You know I am a cancer survivor – 15 years down the road from a leukemia diagnosis and enjoying a 10 year remission. So whenever something seems weird about my health it’s cancer coming back, right? Wrong! Just how wrong was proven last night. I am writing this from my hospital bed in Seattle.
The first symptom of a possible problem came three days ago when I had soreness in my right calf. A pulled muscle? Maybe. But I had not noticed straining it. Back at the gym the next day I had soreness again but thought it was no big deal. Last night it was worse. It hurt some to walk. I got home and, after my wife and son were asleep, got ready for bed. I had a slight fever and then noticed the right calf was not only sore, but swollen and warm. Very strange. I’d never seen that before.
Trying not to be stupid I called the 24-hour consulting nurse. She immediately began to focus on deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a worrisome condition that affects about two million Americans a year and can lead to a life threatening situation. She had a doctor call me. Normally those doctors would rather make a house call then send you to the more costly emergency room. But not this time. “Dr. Steve” urged me to go to the ER rather than let a DVT progress and endanger my life. An ultrasound exam would determine if it was really a DVT.
The ER at the downtown Seattle hospital was not busy and before long I had an extensive Doppler ultrasound exam. It confirmed a DVT in my right calf and also a second one, asymptomatic, just above the knee in my left leg. The ER doc said I was being admitted and blood thinners were in my short-term and long-term (next six months) future.
In minutes I had a shot of a fast acting blood thinner, Lovenox. Then I was shuttled upstairs to a room and now more shots will be administered along with the old standby for DVT’s – Coumadin.
I am shaking my head about all this as I lie here with my laptop, my connection to you. I have worried so much about cancer and now this comes out of left field. It can happen to anyone and the docs and nurses all say it was smart I didn’t delay coming in.
Ah, our health adventure. Treasure your good health when you have it and be a smart, even fast acting patient, when weird symptoms happen. When it comes to DVT, it is not something to fool around with. But it sure beats a cancer recurrence, right?
Wishing you and your family the best of health,
Andrew
P.S. If you’re now curious about DVT’s and your own risk for blood clots, please see http://www.patientpower.info/program/deep-vein-thrombosis-knowing-your-risk-for-blood-clots
My thoughts are never far from the Schorr Family- mend quickly and wholly. Your advocacy for proactive health care has probably saved many, many lives and for the 2nd time has probably saved your own. That remains a gift to the rest of us and your family. Best to you Andrew, I am glad this was caught.
Be well soon Andrew, always looking forward to your posts. Yes, our health adventure (journey) can be troublesome at times, non-existent other times.
T.J.Mayer
Windsor,ONT. Canada
http://www.mycancerjourneys.blogspot.com
wishing you the very best Andrew, I find your information very helpful I just wish I could get through to people with blood cancer that we have lots to be concerned over, not that they should be worry warts just that they should be realistic about it. anyway Andrew hope your better real soon. God Bless. Paul Robert, Beating Blood Cancer Together, LLS on FB…
Dear Andrew! Josh told us about your hospitalization. Refuah shlemah to you. So happy to hear you paid attention and took swift action – and here you are educating everyone else! Our very very best to you — sending hugs. Jill
Thanks friends! I will be back and active very soon.
I was diagnosed with a calf DVT labor day weekned. The first month was tough and I thought I’d never run again. I started swimming which was very helpful. I took 6 weeks off and the slowly started running again. The compression gear which is popular now was a huge help. I couldn’t have done it without the CWX compression tights and calf sleeves. After about 10 months I was able to run without compression gear. On the bright side improved my swimming enough that I celebrated my 1 year DVT anniversary about 1 week early with a 1/2 ironman. Ironically I never could have done it if I hadn’t had the DVT because I never would have hit the pool. Good luck!!