Diagnosis Confusion....

The situation with Jerry is getting a bit confusing, as much as I like the doctors I have to wonder if they're qualified to solve this puzzle.  We have 3 pulmonologists, 1 neuro specialist, and 1 hospitalist on the case all of which are scratching their heads, saying nothing about Jerry's case is textbook. Their diagnosis is just not adding up and they're beginning to question themselves with regards to the diagnosis that they've made thus far.  Two of the doctors have explained to me how they came to the conclusion of a pulmonary embolism, all of which is very detailed but made sense why they would come to the conclusion of PE. I don't have the energy to write it all up, the bottom line is now the doctors are thinking the original diagnosis of PE and the diagnosis of lung infarct may be wrong, it may actually have just been a pneumonia all along.  They want to run a series of tests to try and determine weather or not Jerry actually had an embolism so they can determine weather or not he needs to continue taking coumadin. This is all kinda good news bad news, the bad news being misdiagnosed causing worry and stress and Jerry taking a dangerous drug unnecessarily, the good news being pneumonia is a much less serious diagnoses and recovery then pulmonary embolism and lung infarct. So here we are in the waiting game, waiting for them to come up with an accurate diagnosis.

Jerry had another chest x-ray yesterday which showed no change in regards to the amount of fluid present in the pleura, this is good news he's not continuing to build fluid. Jerry is scheduled for another chest x-ray on Sunday and possibly an ultrasound of his arms, legs and heart today.  That's all for now, we'll keep you posted.

xoxoxo

Katie