Hello my twin thrombotic friend
Hi
@briped,
Wonderful reply. It's brilliant that you decided to join the forum.
Oh I couldn't not join the forum once I found it. The main difference between this place and the corresponding Danish one is that this is so positive and encouraging. It gives me hope that I can be the master of my body, and not vice versa
My experience was quite similar. My hubby took me to the emergency entrance after I felt that the sore muscle pain had started moving upwards -- this was three to four days after the first symptoms occurred. In hospital then, I was diagnosed with DVT. When they did a CT scan, they also found that there were some blood clots in my lungs -- though I was still asymptomatic. I guess we are both incredibly lucky to be alive.
I had quite a time getting my GP's office to take me seriously. You see, in Denmark we can't just go to an A&E. We need a doctor's referral first. The secretary told me to come see them, and I told her that that simply was out of the question, and that I'd send for a private medic to come see me instead. Apparently the secretary told this to my GP, who rang me. She could hear that I had speech apnoea, and decided to admit me there and then without seeing me first. She arranged for some transport, but the **** driver refused to let my husband come along with me, so I sent him packing, and found a regular cab. Not being used to hospitals I just asked him to take me to the hospital in question, and he took us to the main entrance. It turned out that the A&E entrance was 2-300 m. away. I had to take several breaks to reach that entrance, but I managed, and was happy to see the lift that took me ½ a floor up. I'd packed my small cabin suitcase, and this made the nurses ask me if I'd come straight from the airport, but no. I knew that I was a keeper, and had packed my laptop and several other necessities, chargers, and what have you. To cut a long and rather tedious story short, after a horrible blood test in my wrist they did keep me. Not being used to being a patient I felt dazed and confused. Didn't know what questions to ask and what to expect, but they "re-diagnosed" my diabetes (surprise!!), and my BG was way up there. I remember I was handed quite a portion of white rice for my supper!! I was also carted off for a CT scan. It was exactly like in a bad American movie, where all the patient sees are all the light fittings in the ceiling
That same evening I had this episode of supraventricular tachycardia, as narrated to Tipetoo further up in this thread, so quite a few things to deal with. Yes, I'm glad we're both alive too
Like you, I remember the HCPs keeping on asking why I got the embolism. I had travelled the week before, but apparently the flight wasn't long enough to cause DVT. It seems to matter whether the DVT/embolism is provoked or unprovoked -- I guess this is why they keep asking. They even did genetic testing, but it seems I have no genetic abnormalities. Did they test this for you too?
Yes, they did test me for that too, and no, no genetic reason for it.
Personally, I attribute the embolism to high blood sugars and high cortisol (due to extreme work stress and lack of sleep). Did you know that people with Cushing's syndrome (who produce way too much cortisol) have a tenfold increased risk of DVT?
No, I didn't know about cortisol playing a role, but you could well be right about the high BG. I know a lovely man who used to be a consultant on a medical ward. At least I believe he's lovely, but to be honest I sometimes have trouble understanding him because he's from Skåne in Sweden
From what I could gather he was telling me not to blame myself, and not to take any s*** from anybody, because a DVT can happen for no apparent reason and to anybody, and I suppose that if anybody knows, it would be him. Of course a DVT is as stigmatising as our T2, so double whammy to us!
Anyway, when I saw my GP in September last year (approx. 2 yrs later), he suggested that I come of blood thinners (im my case Apixaban Eliquis) and that I stop wearing the stocking. So, wearing stockings doesn't necessarily have to be forever.
That's good news, unless it turns out to be necessary to wear it
I won't ever come off my Xarelto, as I've explained to Tipetoo earlier in this thread. I bought a pair of cheapo travellers' socks. Perhaps they won't help much, but they'll have to do for the next couple of days.
The exercises you found sound interesting. What type of exercises are they? The nurse told me that flexing the front of my feet (with heels on the ground) while sitting is helpful in strengthening the muscles that support the veins in your calves.
They're mostly floor exercises, and there's lots of waving your legs in the air. For some reason I can't download and save the PDF, but here's the link. The drawings will give you some sort of an idea, while the text might be gibberish. If they look interesting to you, I'll be happy to translate
The link was longer than my arm, so I shortened it.
https://bit.ly/2KC5TPC
Are you planning to get your leg/foot checked out? Maybe, they can do an ultrasound scan to see if there is any blockage.
I suppose I have to do something, but they do look better today. I can actually see my veins on both feet, and there's not much of a difference, if any
Mind you, I did spend some hours with that leg raised very high up. I'll keep a close eye on it, keep it elevated whenever I can, and do those exercises. I'm more optimistic today that I was yesterday.