Ruby Lovasz, a 20-year-old Alma College student and resident assistant, could be one of the few people who you’d expect to require an Vascular surgeon.
As a former basketball player and an active college senior, Lovasz leads an active lifestyle. It was a blessing that she sought medical attention before her condition was life-threatening.
“I started experiencing leg and back pain that I thought was due as being caused by sciatica,” she said. “But believing I needed to see the doctor I visited MyMichigan Urgent Care. When I was in urgent care my lower leg became red and swollen They immediately transferred me for an emergency room.”
When Lovasz was admitted to The Emergency Department at MyMichigan Medical Center Alma her left thigh began to get swollen and pain was acute. A scan revealed an enlargement of her leg. Further tests showed that she had a small lung embolism. A blood thinner was administered and she was swiftly transported via an ambulance MyMichigan Medical Center Midland for an appointment by Vascular Surgeon Jacob Frisbie, D.O.
“Dr. Frisbie has made me feel very comfortable,” she said. “He advised me that I was in need of surgery and suggested that I might be suffering from a rare condition called May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS). We talked to my mom and he guided me through the entire procedure. He was patient in explaining the process and was never rude to me. This was something I truly valued.”
“MTS is that occurs by the left iliac vein that carries blood deoxygenated back into the heart becomes squeezed through the right iliac artery , where they cross.” the Dr. Frisbie. “This compression increases the chance for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or clotting within the left limb. We were able perform an operation called thrombectomy, which removed the clot, and then implant a stent in order to make Ruby’s vein open, which reduces the likelihood of developing issues in the future.”
The procedure went without a hitch as did Dr. Frisbie told Lovasz that her pulmonary embolism would disappear by itself. The close monitoring of ultrasounds in Dr. Frisibie’s clinic would ensure that her vein was in good health. “The nurses following my procedure were fantastic,” she said. “They made me stand up and walking as fast as they could to improve my circulation. They were also extremely kind and supportive.”
Now after Lovasz is recovering from her surgery, she is aware she was suffering from symptoms prior to the beginning in leg discomfort. “My ears would feel cold, I experienced headaches even my lungs were hurting occasionally during my runs,” she said. “Now that the clot has gone, I’m back to running, and all of those symptoms have gone away themselves. I’m not only feeling fantastic, but I’m also having more energy than before.”
In high school, Lovasz expressed an interest in an occupation in medicine. After her encounter working with MyMichigan Health and managing her MTS as well, she’s now applying to medical assistant programs to become a cardiovascular P.A. “I want to assist others achieve their highest level of cardiovascular health the same way that the Dr. Frisbie helped me,” she explained.
Those who would like more information about MyMichigan’s comprehensive vascular surgery program may visit www.mymichigan.org/vascular. Additional information about Dr. Frisbie can be found at www.mymichigan.org/frisbie.
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