GWS ColinJ.. DVT/Pulmonary Embolism

[classic33]

I had mine running down my arm, taped in place at strategic points & then into the same place in the picture. November 1995, and I can still see the mark left behind.

 

[fossyant]

Keep STRONG Col.

 

[ColinJ]

Aaargh! I thought you were supposed to be getting better!

Harumph - I thought so too!

One crumb of comfort is that it doesn't sound nearly as bad as the first time - so it sounds more like a temporary set back.Back on the bike in time for summer, yes? (We have to have one, this time, surely?)

I'm really hoping that my new sense of fragility goes away within 4-8 weeks as the clots dissolve.

I was so ill last time that I pretty much had to learn to walk again. This time, I can still walk okay and could probably cycle for 10 miles, as long as I didn't try to ride up any hills or go too fast. The thing is, I am pretty certain that I can feel small clots passing through my heart into my lungs and that is enough to make me wary of overdoing things!

Best Wishes.
Just a thought, - as this is now a modified thread, and "directed" at 'viewers' that might have a health concern, would this thread be better placed in 'Health, Fitness and Training'?

Thanks.

I'm thinking of condensing my experiences into one post which I will put in a dedicated thread, but I'd like to wait until there is a happy ending to report! It doesn't look now as though that is likely to be a drug-free ending, but if I can get back to good health and a good level of fitness then I can put up with pills and blood tests, together with a small risk of serious bleeding problems!

 

[ColinJ]

I had mine running down my arm, taped in place at strategic points & then into the same place in the picture. November 1995, and I can still see the mark left behind.

18 years later - blimey - what on earth did they do to leave such a mark!

 

[classic33]

18 years later - blimey - what on earth did they do to leave such a mark!

The same as is showing in the picture you posted, inserted a needle into the back of the hand.
Other than that, an emegency appedix removal whilst in Convulsive status epilepticus http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/treatment/status-epilepticus.
Lasting "impression" of that operation was a junior doctor telling me he's "just putting his knee on your throat so you don't throw up again". That was eight hours after my last recollection. Fitting of name tags on arm & leg on the ward.

 

[ColinJ]

The same as is showing in the picture you posted, inserted a needle into the back of the hand.
Other than that, an emegency appedix removal whilst in Convulsive status epilepticus http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/treatment/status-epilepticus.
Lasting "impression" of that operation was a junior doctor telling me he's "just putting his knee on your throat so you don't throw up again". That was eight hours after my last recollection. Fitting of name tags on arm & leg on the ward.

I'm trying not to think about what I've just read ...

As a matter of interest - it took 2 days for staff to give me a name tag in Halifax. I didn't get one automatically in Northampton either, but had to ask 3 times. I really think that shouldn't happen - if you are admitted to hospital, it should be the first thing that nursing staff do unless they are busy trying to save your life at the time!

 

[Scoosh]

It doesn't look now as though that is likely to be a drug-free ending, but if I can get back to good health and a good level of fitness then I ...

... can fly up all those hills day after day after day .....



You will have so many 'masking agents' .....


Early alert ! - Beware Colin's Future CC Forum rides !

 

[coffeejo]

Only just seen this - sorry to hear the news. Keep smiling and trucking on

 

[ColinJ]

Right, I am in hunter-gatherer mode - I am going to hunt for my prescription and then gather some yummy Warfarin, courtesy of the local Boots pharmacy!

This thread is being moved to the Health, Fitness and Training forum, in case you look for it and can't find it!

 

[Shaun]

This thread is being moved to the Health, Fitness and Training forum, in case you look for it and can't find it!

Done - and a 30-day redirect left in the Cafe in case anyone goes looking for it.

 

[HLaB]

Lol, the last time I had a drip in, the doctor struggled to find a vein in my hairy arms and tried the inside of the elbow, wrist, then back of the hand. A nurse came the next day and said it was the wrong type of drip but this time they would shave the wrist on the other arm to make the vein more visible. The blade was useless though and tore my wrist apart (multiple cuts), so they opted for the back of the hand again (like pictured).
Later that day another nurse came round to take my blood, 'I hear you have a problem giving blood' .......... a few seconds later, 'no problem'.
My illness had also resulted in me losing weight dramatically.
Needless (or should that be Needles) to say I came out of hospital looking like a junkie who had tried several suicide attempts

 

[ColinJ]

Right, I am in hunter-gatherer mode - I am going to hunt for my prescription and then gather some yummy Warfarin, courtesy of the local Boots pharmacy!

I had been feeling a bit rough before I went away, but in my typical head-in-the-sand way I decided to put off going to my doctor until I got back! (Yes, I know - doing that last year almost cost me my life ... ).

I had been passing the local Boots a couple of weeks ago and thought I'd drop in and pick up some junior aspirin to act as a DIY anticoagulant until I got back. The woman at the till asked me why I wanted it, presumably thinking that I looked too old to have a 'junior' who would need it! I realised immediately how the conversation was going to go. She told me that she couldn't refuse to sell it to me because it wasn't a prescription drug, but she strongly advised against self-medication and suggested that I see my GP, which I promised I would.

I didn't have time to get an appointment before I went away, but I mentioned it to my sister and she gave me the final nudge and ferried me to Northampton General Hospital A&E on Sunday evening. The rest of the story has been posted above over the past few days.

Anyway, back to picking up my prescription today. The pharmacist did the usual safety check when handing over the Warfarin - had I taken it before, did I know my dose, the side-effects, and so on ... I said yes, and then thought I'd mention trying to buy junior aspirin and how impressed I was that they picked up on what I was doing and persuaded me to be more sensible. The pharmacist looked really pleased and she took me back round to the counter and gathered the sales staff and asked me to repeat what I'd just said. They all had big smiles on their faces after I thanked them, and I heard the pharmacist praising them, and telling them to keep up the good work!

Lol, the last time I had a drip in, the doctor struggled to find a vein in my hairy arms and tried the inside of the elbow, wrist, then back of the hand. A nurse came the next day and said it was the wrong type of drip but this time they would shave the wrist on the other arm to make the vein more visible. The blade was useless though and tore my wrist apart (multiple cuts), so they opted for the back of the hand again (like pictured).
Later that day another nurse came round to take my blood, 'I hear you have a problem giving blood' .......... a few seconds later, 'no problem'.
My illness had also resulted in me losing weight dramatically.
Needless (or should that be Needles) to say I came out of hospital looking like a junkie who had tried several suicide attempts

Yikes - that would definitely have had me out like a light!

I've managed to keep a lid on my needle-phobia over the last year, having had 3 cannulas fitted, 10 Heparin shots, and about 15-20 blood tests with only 1 actual faint, and a couple of wobbly moments!

As long as the nurse/doctor knows what (s)he is doing and gets it done quickly, without too much messing about, and preferably without causing too much pain, I can cope as long as I don't watch.

I've only had 1 time which actually hurt, and that hurt a lot and throbbed for about an hour. I've no idea what went wrong there because most of the nurses took the blood sample without any problems.

 

[ColinJ]

Okay, I have decided to write a small ebook about DVT/pulmonary embolism, from the point of view of a sufferer.

Plenty of useful information is out there if you search for it, but how many people bother to do that? An awful lot of CycleChatters and family members had never heard about these conditions until I told them what happened to me. I think I could do a useful job condensing the information into about 60 pages.

I think that I have learned enough from this experience to write something useful which might save a few lives here and there, and if I can make a few pounds while I am it, that would be nice.

I've wanted to have a go at writing something but couldn't think of anything other than cycling that I knew about and was motivated enough to write about. Well, I definitely I have strong feelings about DVT & PE!

***********************

I just read through the first 13 pages of this thread and it reminded me how nice it was to read your messages when I came out of hospital the first time - thanks!

The other thing that pleases me is to be reminded how quickly I responded to Warfarin last time. I was much better within a few weeks. It took me a long time to walk properly again, and even longer to get on a bike, but that was because I had been desperately ill. I have caught it much sooner this time so I am hoping for a much smoother recovery.

Oops, it is time to nip out and get my Heparin shot!

 

[flissh]

Hi Colin,
As your heparin shots are subcutaneous in your tum, why don't you self administer at home? Save you the trouble of going out to get them done.
Get well soon by the way.

 

[Garz]

Good idea colin. Keep busy and take each day at a time!