Central Carolina HEALTH - Spring 2013 - (Page 11)

Brian Hickman is a fan of UNC sports. Solving the mystery Carolina Hospital (CCH) solved a mystery for 28-year-old Brian Hickman of Sanford. “For more than eight years, I had periodic stomach pains,” says Brian. “A doctor would prescribe an antibiotic and the pain would go away, only to return again. The pain would come on suddenly, and the intensity of the pain would fluctuate.” Last February, the same sharp pains came back and with a vengeance. His dad encouraged him to go to the Emergency Room at CCH. Brian was experiencing cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. An abdominal ultrasound and a CT scan were ordered. A standard course of treatment was recommended initially—bowel rest, IV fluids and antibiotics. “We followed him closely when he came in and standard treatment appeared to resolve his symptoms initially,” says Michael A. Gordon, MD, a general surgeon on staff at Central Carolina Hospital. “But then studies showed Brian had diverticulitis.” S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | 11 The source of Brian Hickman’s pain was discovered just in time A thorough evaluation at Central

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central Carolina HEALTH - Spring 2013

Central Carolina HEALTH - Spring 2013
Direct From Doug
Contents
Health Beat
Operation Special Delivery
Solving the Mystery
Better Care Through Technology

Central Carolina HEALTH - Spring 2013