It began as a simple trip back to Texas. A road trip if you will to watch my wife receive her MBA. A 600 mile trip that would change my life forever. With so many people I follow on Twitter, Facebook, their blogs traveling extensively I wanted to share my story and raise awareness for you next time you’re in a car or on a plane for an extended amount of time.
I think my life changed forever when I was in an emergency room and the doctor said, “You have two blood clots in your lung. Don’t move anymore. One clot in a lung usually kills people.”
I was 28.
In fact, I had a major clot in my leg, two pulmonary embolisms in my right lung and another floating in my chest just waiting to get into my lung or somewhere worse.
I spent in all about 6 hours in a car on a Thursday before I felt the first signs of the clot in my leg Friday morning. It felt like a cramp in my calf that wouldn’t go away. As the days went by, I hobbled through malls, restaurants and a graduation ceremony. The whole time, I could feel the “cramp that wouldn’t go away” get stronger. My stretching, ice and warm packs didn’t do anything for it.
We drove back to Texas and I hobbled through work. I don’t really like to bother doctors and the thought of going to see a doctor because of a leg cramp was embarrassing. Well on Tuesday night, when I felt the tip of a boot kick me in the back continuously and I couldn’t climb up my stairs, I knew I better see someone.
When the doctor removed my sock and looked at my leg, first time I had as well, it was swollen two inches. That was the end of my exam and I was off to the emergency room.
I know now that I had a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in my leg that began at the bottom of my calf muscle and extended to my hip. The clots in my lungs went away after about 5 days in the hospital. And I can say now I’ve been off my Coumadin (blood-thinner) for about a month. Since my hospitalization for the blood clots, I’ve been back in the hospital twice for pneumonia—in three days it’s the anniversary of my last visit to the ER. I don’t know if it was all related, but I never had pneumonia before.
I scared a lot of people with my predicament. Hell, I scared myself pretty bad. After a year of medicine, blood analyzing and weekly blood-thickness checks, I think I’m back to normal. My leg still swells about an inch anytime I workout or just mow the lawn.
So, as you travel in a plane or car please remember to keep your feet active, stand up and stretch every two hours and if you feel pain anywhere in your body that you can’t explain for longer than 24 hours see a doctor.
For more information on blood clots or embolisms visit the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
If you don’t visit the site, here are some things to think about now.
The Signs and Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis
The signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may be related to DVT itself or to pulmonary embolism (PE). See your doctor right away if you have symptoms of either. Both DVT and PE can cause serious, possibly life-threatening complications if not treated.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Only about half of the people with DVT have symptoms. These symptoms occur in the leg affected by the deep vein clot. They include:
* Swelling of the leg or along a vein in the leg
* Pain or tenderness in the leg, which you may feel only when standing or walking
* Increased warmth in the area of the leg that’s swollen or in pain
* Red or discolored skin on the leg
Pulmonary Embolism
Some people don’t know they have DVT until they have signs or symptoms of PE. Symptoms of PE include:
* Unexplained shortness of breath
* Pain with deep breathing
* Coughing up blood
Rapid breathing and a fast heart rate also may be signs of PE.
