August 22, 2104
Hello Friends,
Image may be NSFW.
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I have some explaining to do. Last Saturday, I aburptly cancelled the [free] Community Critique and on Sunday, the Exploring Photography for Beginners workshop. On Wednesday, we also postponed the Wedding Photography Fundamentals workshop saying only that it was due to a medical situation. Now that the dust has settled, I feel comfortable passing along details about the situation. Please note, that if you are sensitive or uninterested, feel free to skip this entire message.
Symptoms
My symptoms started benignly, as what felt like a stomach ache. I treated it with antacid pills, which helped a little. Later the pains became more intense. After days of abdomenal pains and four days without sleep, I decided to visit the Emergency Room at Rose Hospital. An x-ray and echocardiogram determined that I had, what is medically called a pericardial effusion; a large volume of fluid surrounding and putting pressure on my heart. An immediate procedure to remove the effusion was undertaken, which I am glad to say, I survived.
Procedure
After the pericardiocentesis and a night’s rest, doctors moved to address a second volume of fluid around my right lung; a pleural effusion.
The fluid was drained, samples were sent for lab testing, blood samples, x-rays, echocardiograms and even a cat-scan was ordered.
Doctors decided to keep me until Wednesday, to see if the fluids would reaccumulate. An echocardiogram was performed on Wednesday to determine if fluid had accumulated. None was found and I was released.
Possible Causes
As yet, there is no reason for the fluid buildup. Possible causes are viral, malignant, autoimmune or unknown. Currently, there are 20-or-so labs that are “pending” and I await news of the cause of this scare. Had these symptoms been left untreated the fluid in the pericaridum could have collapsed the heart. Considering the rate at which the fluid accumulated, this scenario could have played out in days.
Call to Action
I have operated Illuminate Workshops since March of 2008 and have come to know many of you very well. I have written this into the blog as a way of letting you know that I am well. I also wanted to take this opportunity to ask you to listen to your bodies and have yourself checked out at the slightest sign of a change in health. I care about you and want you to be around for a long time to come.
As for me, after 4-days of recovery, I will return to teaching tomorrow. I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Many Happy Returns,
Efrain Cruz
Update: August 26, 2014: http://www.illuminateworkshops.com/2014/08/update-thank-you-for-your-support-an-explanation-of-last-weeks-events/
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Efrain Cruz – August 21, 2014 – Back from the hospital