‘Can’t just wait it out.’ Fear of going to the hospital almost cost this man his life – Courier Journal

Emergency rooms are seeing more acute stroke and heart patients after people delaying care during the coronavirus pandemic. And that's bad. Louisville Courier Journal

When Kevin Early felt an odd numbness on one side of his body after wakingone morning, the gas station manager wrote it off to a pinched nerve or sleeping wrong.

He reported to work at 6 a.m. as usual on April 13,figuring there was no way he'd want to "overburden" doctors and nurses battling theCOVID-19 outbreak.

But his supervisor thought Early seemed off-kilterand urged the 55-year-old Louisvillian to head to the ERand it probably saved his life.

In the throes of a massive stroke, Early temporarily was left unable to walk and speak. He's recovered quickly, but the experience prompted him and the doctor who treated himto encourage people who need medical care not avoid trips to the emergency room despite the coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home orders.

In Louisville and across the nation, providers are seeing a significant spike in acute stroke cases wherepatients unnecessarily waited too long to seek treatment, thereby cutting the odds that life- and brain-saving treatments can work for them, as they did for Early, neurologist Kerri Remmel said during a call with the media Thursday afternoon that included Early.

Kevin Early, a 55-year-old gas station manager, survived a stroke recently. But he'd thought twice about going to the emergency room because of the COVID-19 outbreak and his wish to avoid overburdening doctors and nursing battling the virus.(Photo: Kevin Early)

Patients tell specialists later they didn't think they were that bad off and expected to get better. They also want to avoid taxingthe medical system now.

Remmel stressed that University of Louisville Hospital, where Early went for care, and other facilities are taking aggressiveprecautions. In fact, at U of L,every patient who comes to the ER gets a rapid COVID-19 test sothe staff knows within hours whether a person is positive or negative for the virus.

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Those suffering from a stroke can experience a sudden loss of balance, vision loss, numbness or weakness on one side of the body or facial drooping. Anybody with those symptoms needs to call 911 right away, saidRemmel, director of stroke at University of Louisville Hospital and professor of neurology at U of L's School of Medicine.

Also, people with chest pains, sudden abdominal pain or swelling that seems unusual also should seek help immediately.Those in need of care "can't just wait it out," shesaid because minutes can determine whether one iseligible for life- and brain-saving treatments, such as clot-busting drugs or a vascular procedure to help break up a damaging clot.

Waiting too long can also cause swelling in the brain, triggering other severe complications. The problem is that too many patients now are putting themselves at greater risk by waiting, Remmel said.

Duringrecent telemedicine video calls with some patients, she'shad to order several to go to the ER because their conditions wereserious. Some patients said they didn't know if what they were experiencing was "important."

"We're ready and waiting to care for patients," she said, adding that while coronavirus testing is standard now, "I don't think patients have gotten this message yet."

U of L Hospital(Photo: University of Louisville)

The need for speed is also crucial in cases of cardiac arrest and other heart-related problems. One patientRemmel treatedrecently was experiencing swelling and waited three days before finally getting admitted for care. The delay caused evenmore problems, she said.

For Early, he feltrelieved that doctors and nurses seemed at the ready to take over when he finally arrivedatUniversity. He was tested for COVID-19 and told that he was negative, which eased his mind.

His blood pressure, though, shotthrough the roof, but he tossed that up to "white-coat syndrome," mortal fear of medical settings.

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"They acted so quickly," he said. He's amazed that he regained his speech and was able to begin walking within a week.

"I thank God that my boss made me go."

Remmel reminded those withelderly parents and friends isolating for safety to keep close tabs on each other, viewing them through a window if that's the best option. "Seek help for them," Remmel said if they can't or won't do it on their own.

The comments come as hospitals and health systems across Kentucky and other regions are preparing to re-start some elective medical procedures and in-person patient visits after Gov. Andy Beshear released guidelines for gradually resuming some office visits and medical procedures beginning Monday.

Dr. Kerri Remmel with the University of Louisville Hospital(Photo: Screenshot)

Knowing that many are anxious about approaching doctors' offices during the continued publichealth crisis, U of L officialshosted a separate video visit Thursday with two administrators of the University of Louisville Physician's neurology adult clinic in downtown Louisville to discuss precautions on how bestto handlepatients next week.

Roughly 15 to 20 patients with a range ofneurological issues, about half the usual daily load,are scheduled for visits for previously postponed in-person procedures andteststhat werecanceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Patients and someonewith them will be admitted to the buildingafter undergoing screenings for body temperature and other coronavirus symptoms. Each will be given a mask, said Tara Kremer, the clinic's practice administrator.

Visits will be staggered sopeople are kept at safe distances. It will also allow staff to clean exam rooms after each patient, Kremer said.

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Just like patients wary of coming to the ER or to medicalcentersnow, doctors and nurses share some anxiety and are taking extra precautions to be sure themselves andpatients are safe, Kremer said.

It's too soon to predict how long before everyone caninteract the way they did before the pandemic, said Leslie Brockman, the clinic's office manager. "We shouldn't practice normal practices now ... we haven't yet seen the spike" in COVID-19 cases.

In the meantime, Brockman and Kremer said they expect doctors and nurse practitioners to continue "seeing" many patients by video.

Grace Schneider: 502-582-4082; gschneider@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @gesinfk. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/graces

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'Can't just wait it out.' Fear of going to the hospital almost cost this man his life - Courier Journal