Met my friend who is in the medical profession, and she said that many patients are really frightened to have any surgeries now, and decided to either cancel them or indefinitely delay them in view of the recent death of Joan Rivers.
She said there are numerous concerns relative to anesthesia medications causing allergic reactions which could also lead to unexpected fatalities, and other procedures performed which were not discussed and permission was not given by the patients, which could also lead to unexpected fatalities.
We both knew she and Michael Jackson both received the same anesthesia in a non hospital setting. Of course we also knew about Joan's feelings as to not fearing plastic surgeries, but fearing anesthesia.
My friend said of course this is all very frightening to many people since the outcome for others who cancel or indefinitely delay their surgeries could lead to other complications...and possible fatalities.
When I came home late in the afternoon after shopping, my husband informed me that his best friend and his wife stopped by to visit him, and were sorry they missed me. They all discussed his wife's fear of undergoing surgery due to many concerns, as well as the recent death of Joan Rivers.
She is a lovely energetic gal, in her late 50's and recently diagnosed with COPD Stage II, and also has internal bleeding, so a surgical hysteroscopy is needed after sonogram revealed those results.
She is of Italian/American heritage, about 60ish, has no heart problems, no blood pressure problems, but is a bit over weight by about 60 lbs. Has rheumatoid arthritis that stops her from exercising like she used to, although she said she will be starting a medically supervised diet to lose weight, and also try and do lite exercises daily.
She said her new Pulmonologist, after reviewing the cardiac and pulmonary tests, stated he would give her medical clearance for surgery, and also refer her to a well known Specialist who is the Director of the Division of Gynecology & Gynecology-Oncology, and also specializes in Pulmonary Diseases. He would be the one performing the Hysteroscopy in a very well known prestigious Manhattan Hospital.
Nevertheless she is petrified to now even consider any surgeries with any type of anesthesia, and she also said she heard many times you go in for one problem and they end up treating you for something else which you never gave permission for....and in many cases, that has also contributed to unexpected fatalities.
We feel so bad for her and her husband who is so distraught, and for her now in view of everything.
She is adamant she would now, in view of everything she knows, definitely prefer to take her chances without surgery, and if cancer has already set in so be it.
She believes with the COPD she would not be able to survive chemo and radiation treatments. She has also been told by a few friends who had both treatments that if they had it to do all over again they would not get those treatments as the treatments are worse than the disease. (One friend hoped to live at least 5 more years after going through that h*ell in her late 50's, but she died within 2 years, and for some who agree their life expectancy is no where near what they heard it would be).
She hates needles but now was told with her stage II COPD she must carry an EPi Pen, because if she were to experience an allergic reaction to anything, it could become fatal in minutes, so Epi pen shot into the , hold the needle down 10 seconds then release and immediately call 911.
She knows about the Epi pen since her Mom and she were both hairdressers, and her mother contracted asthma from the chemicals, sprays, treatments, and dyes used in Hair Salons..... so the Epi pen was something they both knew about, and her mother used as needed.
She has been told with diet, lite exercise if possible, and diligent usage of the Pulmonary medications of advair 500/50, spiriva, and emergency ventolin rescue inhaler, she could still lead a very productive life.
Pulmonologist stated she could live another 20 years....if she lost weight ate sensibly and took her medications religiously, and came in every so often to be examined, and saw other physicians as needed....but of course she knows there are no guarantees as to life expectancy, only medical speculation.
We wish we had a crystal ball to know what her outcome would be with, and without the surgery. We feel so bad for the both of them but also understand the wife's real concerns, nevertheless only she can make the final decision and that is where her husband is really distraught.
It is so sad Joan Rivers may have died for reasons which were preventable, and I always felt no surgery should be outside of a hospital setting. (One may not be allergic to various medications and anesthesia's now, but may develop allergies at anytime). So best to have all surgical procedures done in a well know state of the art Hospital with very knowledgeable board certified professionals.
Certainly in Joan River's case.... an 81 year old with heart arrhythmia should have never consented to any out of hospital surgical procedures, and I am shocked if her physician sent in their medical clearance authorization for surgery, to have the procedure performed in a clinic environment and not in a well known state of the art Hospital,especially knowing Joan's past medical history, current age, and cardiac condition.
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