I've been back home for a week now, but haven't really felt like posting much.
I started having major pain and swelling in my calf and ankle during our trip in NYC. Walking around was torture, but I just popped a bunch of painkillers and sucked it up. The pain didn't improve when I got home and was able to rest, so I went to see my doctor. She was worried and sent me off to the hospital right away.
On Tuesday of last week, I was diagnosed with a blood clot in my calf. A quick ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis and I was sent to the ER for treatment.
A blood clot can be quite dangerous – one form of it is called Deep Vein Thrombosis – that is what I have. If left untreated, parts of the clot can break off and head to the lungs or heart, causing major problems. Luckily mine was caught in time, so there shouldn’t be any big problems like that now that I am on medication. There are many causes for a blood clot in the leg and being overweight is one of them. So, with the pre-existing swelling in my leg, a long car/train ride on our trip last week and I had the perfect situation for a blood clot to occur.
Amazing how things can change in a week. I now have to take an intense course of medication and follow up with specialists a lot over the next few weeks. I’m still in a fair bit of pain and I am stuck resting on the couch most of the day. No riding for me for at least another week, maybe longer. The blood thinners I have to take can make a small injury much more serious, should something happen.
This small health scare is the catalyst to change my lifestyle and try to work on becoming more healthy and fit. I will know more on Wednesday when I have my next follow up with the specialist and go over the results from the myriad of tests ordered. Hopefully there isn't anything big wrong, but just a strange situation that caused this to happen. Hopefully a good exercise program can help prevent this from happening again.
Old Rusty is getting a much longer vacation than I had intended. It will be close to a month that he hasn't been ridden. He will be getting heftier and heftier... :-)
Name That....
2 days ago
15 comments:
Hey- cut that out now!! No health crisis for you please!!
All kidding aside Laura, please take care, and let us know when you can how things are healing up. We'll keep thoughts of you going strong here in the Southland, and we'll wait (patiently? NOT) for updates. Smooch Rusty the Mint Man when you can from us!
Got your e-mail so knew about the health issues. Really hoping you're feeling better asap.
Also hoping that Rusty doesn't pack on the weight as quickly as Applejack.
Ouch! One of those airplane blood clots? Rusty will survive - as long as there are mints!
Oh Laura! I am so sorry to hear that you are having to deal with a Deep vein (wont even try to spell it) clot...my Mom and Grandfather had the same problem and so I can apprecaite how much pain you must have been in. Poor thing! I hope that you are up and feeling better soon.
I blurted out "Holy Cr@%" when I read it was a blood clot. That's very serious. It could have killed you. I am so relieved that you saw the doctor and didn't brush it off as a cramp, and that your doctor was wise enough to suspect the worst. My stupid doctor would have just told me to suck it up.
My sister-in-law had this happen last year and it is very dangerous!! I think she is still on blood thinners--maybe always will be. She was driving kids around in the car all the time. Glad you caught it fast!
How scary!! I hope you are feeling better real soon! Take care of yourself!
Take care of yourself. Glad you caught it early.
Can you still longe him?
It's great that you got the care you needed before anything worse could happen. Rusty will be fine. Dusty wasn't ridden for almost a year and a half and she was fine. The main thing now is to take care of yourself and do what the doctors suggest. Feel better and good luck.
How scary! Take care!! Reiki sent and {{{HUGS}}}
I hope you feel better soon and the clot clears up. It is a serious thing, my uncle has had a few and it can be very scary. Please take care of yourself, your blogger family loves you
Laura, all of the best wishes for a speedy recovery. You are one lucky lady! A number of years ago I had a couple of big health scares and that did it for me. Made me change my ways. Good news is that you are in the care of a Doc who knows you.
Yikes! I am glad that you are okay. As soon as you said blood clot the first thing I thought was how it might go to your heart. That is so scary! I have been meaning to make some better health choices myself lately...we always say tomorrow but tomorrow doesn't always come does it. I hope you get well soon!
Oh wow! Just checking in over here and I'm so sorry to read what has happened.
I understand a litte bit of that situation as my hubby has DVT as well. He also suffered from a blood clots in his lungs over 13 years ago and is on lifetime blood thinners. It's a bummer. I hate that he has to take them because they are basically rat poison, but what is the alternative?
Sure hope you heal up soon with no lasting percussion.
(((HUGS)))
~Lisa
word verification: 'curin'
I hope your blood clots are curin soon!
Blood clots are scary. Glad you got quick treatment.
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