IMPORTANT-BLOOD CLOT ?'s ADVICE NEEDED PLEASE

I have a friend who is in dire straights right now. He has several large clots and yet his PCP is inept and not treating him correctly according to him. He was in the hospital and they messed up the timing of his tests as well as the results and his HMO refused to pay for any more time in there. He is home, having severe difficulity breathing along with a whole other host of symptoms that scream blood clot to him. He has been plagued with them for years so I am assuming that he would be pretty familiar with the symptoms. At any rate this family is beside itself not sure where to turn ... Anyone with any suggestions, doctors to connect with ... etc ??? The wife told me yesterday that she is truly concerned that her husband is dying and it seems no one in the medical field cares. My mind is pretty blank at present, there has been some pretty serious stress within my family (brother) and I have kinda been the glue holding everything together. Not looking for sympthy, just explaining why I am unable to really think at the moment. So please for the sake of this man, his wife and their precious little 11 yr old daughter, if you have any suggestions on where to start, it will be appreciated far more that I can tell you. The wife keeps breaking down ... she needs to be able to feel like she is doing something other than standing around watching her husband die. We are working with her to help her on the spiritual end, but desperately need some advice on how to help her on the physical end. I hope this post makes at least a little bit of sense ... I am working on almost no sleep for the past week or so. Feel free to call me or send me your number and I will call you, if you would rather talk than post numbers, information, etc. On a side note ... I tried the NEW Nectar Protein Latte last week and IMHO it is THE BEST POWDERED PROTEIN I have ever had. Bariatriceating.com has samples if you are interested, not sure if anyone else has samples yet. Thanks so much in advance, Tammy

FYI - this mans blood clots are NOT WLS related. He is obese, I think around 500 lbs, but has not had WL surgery (or any surgery for that matter), nor is he considering WL surgery so he is not connected with any of our physicians. The second I hit the post button, I thought I should have mentioned that fact, but by that time of course it was too late ...

If he is having breathing problems he should go to ER...Perhaps ER of a different hospital than is used by his PCP that way he can get the second opinion he needs. My real concern is they need to give him blood thinners..at his weight it is really a tough thing for them to do. I know I was starting to have problems with legs and breathing at 425 and they told me if it was clots they were not sure if they could treat me. Blood clots run in my family by two generations. Perhaps there is some Dr out there that has conquered the weight issue with clots and he will find them this way. I hope this helps. You get some sleep and try and mellow out from the stress. I know its not easy. Bounce me tele number via my email....I cleaned up and lost it...bad me! I have been wondering about you.....Sorry things are not soo good right now but its temporary! I wish you friend lots of good wishes that someone can help him. Hugs and Fleece Blankets Debbie

You have mail!

I agree with debbie. I would have him go to the ER of a different hospital if you can so that the ER Doc can see him and give him a second opinion. They will at last start the tests to see if he has blood clots, ie xrays. Make sure he is honest with his symptoms and his history that will encourage them to run the tests as well. If He is able to go to a different ER than his PCP works at then he will be assigned to another DR after the intital ER doc consult and hopefully that MD will listen and at least investigate the symptoms. That is truely a shame that his PCP isnot at least running tests to rule out the possibilty of clots. Keep fighting till he is at least tested for it. This is not a matter to be brushed aside,as you know. Good luck and my prayers will be with him! Heidi

Heidi, Thanks so much for your prayers, support and advice. I have passed it along to my friends and they are so very grateful to know that there are so many others who care and are pulling for them. Hugs, Tammy

Sorry I have no experience with this sort of thing, but just let him know that my thoughts & prayers are with him and his family.

Thanks so much for the support

Hi Tammy, I have had experiences with clots, seeing that I seem to be prone to them for no unapparent reason. The difficulty breathing can be a pulminary embolism, and if it is that, it can cause death. Blood clots are not something to fool with.......I would go to the ER the other doctor that is experienced in this field is a hematologist. I will keep him in my prayers. KEEP US POSTED PLEASE. Christie

Christie, Thanks so much for the support and mostly the prayers! Truly this man is in need of a miracle to get the appropriate care and diagosisis. Will post as soon as I can. Thanks again! Hugs, Tammy