This never would have happened pre-warfin and blood clots. The front part of my left leg is bruised from below the knee to three quarters down the shin.
Not from blunt force trauma, only sliding (safely by the way) into home during a kickball game. It definitely is the biggest bruise I've ever had and it definitely does hurt but nothing like my chest pain with PE. So if I had to pick my poison, I'll take unnecessary bruising. Looks like cage fighting is out.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sock it to Me
I recently purchased two pairs of compression socks to help keep the blood in my legs moving. And also because the doctors confirmed with an ultrasound that I still have a clot in my popliteal vein in my left leg which is located behind the knee. See the diagram below.
My gut feeling said there was still a clot in my left leg and I hate it when I am right about some things.
Back to the Socks
I did a little research and the good ones are not cheap. Could you imagine spending $35 on a pair of socks? Well I did. I bought two pairs. They're from a company called Quattro Fitness. I'll add a photo or two of me wearing them soon. I've worn them the last two days and I have noticed a difference already in how my left leg feels. Could they actually be working so soon? Possibly. Could it also be a placebo effect? Also could be true. Either way I'm hooked on their look and they're fairly comfortable. I think a monthly update on the sock situation will be appropriate.
I have already researched other brands and I am tempted to try a couple different ones to see which ones work the best. A review of each could be in order.
I played kickball in the socks Wednesday. I forgot for most of the game that I was wearing them until the third inning when I was caught in a short game of pickle down the third baseline. Luckily, I faked out the third basemen and dove safely back to third. After standing up on the base, I realized both socks had fallen down my legs a bit. They usually sit knee high.
The next step is wearing them on at least a 3 mile run. Not sure if running is the best thing though since my left leg tends to get numb around 1.5 miles. It's frustrating since I used to be in great shape and never had health issues or injuries. And then I go from one extreme to the other. Blood clots and massive pulmonary embolism.
My luck at times seems twisted. I'm lucky to have survived such a usually fatal condition but also not lucky to have the condition in the first place. But this whole ordeal has been a giant life changing event and has made me realize both how fragile and powerful the human body can be.
My gut feeling said there was still a clot in my left leg and I hate it when I am right about some things.
Back to the Socks
I did a little research and the good ones are not cheap. Could you imagine spending $35 on a pair of socks? Well I did. I bought two pairs. They're from a company called Quattro Fitness. I'll add a photo or two of me wearing them soon. I've worn them the last two days and I have noticed a difference already in how my left leg feels. Could they actually be working so soon? Possibly. Could it also be a placebo effect? Also could be true. Either way I'm hooked on their look and they're fairly comfortable. I think a monthly update on the sock situation will be appropriate.
I have already researched other brands and I am tempted to try a couple different ones to see which ones work the best. A review of each could be in order.
I played kickball in the socks Wednesday. I forgot for most of the game that I was wearing them until the third inning when I was caught in a short game of pickle down the third baseline. Luckily, I faked out the third basemen and dove safely back to third. After standing up on the base, I realized both socks had fallen down my legs a bit. They usually sit knee high.
The next step is wearing them on at least a 3 mile run. Not sure if running is the best thing though since my left leg tends to get numb around 1.5 miles. It's frustrating since I used to be in great shape and never had health issues or injuries. And then I go from one extreme to the other. Blood clots and massive pulmonary embolism.
My luck at times seems twisted. I'm lucky to have survived such a usually fatal condition but also not lucky to have the condition in the first place. But this whole ordeal has been a giant life changing event and has made me realize both how fragile and powerful the human body can be.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Warfarin is rat poison
I take Warfarin, the most widely prescribed anticoagulant in North America. Did you know it was first used as a pesticide to kill rats and mice? Yes, that's right. A medicine that is preventing deadly clots was not even designed for this purpose. You can read Warfarin's history here.
It's been almost 17 months since the PE diagnosis but I'm not out of the woods yet. I have been taking blood thinners or anticoagulants since November 28, 2008. I added a counter to the blog to put that time into perspective. The time has flown by. 514 days. That's a lot of pills.
Since that fateful November 2008 day, I have taken, on average, 1.5 pills each day. My pills are 5mg of Warfarin Sodium. They are peach colored and have a horrible taste. Of course, you are supposed to swallow them but sometimes after cutting one in half with my trusty pill cutter some of the powder lands on my tongue.
Back of the Napkin Calculations
So far I have taken 769.5 pills and a little more than 1 gram of Warfarin. This is enough to kill approximately 1,000 rats. Although rats have developed an immunity to the regular Warfarin, there's a Super Warfarin specifically used to control the rodent population.
With all this pill popping, I won't have anything to look forward to when I'm in my golden years. I already have a turquoise days-of-the-week pill box and a pill cutter. What more could a 28-year-old want?
It's been almost 17 months since the PE diagnosis but I'm not out of the woods yet. I have been taking blood thinners or anticoagulants since November 28, 2008. I added a counter to the blog to put that time into perspective. The time has flown by. 514 days. That's a lot of pills.
Since that fateful November 2008 day, I have taken, on average, 1.5 pills each day. My pills are 5mg of Warfarin Sodium. They are peach colored and have a horrible taste. Of course, you are supposed to swallow them but sometimes after cutting one in half with my trusty pill cutter some of the powder lands on my tongue.
Back of the Napkin Calculations
So far I have taken 769.5 pills and a little more than 1 gram of Warfarin. This is enough to kill approximately 1,000 rats. Although rats have developed an immunity to the regular Warfarin, there's a Super Warfarin specifically used to control the rodent population.
With all this pill popping, I won't have anything to look forward to when I'm in my golden years. I already have a turquoise days-of-the-week pill box and a pill cutter. What more could a 28-year-old want?
Monday, April 12, 2010
No time like the present
I should have started this blog a long time ago, like November 2008, but procrastination can be a serious and contagious condition. There's no time like the present.
I'm 28. I survived extensive bi-lateral Pulmonary Embolism (PE), also known as blood clots in the lungs.
According to the 2008 Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism report, PE kills an estimated 82,000 people per year in the United States. What's more alarming, PE usually goes undiagnosed and the number of those who die from this condition is actually much higher. Also, PE is fatal in one out of every three cases.
I consider myself lucky to be alive.
I'm 28. I survived extensive bi-lateral Pulmonary Embolism (PE), also known as blood clots in the lungs.
According to the 2008 Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism report, PE kills an estimated 82,000 people per year in the United States. What's more alarming, PE usually goes undiagnosed and the number of those who die from this condition is actually much higher. Also, PE is fatal in one out of every three cases.
I consider myself lucky to be alive.
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