Part 1 of 2 Taking my health into my own hands after receiving letter of dismissal from medical services
After receiving a letter of dismissal from medical services from the Kansas University Physician’s Network in November of 2021, I fought back by contacting every agency I could think of to advocate for me—KU Patient Relations, Humana Quality of Service Department, the Federal Comptroller’s office, and several attorneys—to no avail. This dismissal was at a critical juncture in the treatment of chronic lung conditions including: Sputum sample lab result of Fusarium, #Bronchiectasis, #Asthma, pending CT scan for #LungCancer screening, and pending sweat chloride test for possible mild or moderate #CysticFibrosis.
I am still working with a Humana Social Worker to find a new healthcare provider. However, I am one who refuses to just sit on my butt and complain. As soon as I received the letter from the third law firm declining to take my case, I got busy researching these conditions—medical journals, scientific studies on the latest treatments. From the information about medications and practices used in treating these conditions that I gathered from these sources, I then searched for comparable naturopathic and homeopathic alternatives which I could employ myself at home.
While I have no licenses or certifications to diagnose, treat, or make healthcare related recommendations to anyone, I would like to share what I’ve been doing to help myself heal.
I am currently addressing the most serious issue which is Fusarium in my lungs. In my effort to obtain treatment, I went to two other hospitals. The second one did me the service of providing me with a CT Scan. The CT scan showed a 5mm nodule in one of my lungs. My discharge instructions were to follow-up in one year.
This was upsetting to me; because, after the first sputum sample I provided showed Psuedomonas aeruginosa in my lungs, the primary care doctor I had at the time said it would be important to determine whether this was a true infection or a colonization of the Psuedomonas. This statement was confirmed to me by an email response from a microbiologist at the Centers for Disease Control answering my question about Psuedomonas.
When the second sputum sample I provided was determined by the lab to be free of the Psuedomonas after a course of Levofloxacin; but, now contained Fusarium, I did more research to try to find out what that might mean because the Pulmonologist told me, “Everyone has Fusarium in their lungs, I’m NOT treating it.”
It turns out that Fusarium is just as treatment resistant as Psuedomonas. The doctor was correct, in a manner of speaking; because, everyone is exposed to Psuedomonas and Fusarium in just day-to-day living. The two micro-organisms are present in the soil and water. We come across them everyday. Our immune systems address these pathogens as a matter of course and we are usually unaware we have even been exposed…unless, a person has pre-existing conditions which are exacerbated by the presence of these microbes or if a person is immunocompromised, then it can be life-threatening.
Take someone like me with #Bronchiectasis, #Asthma, and possible #CysticFibrosis. The first two make it difficult to clear the airways of pathogens—the #Asthma because it creates a thick, sticky mucus making an ideal environment for pathogens to take up residence; the #Bronchiectasis because the airways are enlarged, scarred, and have less functionality in expelling mucus build up. #CysticFibrosis patients have similar issues. They quite often suffer with colonizations of Psuedomonas, Fusarium, or Aspergillus. Aspergillus and Fusarium are frequently mistaken one for the other because their structure is very similar. These colonizations have life cycles which can include true infections.
The most common way, aside from noting symptoms of fever, to determine whether there is a true infection or a colonization is through a CT scan. Detection of a nodule in the lung is the evidence that there is likely an infection. The treatments for infection vs. a colonization are a bit different. Either way, treatment is necessary.
Taking all of this into consideration and the fact that I have been denied treatment, this is what I’ve been doing for myself and why:
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