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| Jose’s Story |
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| Living with Von Willebrand Disease Type 2A: “A Bloody or
Bleeding Story” |
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| I am currently 62 years of age. I have survived a few "bloody"
incidences in my life. I guess I should say "bleeding..." |
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| I was told that at the age of four (1945), I bit my lip very
hard when my head hit against the dash board of my father's
car. We were traveling on a bumpy road in a town called San
Ramon, in the Peruvian mountain jungle, approximately 500 miles
east of Lima. The bleeding would not stop and I did not want
to open my mouth for someone to apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
After a couple of days the bleeding finally stopped. When rushed
to Lima to see available hematologists I was diagnosed with
"plachetopenia”, that is, platelet deficiency. I was probably
just anemic from all the bleeding. |
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| My early years were a mix of bleeding from my nose and cuts.
I had bloody noses from playing basketball or when traveling
to the highlands (my sister lived in a sheep and cattle ranch
in the Andes at 11,000 feet altitude). One time I cut myself
with a "machete" in the jungle where my father had a coffee
plantation. Nothing serious for someone used to easy bleeding!
It is amazing how the mind adjusts to our particular conditions.
Sometimes one looks for "the challenge", like when I took up
amateur bullfighting with my elder brother. No major problems
there, I guess I would have to say "luckily", and also, of course,
due to our abilities as “Matadors”. |
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| One interesting fact about my choice of educational/career
paths came about when at age 17 or 18 I wanted to study medicine.
I talked to my family doctor, that great old institution to
whom families during the 50’s resorted for all psychological,
medical, ethical and religious advice. My doctor asked me to
see this famous professor of medicine at the Medical School.
The gentleman advised me against my inclination to medicine,
since I was “a sick boy” and that I would be unable to cope
with the pressures of such a demanding career. My College years
passed without major bleeding incidents even though I was an
avid sports person: first basketball, then squash and tennis. |
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| During my mid-thirties, after having become a banker, I was
asked by Bank of America to establish and manage a Branch in
El Salvador. During the early months in that country I was in
the semi finals of the national squash tournament and was hit
in the nose. After two days of bleeding I woke up in Houston,
where I was diagnosed with Von Willebrand Disease (Type 2A).
My platelets were no longer low like I was told years earlier.
Instead I was told that I have an abnormal Von Willebrand Factor
and that it does not work properly which is why it takes so
long for me to stop bleeding. Even though my Factor VIII levels
are also low, I am not a hemophiliac. Since then, I have learned
about coagulation issues and we discovered that my younger son
also has the same disease. |
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| More recently, I had a double hernia surgery and a few years
after that, a Trans Urethral Prostate Removal. For these surgeries
I received a Factor VIII concentrate that also has Von Willebrand
Factor in it. With the products, my bleeding time test became
normal and I was able to go through the surgeries with no problems.
By knowing my diagnosis I have been able to live a normal safe
life. Now, of course, I play tennis and golf…… but no more squash
for me. |
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| Submitted by Jose, February 2004 |
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| www.CLOT-ED.com. |
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