisted that they do it again when he was in the midst of illness. Thus he was finally diagnosed with a fungus in his lungs, finally treated correctly, and finally was able to get well. If that story seemed confusing and convoluted to you, imagine how Alan felt..this was his lifestyle that he was fighting for!
One of the tests that Dr. #2 ordered was a CT scan on Alan’s lungs, just to see that everything had cleared up and if there was anything else to worry about.
That brings us pretty close to the present, where because of an insurance change, Alan went to see Doctor #3 last week. Dr. #3 is a general practitioner, because now we are dealing with an HMO system. This was when Alan received, for all intents and purposes, his death sentence.
He has an aortic aneurysm, said Dr. #3. Alan was pretty much told, that if he continued his active lifestyle of running, swimming, and cycling, that it could burst at any time, and that he would be dead on the spot. At 4.2 centimeters, the aneurism was not considered an immediate threat, though if it grew, open heart surgery would be the recommendation. While his low blood pressure and fitness were in his favor, here was another doctor telling him he might be better off playing shuffleboard.
As you can imagine, Alan left the doctor’s office in a state of shock and disbelief. When he told me, I could hardly take it in, it seemed so unbelievable. Alan put on a pretty good front for me, as we talked about lifestyle changes and what we would have to do, but he was deeply upset and disturbed. Pretty soon though, he got to thinking, “I was misdiagnosed before. Could it happen again?”
We are very fortunate to have a friend who is a radiologist. Alan called him the next day, told him what was happening, and he basically dropped everything and told Alan to bring in his records and he would take a look. So, on to Doctor #4.
After taking a look at the reports and the actual film (it’s on a disc so I’m not sure if that is the right word), Alan was told by his friend, who is a highly respected and experienced radiologist, “don’t worry.” In fact, he was surprised that it was made out to be so serious. The location of the aneurysm was on the curve of the ascending thoracic aorta, which made it seem slightly bigger than it was. It was also what is called “ectatic,” which means that the artery, though stretched, is unruptured.
Alan is waiting to schedule another CT scan, but in the meantime, we are feeling a lot better. Dr. #4 said he didn’t think that there would be any change in the size of the aneurysm. At this point, it seems unlikely that Alan will have to make a huge lifestyle change (no shuffleboard in his near future!), and we don’t have to worry about surgery or imminent death.
My husband is a lot more private than I am, which is why you never heard the COPD story before, but he agreed to let me write about this. We both want to share because it shows the importance of asking questions and always getting a second opinion! Don’t let any doctor relegate you to the shuffleboard courts without a fight!
The week ended on a much brighter note. On Friday, my daughter-in-law texted me a video of Samuel, which really made my day. They prefer to keep it in the family, so I removed it from my post.
We also had a chance to meet Carrie from Family, Fitness, Food, who was visiting La Quinta with her family. This wasn’t as easy as it sounds, since they were getting in some serious pool time and I had to work all three days that they were here. We managed to finally meet at Starbucks, and now I know that I like Carrie as much as I like her blog! Being good bloggers, we did get a picture, but it turned out pretty bad, plus it includes Carrie’s daughter (who is a beautiful young dancer), so I won’t post it here.
After a tough week, Alan and I are both feeling pretty positive about the whole thing. Alan swam on Friday, went for a run with the cross country team on Saturday, and rode his bike on Sunday, so that part of his life is looking great. We just want you to remember, always get a second opinion.
How was your weekend? Any events, races, or great training you’d like to share?
Sending you love & positive thoughts!! Way to try & stay positive! ❤
Thank you so much!
Well crapdogs, what a scare! Your advice to get a second opinion will change lives! I feel for you and your husband, yet am glad the ultimate news was good … ish. Carry on!
Thanks! Yeah, twice in a year, we sure are a testament to the importance of getting a second opinion.
Ahhhh, so stressful.
You are amazingly strong!
Thank you. Not much choice really. One must go on 🙂
Oh my gosh! That is terrifying! I do hope everything is ok… it’s crazy how wrong doctors can be. My mom has had 2 different docs mess her up BAD… goes to show you have to be your own advocate. Having a “Dr” in front of a name doesn’t mean “always right.”
Fortunately, my husband doesn’t believe anybody just because they have a “Dr.” in front of their name. He is the ultimate rebel 🙂
Wow, way to keep positive! These seems like a tough situation, but whatever the outcome is I know you’ll keep upbeat…
How fun to meet Carrie! She’s so sweet…I met her a few weeks ago at FitBloggin…
Thanks! We try to be positive.
I loved meeting Carrie. It is fun to find someone that you know that you have a lot in common with! I wish we’d had more time.
I’m keeping Alan in good thoughts!! What a stressful situation that is. <3
Thanks Erin, I know all the positive thoughts help 🙂
oh my gosh YES
GREAT REMINDER about the second opinion and being your own health advocate.
xo
Ok, somehow I missed your post today, so I will be shortly on my way to your blog to read about SANTA.
And yes, we must advocate for ourselves and our families, because you can’t count on anyone else to do so.
As someone who works in the healthcare system, I tell everyone to be their own advocate. Ask questions, get multiple opinions, and educate yourself. Glad Alan is doing all of that.
Thank you. He does it by instinct and by personality. Too many people (myself included to a certain extent) tend to go along with what they are told. That’s really why Alan agreed to let me write about this. He wants people to know so that they will fight for themselves too.
Wow! This doctor business sure can be scary. Good for you and your husband for questioning the diagnoses and getting another opinion (again). Some people forget that doctoring is a “practice”; they’re not all-knowing all the time.
I love that “doctoring is a practice.” Ain’t that the truth!
OH, wow. So glad you followed up. It is so hard for us to question doctors, but they are only human too, and with the pressures on them to see more patients in less time, mistakes are bound to happen. Jealous that you got to meet Carrie!
Yes, we need to get over the idea that doctors are always all-knowing. Especially in this day and age, when insurance companies seem to rule the medical world.
That is terrifying and I’m so glad that you got another opinion. I feel like that’s so important these days with the medical field. I highly respect doctors and all that they do but it’s often hard when they are pressured to do so much in so little time (I hear it all the time from family who are doctors). So important to advocate for yourself. Thinking of you!
That is really the key..that you have to be an advocate for yourself and your family.
First – I’m so glad we got to meet. It was wonderful to meet you both. My daughter enjoyed the visit too.
And wow – I’m so glad your husband followed his intuition. I think that’s one of the best things about being fit and active – you know your body better than anyone else. I’m so glad he went for a second opinion and that he got good news.
I love your daughter. She seems so mature and sweet. I’m so excited for her that she made the new dance team!.
That’s a good point. After so many years of training, Alan really does know his body and what feels right and what doesn’t.
Thank you for sharing Debbie!! The thing that scare me the most beyond your poor hubby is so many different opinions & that who knows if we are even getting the right answer when we go to the doc office – scary!!!! I hope it all works out OK!!!!!
OK, the good – LOVE he baby video & love that you met Carrie!!!!
Thank you. You’re right, and it’s not like we can pick our favorite opinion and know that it’s right.
My kids wanted me to take down the baby video, so you were one the lucky few who got to see Samuel stand for the first time 🙂
What a scare is right! Sending thoughts your way! xo
Thank you so much.We are feeling all the positive thoughts!
Oh wow, so scary! So glad you guys have gone for other opinions.
Thank you. I hope everyone can learn that they have to be their own advocate, and that they need to get a second opinion.
You two were the highlight of my time at Fitbloggin and I am so glad that you got that second opinion. Hang in there and keep asking questions. I love how you spent the weekend doing what you love to do. Those grandkid videos are priceless.
Wow, what an emotional week you’ve both had. Thank goodness he had a friend he trusted. I have eye surgery tomorrow, and now I’m wondering if I should have gotten further opinions.
I hope your eye surgery went well. If you can read this…
Yikes – sorry that you had to go through such a stressful week (again!!) – glad that you were able to get another opinion and find out that it isn’t as serious as y’all first thought. Hopefully, that will be the end of the scary misdiagnosis for y’all!!
Thank you! I have enough of that stuff for one year!
Dang. Such scares. So glad you do get second opinions. Prayers. And glad that he was out and about being active for the weekend!
Thanks! It would take more that a scary diagnosis to keep my husband down 🙂
omg!! what a shock! especially being a healthy person all your life, it has to have been out of nowhere, I can’t imagine how you guys felt! I’m glad you all had the wherewithal to get more opinions, and that it hasn’t stopped him from living life!! Sending positive vibes from Ohio!!
Thank you so much. It was a tough couple days. I’m so glad my husband is a stubborn man 🙂
Wow…
Yep, had I listened to my first doctor, I would have stopped running six months after I started. I also would have settled for assuming it was just EIA and not pursuing a lung function test at the recommendation of a friend.
Glad to hear Alan is putting up the good fight to make sure he’s getting the right diagnosis & treatment – good for you guys & not settling!!
What an emotional rollercoaster! I hope you are both doing well now. 🙂
Thoughts and prayers for you both. I know how easy it is for a diagnosis to change your life and in such a short period of time. Health is something we take for granted most of the time. All the best.