A testimonial of overcoming pneumonia after being misdiagnosed with a cold and going through a difficult process~

Summary) I was on the brink of death due to a misdiagnosis, but there is a grateful doctor who provided an accurate diagnosis and complete recovery.

Specifically, an orthopedic doctor prescribed pneumonia treatment, delaying the timing, and nearly caused the patient's death by worsening the illness, but another hospital doctor diagnosed pneumonia and successfully treated the pneumonia.

I would like to write about this process and the importance of a patient's attitude towards their illness, as well as the journey to complete recovery from pneumonia.

 

I am a foolish person who almost passed away in early 2022, when COVID was rampant, by blindly trusting and receiving treatment based on doctors' words.

There was no severe collision or impact, and there are no issues with the lower inside part of the left rib cage that would interfere with daytime activities. However, every night when I lie down to sleep, I experience pain so severe that it feels like I can't breathe, causing me to toss and turn from side to side. This has been happening for several days.

There is a university hospital nearby, but since too many COVID-19 patients come and go, I felt uneasy, so I first visited a general internal medicine clinic.

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The internal medicine doctor said that after taking an X-ray, they couldn't make a diagnosis from it and suggested that I go somewhere to get a CT scan.

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Reluctantly, I waited for an hour in the university hospital (Baek Hospital) waiting room, and the reception desk told me that currently, CT appointments are booked for over a month, and only after that can the scan be done (asking a patient in such pain to come back in a month?!~~~!). A helpful tip... In this case, instead of waiting in line at the reception, I was told that if you go directly to the emergency room, you can get the scan done. I only found out about this late.

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Since there was no alternative, I visited a fairly large orthopedic clinic in the nearby medical building, and I was able to receive treatment.

They asked to take the X-ray again, so I did!!

Rib sprain and strain (this is the diagnosis: gallbladder)

 

Based on the picture, I will explain the results: "Patient, there are no abnormalities in the bones, and it seems there are no issues with the muscles. Have you heard of 'Dami'?" "Since that's correct (not just likely correct, but correct), please take a week's worth of medication and let's see how it goes afterward."

They give me a prescription saying, "If !supportEmptyParas"~!!

I was so confident in what I was saying that I trusted the doctor and picked up the medication from the pharmacy and took it, but even after almost a week, it seems to be getting worse and there is no improvement.

I ran out of medicine, so I went back to orthopedics again~~

When I heard the words face-to-face again, they said, "My judgment is correct, so trust me and eat a little more," and they gave me another week's worth...

This process is a misdiagnosis, incorrectly judging pneumonia as a lung mass, resulting in the loss of the optimal timing for complete recovery from pneumonia.

 

Even after taking medication, the pain worsens rather than easing.

My wife, who was watching, called 1339 and asked for a nearby place to get a CT scan. I was guided to Bu* Hospital and given their contact information. After making a reservation by phone and going there, they told us that their hospital does not have a respiratory department and directed us to a hospital that does, recommending BHS Hanseo Hospital (Suyoung-gu, Busan).

 

They called from that place right there.. They said a CT scan is possible.

Oh no...

When I went to measure my temperature, they said I had a fever that could be COVID-19, so I was told to go to the public health center for a PCR test and bring back the results, and that I couldn't have an in-person consultation with the doctor.

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Unavoidably, I went to the health center in front of my house. Got tested, received a negative result the next day, and successfully completed the CT scan.

After filming, meet with the pulmonologist.

The doctor's first words are, "Why did you let the illness worsen and come now? If you leave, you might not make it through today... Don't think about anything else, just admit yourself immediately."

The cause is an inflammation in the lung measuring 7 centimeters (the third largest among the inflammations observed over a lifetime of medical practice), and it is so large that sudden respiratory distress during sleep is not at all surprising; immediate hospitalization is advised.

[if !supportEmptyParas] 그러며 폐에는 신경이 없어서 전혀 통증을 못느끼고 호흡이 곤란할때가 되어야 알 수있는데 환자분은 운이좋아(?) 폐의 염증(폐렴이죠)이 너무심해서 갈비뼈부위 살과 근육까지 옮겨져 그곳까지 염증이 생겼고 누우면 그 염증이 폐에 눌려서 통증이 오는 거라고 처방을 하며 입원실에 전화를하더니 바로 나가지말고 입원을 하라 합니다...허걱..

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They plan to reduce the size of the lung inflammation over about a month and then remove it after surgery to completely cure the pneumonia.

They don't usually share deep conversations with me, but when I called the guardian and delayed for just a day or two, they said that if the patient had been sleeping, something could have happened, and that it was a miracle that the patient was able to walk into this hospital in that condition. They also explained blood test results and other details.

I don't know the medical terminology, but there are about five COVID-19 patients. The patient in question has a value that has exceeded 2,500. (In other words, the disease was unintentionally worsened, and from now on, pneumonia treatment will begin, and the patient will be hospitalized here until pneumonia is fully cured.)

Unable to even make a sound, couldn't even leave, straight to hospitalization..~~!!

When I weighed the patient with the nurse during a routine check, I realized that the weight had decreased by 6 kilograms over about ten days. I was initially thinking that the scale might be malfunctioning, but now I finally understand clearly.

I underwent treatment through a 16-day hospitalization that started like this, followed by an irregular outpatient treatment process over six months...

Lung abscess (pneumonia)

 

 

The person who provided me with precise pulse diagnosis and perfect treatment... Dr. Byun Ki-seop, a pulmonologist at Busan BHS Hanseo Hospital, who diagnosed and fully treated my pneumonia, saving my life. Thank you so much!

Fortunately, the condition has improved and the body has been able to support itself, so instead of surgery, the abscess was drained with a syringe and treated with medication, leading to a complete recovery from pneumonia.

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I went to the orthopedic surgeon who misdiagnosed pneumonia as a cold after being discharged.

I almost died due to your misdiagnosis, and I was hospitalized at Hanseo Hospital for 16 days. After recovering from pneumonia, I presented the diagnosis issued before meeting the doctor today, along with the Hanseo Hospital diagnosis.

The doctor said, "It was indeed my misdiagnosis," and bowed deeply, saying, "I'm glad you received proper treatment. How can I assist you?"

I will never forgive this. I threatened to hold the hospital accountable by raising the issue with the police station and the media, and then I left.

I received multiple calls, and with the intention of observing this doctor one more time, I am currently transferring under the condition that this hospital will cover my hospitalization and medical expenses.

He has to live too~~~ (I won't reveal the hospital or doctor's name~~)

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The conclusion is as follows.

First of all, doctors... they are not gods.

I am adding the explanation from another doctor that "if there is no improvement after 3 to 7 days of treatment, consider other treatment options such as misdiagnosis."

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It is necessary to receive an accurate diagnosis early on in the symptoms, and if there is no improvement after a certain period during the treatment process, one should also consider the possibility of other areas or conditions.

If I, as a patient, observed the pain, I would have known that it wasn't a cramp...

Doctors base their prescriptions on investigation records and the actions and words of others, but they should not rely solely on doctors; instead, individuals must carefully consider their own illnesses and understand the detailed aspects of causes and symptoms.

I realized that this is extremely important in the treatment process of the disease.

I regret it. My treatment approach, blindly trusting the doctor's words and neglecting to act during the week when I was dying, was absolutely wrong. When the condition worsens and there is no treatment effect, I should have at least doubted it, but I blindly believed and it turned out like this. I am convinced that if I had met the pulmonologist immediately, I could have recovered from pneumonia without hospitalization.

 

I can't help but not believe the doctor's words, but I want to warn that blindly trusting them without thinking can be just as dangerous and can worsen the illness.

 

The weather is nice with April, so let's take a walk and take care of our health~~