My mother (age 69) had a heart attack in december 2004. She opted for angioplasty as she has severe coronary artery disease. During the procedure, 4 stents were put in & she suffered a heart attck. She also had a stroke 24 hours later, all while in the hospital I might add. She incurred heart damage, atrial fibrillation, due to the 2nd heart attack & was in rehab for 6 weeks from the stroke. Her Dr. Put her on amiodorone for the a fib, coumadin & plavix. She developed a strange cough, and it kept getting progressively worse. She went to her cardiac Dr. Who told her she has 50% lung capacity in her right lung, and sent her to another Dr. The next day. This other Dr. Sent her home on more antibiotics. They all thought she had pnuemonia, and she was prescribed antibiotics for 4 weeks. She finally couldn't breath and called an ambulance.
Now, she is on a ventilator, has been for a week & is fighting for her life. Her right lung is filled with blood. The drs. Think her blood was so thin from all of this medication, that she just bled out. The amiodorone also has severe side effects, specifically causes pulmonary problems. This put extra pressure on her heart, which started to back up with fluid, and now her kidneys are overloaded & shutting down. Her clotting factors were monitored as slim to none upon admittance to the hospital.
I am considering a mal-practice suit against her cardiologist. She just saw him on monday, & by friday she is fighting for her life. She was getting blood draws to monitor her coumadin levels, but what the ----happened? I don't know if she will come through this, but beware of these medications as they can cause this to happen. Anyone have any ideas, or any info? :(