ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Well, I have waited 8 long, hard, scary months to type this ... I'm off Warfarin and am officially on the mend! 
I saw the consultant this afternoon and we had a chat about my recovery so far, and what to do next. My recent blood tests suggest that it should be safe for me to stop taking the drug. There is always a small, but significant risk of haemorrhage when taking anticoagulants which is why we don't all get put on them for life. I'd rather do my best to avoid clotting risk factors and take my chances with that, than gamble with the possibility of bleeding on the brain!
It doesn't mean that I'm not at risk now. In fact, I could reclot once the Warfarin has worn off but I have asked for another d-Dimer test in 2 or 3 weeks time to pick that up if it happens. (Amazingly, this isn't suggested as standard in these here parts! I asked how any clotting would be detected without the tests and the doctor simply said that I would get ill again and it would become obvious! Given how horrific clotting was first time round, I'd rather not use myself as a lab rat, when a simple blood test can do it for me ...
)
The longer I can go without clotting, the lower the risk becomes. Eventually, I would barely be at greater risk than any of you reading this.
The doc reckons that the swelling in my leg is something that will come and go. The walls of the veins and their valves were probably damaged by the DVT(s) and may never fully heal. I might end up with bad varicose veins. I can live with that. As long as I can get back on my bike and ride at a reasonable level, then I will be content.
So, it is nearly time to move on to phase two of my recovery - back on the bike! I want to wait until the final blood tests are clear, and then start cycling again. I will build up very carefully because I am sure that my cardio-vascular system is nowhere near able to take a serious workload yet.
I will have good days and I will have bad days, but hopefully the appalling days are behind me!
Thanks for the ongoing support, folks.
(PS - my drink is an OJ - I'm staying off alcohol until I feel that I am fully recovered. I think I am only about halfway there so far.)
I saw the consultant this afternoon and we had a chat about my recovery so far, and what to do next. My recent blood tests suggest that it should be safe for me to stop taking the drug. There is always a small, but significant risk of haemorrhage when taking anticoagulants which is why we don't all get put on them for life. I'd rather do my best to avoid clotting risk factors and take my chances with that, than gamble with the possibility of bleeding on the brain!
It doesn't mean that I'm not at risk now. In fact, I could reclot once the Warfarin has worn off but I have asked for another d-Dimer test in 2 or 3 weeks time to pick that up if it happens. (Amazingly, this isn't suggested as standard in these here parts! I asked how any clotting would be detected without the tests and the doctor simply said that I would get ill again and it would become obvious! Given how horrific clotting was first time round, I'd rather not use myself as a lab rat, when a simple blood test can do it for me ...
)The longer I can go without clotting, the lower the risk becomes. Eventually, I would barely be at greater risk than any of you reading this.
The doc reckons that the swelling in my leg is something that will come and go. The walls of the veins and their valves were probably damaged by the DVT(s) and may never fully heal. I might end up with bad varicose veins. I can live with that. As long as I can get back on my bike and ride at a reasonable level, then I will be content.
So, it is nearly time to move on to phase two of my recovery - back on the bike! I want to wait until the final blood tests are clear, and then start cycling again. I will build up very carefully because I am sure that my cardio-vascular system is nowhere near able to take a serious workload yet.
I will have good days and I will have bad days, but hopefully the appalling days are behind me!
Thanks for the ongoing support, folks.
(PS - my drink is an OJ - I'm staying off alcohol until I feel that I am fully recovered. I think I am only about halfway there so far.)
) There are plenty of articles which suggest a link between some DVTs and tight clothing - 
