Health Problems of Angelo Farina 


This page has been created for informing students, industrial sponsors, friends and scientific partners about the recent health problems occurred to Angelo during summer 2007, and about the consequences deriving from it about academic, research and consultancy activities.

The problems derived from a long flight back from Australia to Italy (3 consequent flights of 8h each, on 22-23 July 2007), which caused a thrombosis at the right leg. After arriving in Italy, Angelo did not understand immediately what was happened. Thanks to some Aspirins, the pain at the leg disappeared in a couple of days, and Angelo restarted his intense activity as normal. But after some days (exactly on Saturday 29 July) he experienced severe respiratory pain, probably due to a lung emboly, caused by some part of thrombotical material flowing in the blood.

Angelo went to the Hospital, where the problem was initially underestimated (you can see the report and the lung X-ray images here). However, he was also invited to perform more extensive medical investigation on next Monday. These investigations did include an Echo-Doppler at the right leg. which confirmed the Thrombosis, and a lung TAC, which luckily excluded an Emboly: in fact, the respiratory pain had suddenly disappeared the evening before, probably because the small obstruction did pass through.

After these examinations, Angelo Was hospitalized for one week, and subjected to Anticoagulant Treatment, both by under-skin injections of Eparin and by oral treatment (which takes longer to reach the wanted effect, but which can be protracted for months or years).

After one week, being the life-risk almost completely removed, Angelo was sent home, but still under the double Anti Coagulant treatment. Only after two further weeks the oral treatment reached the required anticoagulant effect, so it was possible to end the Eparin treatment.

Angelo was commanded a two-months leave from his academic duties, which ended on 24 September 2007. During this period, he was not allowed to drive cars or motorcycles, to stay in the same position for long times, and he had to walk often, in plain, always wearing the special sock for avoiding other thrombosis at the right leg.

Initally the blood test was performed in a special Anticoagulation Lab evry 2-3 days, then every week, and now every two weeks. The test determines the Anticoagulation factor reached (named INR, and with therapeutic range set to 2.0 - 3.0). The history of these blood tests and an Excel chart showing the progress towards the therapeutic range are visible here.

The medical tests performed in September (also visible here) did show other problems at liver (steathosis) and at kidneys (gravel). This will require a strict diet for at least one year and further tests during Autumn 2007.

The medical staff did inform Angelo that he will have to continue the Anticoagulant Treatment for several months (exactly until 30 january 2008), and to wear the special sock for at least 2 years, probably until the end of 2009.

During the first period (24/09/2007 - 30/01/2008), after restarting service at the University, Angelo has to conform to strict regulations about the maximum time allowed to drive a vehicle (45 minutes), the maximum time allowed to stand at the dashboard for lessons (45 minutes, and no more than two lessons consecutively), and the maximum time allowed in front of a computer terminal (again 45 minutes, with a 15 minutes walk before being able to continue). Furthermore, in this period, he will have to take special precautions when flying (business class with feet support, Eparin injection, etc.). Flying is definitely not recommended in this period....

This means that Angelo had to reschedule completely his academic and professional activity. In Academic Year 2007/2008 he will not hold any additional course, above the two standard ones at the Engineering Faculty. He will not be available for professional work, such as consultancy, measurements and industry-related research projects. He will not be able to travel a lot, certainly not as he was used to.

Finally, he will not be able anymore to stay hours in front of his computer, answering to E-mails, developing software, web pages, etc.

Angelo unsubscribed from all the Mail Lists to which he was used to contribute, such as Sursound or Music-DSP.

His standard E-mail address (farina@unipr.it) has been left unattended for 2 months, and now is checked only very seldom, so do not expect immediate replies, as it was before....

This page is here for informing everyone about this situation, for avoiding a congestion of requests of information, and for shielding Angelo from too much request of activity, while he now needs to stay calm and free of troubles for several months. It is suggested to everyone reading this page to avoid trying to contact Angelo during this healing period...

This page was written by Grazia Buia, wife of Angelo, on 24 August 2007, and modified on 28 September 2007. It will be update more or less monthly.....