Gratitude
Gratitude!
I have a lot to be grateful for today!
Today I am gratefulto be alive! I am grateful for my family, my friends, my co-workers and my amazing medical team.
On Wednesday I went the the doctor with calf pain that wasn't resolving after 2 hard workouts over the weekend. Instead of getting better, it had changed into something worse and just felt wrong. Being a health care provider, I had a suspician that I was in trouble and left work at lunch to go see my doctor. The ultrasound & subsequent CT scan of my chest showed blood clots in my calf (Deep Vein Thrombosis), up in my thigh and in both lungs (Pulmonary Embolism). This can be a fatal prognosis and I was immediatly admitted and put in the PCU on Heparin (blood thinner) and given a guarded prognosis. I actually didn't feel that bad lying down, but knew that at any moment things could change and I could disappear into a world of tubes, beeping machines and no control or worse. Even with the best of luck, my life was going be different for at least 6 months and possibly up to a year. The tough guy, work through it, be stoic, never give up and don't complain strategy wouldn't work here. Was I scared...YES!. But I also had a strong feeling of deep calm that it was not my time, that I was under great care and that I was surrounded by the love of my family and friends. I had been walking around with this dangerous condition unknowingly for 3 days and either was just really lucky or my number wasn't up yet!
By Friday, my vitals were stable, the Heparin was at a therapeutic level and my team was amazed at how my body had weathered the storm. My efforts to stay fit over the years had paid off, but not in a good performance in an event or new PR. Instead by allowing my body to handle an intensely stressful condition well. I was told I had great lung capacity and a strong heart. Thank goodness. My physician allowed me to come home yesterday with the promise I would lay low and follow his orders strictly for the next month. Being on blood thinners, my lifestyle has taken an abrupt right turn, but again..I am grateful. No mud runs, interval workouts, barefoot beach runs or playing with my swords for a bit. Can't stub my toe, cut myself shaving or drag stuff around the yard for a while. Yet, I am someone who can adapt. I'll play music, practice Tai Chi, read more, do a blog and enjoy easy evening walks with Amy in the neighborhood. I am grateful that Amy urged me to go to the doctor as well. She knows me and how I don't like to complain, but she also knew I was in pain and it wasn't right. She is amazing, tenacious, supportive, loving and I am so lucky to have her as my wife. My kids all gave me encouragement even though they were off in different parts of the country living their lives and just thinking of them gave me strength. Although my parents are deceased, I talked to them everynight in the hospital room when I had some alone time and told them, "I wasn't ready to go yet and you need to help me out." I know they did! During difficult times like these, some people turn to their faith, and although I an not religious, I am very spiritual and I am grateful for the friends who said they were praying for me. Positive energy is positive energy and I know it was helpful, no matter what or who you believe in. My staff took up the slack in my absence and keep the clinic running. They all came down to visit and gave me support and I knew I didn't have to worry about work. The chocholate chip cookies were awesome too!
I am grateful for my medical team at Scripps Encinitas. They were amazing, from my personal physician to the ER team, the PCU staff, nursing, radiology and my pulmonologist. Having worked in this community for 27 years as a health care provider, I am grateful to have this wonderful hospital so close and accessable. There is no other place I would rather have been and can't thank them enough for their quick action, knowledge and professionalism.
I am grateful for having a blood clots. Sounds strange doesn't it? But know I know exactly how it feels and will be even more vigilant in looking for them in my post operative orthopedic patients. One of my PT's today texted me and let me know that he sent a patient back to his doctor yesterday with the suspician of a clot in his leg and he was right. My situation and his training made him more suspicious and he may have saved that patients life. That patient is grateful as well today I am sure!
So, why did I get a blood clot? I am healthy and don't have any medical risk factors that I know of. It happens to people after long periods of bed rest, long plane flights, tissue trauma and as a side effect of other medical conditions that affect circulation and the blood clotting mechanism. My team didn't have a definitive answer as to why it happened to me, which is a bit unsettling. There are more tests I need to have done to see if I have a genetic component. There is also some personal research I need to do regarding my diet, exercise routines, supplements and other things I have tried in the last month such as whole body cryotherapy and deep tissue massage with cupping. My gut feeling is that my issue may have arisen out of vessel injury in my calf that progressed to a clot and travlled from there. All I have now is theory, but will share it, if I come up with something solid. First things first! I need to follow my Doc's orders for the next month and then get my vitality back in a healthy way. I certainly have the background in Tai Chi and Chi Gong and am going to start today gradually building my Chi.
What does it feel like to have a blot clot in your leg? Well, in the beginning it felt like I strained my calf. Nothing new there. That's almost every week after a hard beach run and stair workout, but this time it didn't recovery. Then, it began to hurt more just standing still and less when moving. It throbbed behind my knee when standing still and the leg felt warm or even began to look red. Those feelings plus having pitting (thick) swelling in my shin after sitting that didn't resolve after elevating it, were key signs this was vascular and not just a muscle strain. It was gradual and over 3 days but every morning worse instead of better. Should I have done something about it on Monday or Tuesday? Probably, but I was optimistic and thought for sure it would start to feel better the next day. There is an old saying that is appropriate here: "When you hear hoof beats at night in the distance, think horses not Zebra's." But sometimes, every so often, there may be a Zebra, if so, you need to acknowledge & respect it. This was a very large Zebra!
So, here are the situations you need to be careful of and watch for clots: If you ever have a leg or arm injury that involves swelling and keeps you from moving the limb for a prolonged period of time (hours or a few days). If you have an illness that confines you to bed or a chair for prolonged periods. If you travel a long distance in car or plane without moving. Other medical conditions can increase your risk of blood clots.
I have place 2 links below describing the evolution of a DVT & PE, as well as the risk factors for getting them. If this post does nothing other than raise awareness of this dangerous condition, then I have achieved my goal. Ok, now I need to go elevate my leg! :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vVqBjk-oqQ
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/travel.html
I have a lot to be grateful for today!
Today I am gratefulto be alive! I am grateful for my family, my friends, my co-workers and my amazing medical team.
On Wednesday I went the the doctor with calf pain that wasn't resolving after 2 hard workouts over the weekend. Instead of getting better, it had changed into something worse and just felt wrong. Being a health care provider, I had a suspician that I was in trouble and left work at lunch to go see my doctor. The ultrasound & subsequent CT scan of my chest showed blood clots in my calf (Deep Vein Thrombosis), up in my thigh and in both lungs (Pulmonary Embolism). This can be a fatal prognosis and I was immediatly admitted and put in the PCU on Heparin (blood thinner) and given a guarded prognosis. I actually didn't feel that bad lying down, but knew that at any moment things could change and I could disappear into a world of tubes, beeping machines and no control or worse. Even with the best of luck, my life was going be different for at least 6 months and possibly up to a year. The tough guy, work through it, be stoic, never give up and don't complain strategy wouldn't work here. Was I scared...YES!. But I also had a strong feeling of deep calm that it was not my time, that I was under great care and that I was surrounded by the love of my family and friends. I had been walking around with this dangerous condition unknowingly for 3 days and either was just really lucky or my number wasn't up yet!
By Friday, my vitals were stable, the Heparin was at a therapeutic level and my team was amazed at how my body had weathered the storm. My efforts to stay fit over the years had paid off, but not in a good performance in an event or new PR. Instead by allowing my body to handle an intensely stressful condition well. I was told I had great lung capacity and a strong heart. Thank goodness. My physician allowed me to come home yesterday with the promise I would lay low and follow his orders strictly for the next month. Being on blood thinners, my lifestyle has taken an abrupt right turn, but again..I am grateful. No mud runs, interval workouts, barefoot beach runs or playing with my swords for a bit. Can't stub my toe, cut myself shaving or drag stuff around the yard for a while. Yet, I am someone who can adapt. I'll play music, practice Tai Chi, read more, do a blog and enjoy easy evening walks with Amy in the neighborhood. I am grateful that Amy urged me to go to the doctor as well. She knows me and how I don't like to complain, but she also knew I was in pain and it wasn't right. She is amazing, tenacious, supportive, loving and I am so lucky to have her as my wife. My kids all gave me encouragement even though they were off in different parts of the country living their lives and just thinking of them gave me strength. Although my parents are deceased, I talked to them everynight in the hospital room when I had some alone time and told them, "I wasn't ready to go yet and you need to help me out." I know they did! During difficult times like these, some people turn to their faith, and although I an not religious, I am very spiritual and I am grateful for the friends who said they were praying for me. Positive energy is positive energy and I know it was helpful, no matter what or who you believe in. My staff took up the slack in my absence and keep the clinic running. They all came down to visit and gave me support and I knew I didn't have to worry about work. The chocholate chip cookies were awesome too!
I am grateful for my medical team at Scripps Encinitas. They were amazing, from my personal physician to the ER team, the PCU staff, nursing, radiology and my pulmonologist. Having worked in this community for 27 years as a health care provider, I am grateful to have this wonderful hospital so close and accessable. There is no other place I would rather have been and can't thank them enough for their quick action, knowledge and professionalism.
I am grateful for having a blood clots. Sounds strange doesn't it? But know I know exactly how it feels and will be even more vigilant in looking for them in my post operative orthopedic patients. One of my PT's today texted me and let me know that he sent a patient back to his doctor yesterday with the suspician of a clot in his leg and he was right. My situation and his training made him more suspicious and he may have saved that patients life. That patient is grateful as well today I am sure!
So, why did I get a blood clot? I am healthy and don't have any medical risk factors that I know of. It happens to people after long periods of bed rest, long plane flights, tissue trauma and as a side effect of other medical conditions that affect circulation and the blood clotting mechanism. My team didn't have a definitive answer as to why it happened to me, which is a bit unsettling. There are more tests I need to have done to see if I have a genetic component. There is also some personal research I need to do regarding my diet, exercise routines, supplements and other things I have tried in the last month such as whole body cryotherapy and deep tissue massage with cupping. My gut feeling is that my issue may have arisen out of vessel injury in my calf that progressed to a clot and travlled from there. All I have now is theory, but will share it, if I come up with something solid. First things first! I need to follow my Doc's orders for the next month and then get my vitality back in a healthy way. I certainly have the background in Tai Chi and Chi Gong and am going to start today gradually building my Chi.
What does it feel like to have a blot clot in your leg? Well, in the beginning it felt like I strained my calf. Nothing new there. That's almost every week after a hard beach run and stair workout, but this time it didn't recovery. Then, it began to hurt more just standing still and less when moving. It throbbed behind my knee when standing still and the leg felt warm or even began to look red. Those feelings plus having pitting (thick) swelling in my shin after sitting that didn't resolve after elevating it, were key signs this was vascular and not just a muscle strain. It was gradual and over 3 days but every morning worse instead of better. Should I have done something about it on Monday or Tuesday? Probably, but I was optimistic and thought for sure it would start to feel better the next day. There is an old saying that is appropriate here: "When you hear hoof beats at night in the distance, think horses not Zebra's." But sometimes, every so often, there may be a Zebra, if so, you need to acknowledge & respect it. This was a very large Zebra!
So, here are the situations you need to be careful of and watch for clots: If you ever have a leg or arm injury that involves swelling and keeps you from moving the limb for a prolonged period of time (hours or a few days). If you have an illness that confines you to bed or a chair for prolonged periods. If you travel a long distance in car or plane without moving. Other medical conditions can increase your risk of blood clots.
I have place 2 links below describing the evolution of a DVT & PE, as well as the risk factors for getting them. If this post does nothing other than raise awareness of this dangerous condition, then I have achieved my goal. Ok, now I need to go elevate my leg! :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vVqBjk-oqQ
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dvt/travel.html
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