Gedna

 

This is Gedna.

Gedna is 48 years old.

He had mitral valve surgery in the United States in 2002. He also had a permanent pacemaker placed at that time.

I saw Gedna in clinic today. He came in early this morning very sweaty, very short of breath, and he could barely complete a sentence. His body was swollen with fluid and his lungs were wet.

He and his wife gave me his recent and past medical history while I examined him.

Gedna has tried three times in the last eight years to return to the States to have a check up and more surgery if necessary. His pacemaker also needs to be examined by a cardiologist to see if it needs to be replaced.

Unfortunately Gedna has been denied a travel (non immigrant) visa by the American Consulate each time he applied.

Now Gedna is in serious trouble.

I diuresed three liters of fluid off Gedna today and kept him in clinic all day long with an IV. We have no inpatient beds to admit him to the hospital.

As the thunder started late this afternoon, I removed the IV and sent Gedna home on a new regime of medication.

He will show up early tomorrow morning and I will reassess him.

Gedna needs to be evaluated again in the States in a good medical center. And this needs to be done quickly.