For 10 years I have been suffering from chronic bilateral DVT's in my femorals caused by a major obstruction in both my anterior and inferior vena cava. For 10 years there wasn't anything any of the doctors I visited could do, other than prescribing anticoagulants for life. Then my hematologist referred me to Dr. Apple. The moment he walked into the examination room for my consultation it was clear that he had taken the time to go through all of my medical records to get the clearest understanding possible of my condition. He was able to explain to me what was wrong in there better than anyone had before. My entire consultation lasted the better part of 2 hours, because he ordered a doppler scan of my legs, and well as a CT scan of my abdomen. He made me feel like a top priority, even though I'm sure he had other patients he was visiting with at the same time.
After the doppler and CT scans were finished Dr. Apple came in to speak with me again. This would typically be expected, but it was damn near 5 o'clock on the Friday before his spring break vacation with his family. At this point he told me that he was confident that he would be able to do what every other doctor had said was impossible - inserting stents into my veins! He told me about the success other patients of his have had with the procedure, especially others who are considered "too young" to have these types of complications. He explained that once he gets in there with his wires he may not be able to get them through the occlusions, but that we could try again in 9 months to a year if that was the case. I started crying like a little girl as every emotion flooded through me simultaneously.
I explained to Dr. Apple that I had be let go from my job earlier in the month because my health problems were keeping me from my job duties, therefore I would be losing my health insurance at the end of March. The office staff at Vein Solutions (and Cardiothorasic and Vascular Surgeons, which Dr. Apple is also a partner in, and shares the same floor of the office building) was more than accommodating, and got me scheduled for the first open operating room at St. David's on the 29th. Connie and Susan are both great ladies, and are very good at their jobs!
I got to the hospital at 7:30, went through all the bureaucracy, and was in surgery by 9. I woke up feeling like I'd been run over by a freight train, but I was overjoyed to hear that the procedure was successful! Then I zonked out for a while again. My old lady found it very thoughtful when Dr. Apple came out to give her the good news. He even showed her the x-rays from the operation (I can't wait to see them at my follow-up visit in a couple weeks)!
I was feeling really rough for the first couple days after surgery, but I'm feeling leaps and bounds better every day (it was on Tuesday, and today is Saturday). Despite being in so much pain, I can feel my organs gulping up the good blood-flow they had been deprived of for so long. It's a weird feeling.
I don't think I'll ever be able to thank Dr. Apple enough for the new lease on life he gave me! read more