Back from the Hospital

[maillotpois]

Boy, that was fun.

Here's the scoop:

I see a lot of paralells to Lorri (Velogirl's) experience with DVT (story re-linked below) - but I seemed to not have any DVT signs and went into Pulmonary emoblism. Here's the chronology:

6/3 I did the Eastern Sierra double (it was hot and I had trouble eating enough and probably didn't drink enough). Immediately after, I stopped using the advair inhaler my doctor gave me for suspected asthma that had developed after Solvang double - just to see if there was any effect from not using it.

6/6 I flew to the east coast and returned via red-eye 6/8,

6/9 did a stupid easy ride, and couldn't breathe. I figured it was the discontinuation of the inhaler so I started using it again.

6/10 did a tough 120 mile Death Ride training ride with participants I am coaching for Death Ride. Rode slowly, felt ok.

6/17 spent the weekend w/Death Ride team in Markleeville riding passes at altitude. Felt terrible. Could not breathe.

6/21 delivered pretty lackluster performance on 10 mile time trial. Can't breathe well. Assume, again, that it is asthma.

Then last Friday night (6/23) I was awoken with severe chest pain. Was unable to go to sleep for a couple of hours. I figured it was pleuritic pain caused by breathing difficulties secondary to this asthma issue. The next day, I delivered a pretty crummy performance on the second half of the Mt. Tam double course with V and friends. I (again) figured the shortness of breath and continuing sharp chest and back pain w/deep breathing was related to my asthma.

Monday morning, I noticed an odd taste in my mouth when I would clear my throat (I am a constant throat clearer). Driving to work, I coughed up a chunk of something that really didn't taste right and I looked into the rearview mirror and my mouth was full of blood.

Saw my doctor who was thrown by the 100% oxygen sat level of my blood (apparently historically, you don't have a clot in your lung if you have this but very fit folks may not fit the mold - be warned!) Got a chest x-ray and a battery of blood work Monday and by Tuesday (yesterday) I was ordered to a CT scan.

The CT scan was a bit scary as they inject iodinie dye for contrast and it is hot and feels very strange. When the scan was done, the radiology tech said (in that tone of voice you don't like to hear) "I am not a doctor, but I can tell you they are not going to let you go home." I had pulmonary emboli - clots in my lungs I did not have any clots remaining in my legs - they had apparently broken up and moved to my lungs. The danger is that the clots can obstruct your circulation and caused your heart to not be able to pump blood through. Or, the clots can go to the heart. Basically, you can die.

So I spent the night in the hospital on heavy duty blood thinners which I now have to self inject twice a day in the stomach for maybe 3 - 6 months. I have to get my blood checked regularly (like every few days at first). No riding for 2 weeks. No Death Ride. Probably, at this point, no Furnace Creek 508. Velogirl and SK have been extremely suportive, with the former issuing a real "get with it, you could have died" directive which made me think maybe backing off on the riding while I am on heavy anticoagulants is not a bad thing.

So anyway, I never got the leg pain (that I can remember - DH swears I complained of it once but I do not recall.) It was the coughing up blood that made me realize there was a problem. In retrospect I was SO lucky. I did all that tough riding - and the altitude camp - with clots in my legs and lungs. Yikes!

So be careful out there. And read Velogirl's story, too.
http://www.velogirls.com/resources/publications/dvt.pdf

[Grog]

Wow. That is scary.

I am really glad you are okay.

Rest well.

And thanks for the warnings!!

[Dianyla]

Holy cow! :eek:

I'm glad you made it through ok and that you're still with us. Thank you for posting this.

*shudder*

[Deanna]

Man o man. What a scary experience. I'm glad you are going to be okay.

[cusepack]

Oh my gosh Sarah, so glad to hear you're okay. Honestly, I'm at a loss for words as I can't imagine all that you've been going through physically and emotionally.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you as you recover.

Kathryn

[Fredwina]

not fun! And my co-workers wonders I try and roam the hallways at least once an hour. Speaking of which, I'm overdue....

[Nanci]

Wow, Sarah, I can't believe how long that took to develop. Do you really maybe have asthma, or did that all evolve after the flights, and cause you to think you did, then?

It kind of reminds me of when I had pneumonia last July, and me and my coworkers (at the hospital, in radiology) were all diagnosing me with different things like kidney stones...It took me from Thursday till Monday to actually figure out I wasn't going to get better on my own, and then my doc's office wouldn't see me till Tuesday, and when I went in, and described my back pain, the doc is like, well, you have pneumonia, that's a sure sign, but we'll x-ray you anyway.

Back to the CT. I worked in CT for about five years, and would always warn the patients that they would experience a warm, or even hot sensation from the IV contrast. Ok, so I had to have a chest CT with contrast a couple years ago. Well, what no one ever told _me_, probably because they hadn't ever had IV contrast, is that you get HOT right in the COOTCHIE area!! Nice...(Plus the rest of the body to various degrees, but it was really hot there! Don't know why.

Nanci

[SadieKate]

Wow, glad we hadn't sent over the shirtless dancing bike mechanics yet.

[Lifesgreat]

I am SO glad you are OK!!! As my as my clot filled family history mom says, "you don't mess with clots". I had a blood test a couple of years ago to see if I carry the gene that can indicate a higher chance of clots. Fortunately, I didn't inherit that gene :)

Rest easy!

[Tater]

Wow, I hope you get better soon! Sending healing thoughts your way!

[DeniseGoldberg]

Wow. It's sounds like you are on the road to recovery now, but that's one scary tale. More healing wishes are heading your way...

--- Denise

[mary9761]

I'm glad you're ok Sarah, that's scary stuff. I hope that the swelling that Larry (Zman) experienced on the plane to Australia doesn't have anything to do with DVT, I was concerned that could be the case. I hope that you don't have any recurrance either. Sorry you're going to miss out on the rides you had planned.
Mary

[tprevost]

OMG!!! Sarah! I am SO glad you are going to be okay. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and hope this gets straightened out in a way that has you happy and healthy once again!

Tracy

[caligurl]

wow! how SCARY!!!!!!! i'm glad to hear you are getting better... but... just WOW!!!!!!!!!!

[emily_in_nc]

Very scary! Glad you're okay (or will be).

I had pain behind the knee awhile back and Lorri told me her story, so I went to the doc and asked about DVT, just in case. I didn't have it, just tendinitis, but I learned a lot about it just from reading Lorri's article and a few other sources online. It's scary that you didn't even have the leg pain to forewarn you about this. :(

Best wishes for a quick recovery.

Emily

[maillotpois]

Wow, Sarah, I can't believe how long that took to develop. Do you really maybe have asthma, or did that all evolve after the flights, and cause you to think you did, then?

I have been having trouble breathing for months, following an upper respiratory infection I got end of March. The lingering breathing issues and the fact I've always been a "fluid-y lung" person led me and my doctors to believe it was asthma. Now I am not so sure.



Back to the CT. I worked in CT for about five years, and would always warn the patients that they would experience a warm, or even hot sensation from the IV contrast. Ok, so I had to have a chest CT with contrast a couple years ago. Well, what no one ever told _me_, probably because they hadn't ever had IV contrast, is that you get HOT right in the COOTCHIE area!! Nice...(Plus the rest of the body to various degrees, but it was really hot there! Don't know why.

Yeah - that was SUPER scary - and I was specifically warned that it would make me feel like I'd lost bladder control, because it gets so hot down there right away. It was really nice because they had the woman who actually gave me the IV stand right there and hold my arm as it was going in - I was up to my boobs in the CT machine but it wasn't on. Having her actually touching me while that was going in was a HUGE comfort.

[maillotpois]

Thanks for all your nice words, you guys.

It must be mentioned that SK kept me "company" most of the night via email, which was a HUGE help. It is pretty scary in the hospital by yourself. She was super helpful looking stuff up for me (because she had a real computer) and just generally sassing me to the degree needed.

So thanks SK, 'cause you're the bestest.

[SadieKate]

I didn't do anything you wouldn't have done, including the sassing.

Just remember when we send those shirtless bike mechanics:
http://www.engrish.com/recent_detail.php?imagename=erotic-bicycle.jpg&category=Cars&date=2006-06-08

[mtkitchn]

Holy Cow, Sarah! That is incredibly scary, but I'm sure glad you're pretty much okay. Did they give you advice on how to keep this from happening again, or CAN you keep it from happening again?
Take care of yourself, for sure!!!

[mtkitchn]

Oh, just read the linked article....wow, good information.

[Denise223]

Hi MP:

I'm very happy to hear that you are home & things were caught before they progressed further!


Originally posted by Maillotpois: Velogirl and SK have been extremely suportive, with the former issuing a real "get with it, you could have died" directive which made me think maybe backing off on the riding while I am on heavy anticoagulants is not a bad thing.

Please don't take any unneccesary chances with riding or any other activity in which you could hurt yourself & cause bleeding.
Your bike will be waiting for you when you're off of the blood thinners.

Sending many prayers & well wishes.

Denise

[bikerchick68]

oh my gosh sarah... :eek: I don't know if you recall... but about 8 months I posted something about my tan lines giving me away... I met this couple at the Trek Store... the man immediately spotted my tan lines and asked if I ever rode with newbies... we planned to ride together the following weekend.

During that conversation he asked if I had difficulty breathing on the bike. :confused: Huh? So I told him no, and as he described more I told him he needed to get to the doc. He had already BEEN to the doc, and had a followup a few days later...

the next weekend I called to meet them and the woman (purepink here on the forums) said that her DH would not be riding... about 2-3 hours after we met, he could not breathe... and was rushed in. Yep, he had a pulmonary emolism as well. :eek: He was on blood thinners for 6 months. He is now able to ride again... it was very, very scary tho... and like something like this will... it shifted his priorities...

(tprevost... if you read this, the man is Mac, who you rode with... Purepink's DH!)

Hugs, Sarah... glad you're OK... if you have questions about stuff lemme know and I will ask purepink... she is now pretty well versed on this subject...

[Lise]

MP, thanks for posting the story and the link. I had no idea that endurance athletes were at increased risk for DVT and PE. As someone said, "You don't mess with clots". Nor do you mess with blood thinners. Please follow directions. Even a casual bump into the furniture can cause massive bruising. I don't like to think what a tumble from a bike could do when you can't clot your blood.

Just so very glad you're here to tell the tale. ((((MP)))) L.

[DirtDiva]

Sheesh! :eek: That's scary! Take it easy, ya hear!

[maillotpois]

Again, thanks guys. You make me cry!!

And I just got off the phone with my FC 508 partner and broke the news. She just got back from a trip herself, and had done some research on her own and completely expected this. TIme for some easy rides (once I am cleared). I'd still like to do the doubles I have lined up but we'll just see how it goes.

Maybe I just start walking the dog a lot more. He'd really like that.

[bikerchick68]

I know that Mac was prohibited from riding while on the blood thinner...

walking the dog sounds great... and maybe some stuff with petitepois... any projects you've wanted to do that have been put off to make ride time??? This could be a great time to be "forced" to do stuff you've put off...

when my mom fell down the flight of stairs in March and I couldn't do CAM I just decided that I would finish my backyard... I'm currently about 1/2 way done! My mileage is way down, but my home looks amazing... :)

[maillotpois]

when my mom fell down the flight of stairs in March and I couldn't do CAM I just decided that I would finish my backyard... I'm currently about 1/2 way done! My mileage is way down, but my home looks amazing... :)


Well, that's true - I've seen pictures!! :D

[Trekhawk]

Sarah - that really is one scary story. You listen to Auntie SK and make sure you get plenty of rest and no hard riding.

I hope you are back in tip top condition soon.

Take things easy while you are on the blood medication. My dad takes them for a heart condition and if he cuts himself it really can be dangerous.

[Kitsune06]

Ms. Maillotpois-

Take care of yourself... it'd be more worthwhile to take the time in recovery than to risk overdoing it.

Hugs & positive thoughts,
Aryn

[KSH]

WOW! Thank goodness you are alive!

Be thankful!

I can't believe you did all that riding with clots in your lungs.

At least you are "OK" now.

I hope you heal quickly.

[jobob]

Crikey !!!
(I had to think of something to say other than "wow" - but that's what I thought too)

Take 'em easy.

[aka_kim]

Scary! Glad you're OK. I'll add my voice to the others about taking it easy while on the blood thinners, you don't need any more fun in the hospital.

(The techs told you you'd feel extremely hot from the contrast dye? When I had a CT scan a few years ago no one said a thing, and I was convinced I had actually peed - what a relief when it was all over to find I hadn't. :o )

Take care - you'll come back stronger than ever once you're well.

[weathergal]

Yikes, that's sounds scary. I'm glad you're okay.

The DVT is something to watch out for if you take Pill too, since the hormones in them can elevate the risk.

[snapdragen]

MP - the 508 will be there next year, as will the Death Ride. Take care of yourself!

Hugs,

Janet

[Velodog]

Seriously, you have gotten good advice from everyone here. This is your sister-in-law speaking who loves to ride with you when you're sick because then I have half a chance, but this is ridiculous. I'm so glad to know you dodged this one and we didn't even know it was serious while it was happening. Not a little pinky toe problem here. I can only assume it is your incredible fitness and force of mind that allowed you ride last weekend. That was a hard ride.
I absolutely agree that the Death Ride and any other ride will be there later and now you will be too. You are so much more important!
Cozy up with the Tour de France and we'll argue about who deserves the win!

[Quillfred]

Sarah

I'm so glad you made it through this! What a scary ordeal. I remember you posting about breathing difficulties and getting short of breath, wheezing, etc.

I hope everyone reads the attachment re: the high risk of blood clot developement for super-athletes. I had no idea. One would naturally suppose the opposite.

In order to keep you healthy and (temporarily) off your bike, I've found a video game that might be fun--a little virtual cycling never hurt, no?

http://www.cycling-manager.com/

Remember your cyclin' sistahs love ya :)

[Bad JuJu]

I had no prior knowledge of any of the conditons you mentioned, but it all sounds incredibly scary--especially that mouth full of blood thing. I'm glad to hear you're OK, and hope you're feeling like your old self soon soon soon!

[wavedancer]

Sarah,
I am so glad you are OK and that you got treatment for this dangerous condition. And thanks for the link to the article. I didn't know that athletes were more at risk for developing DVTs.

Please be careful while you are on the blood thinners...And let us know what you are doing as you recover.

Sending you many healing wishes,

Linda

[hirakukibou]

Thanks for sharing your story Sarah. Sending you healing light. Take good care.

[KnottedYet]

MP-

Geez, girl, that's scarey! So lucky that you caught it in time!

Those injections are no fun. I had to do them (Lovenox or something) into my stomach, and just couldn't. DPITA (dear pain in the @ss) is a nurse, so she had to do the shots for me.

Stay off the bike until the doc says so. Those thinners can mess things up a bit.

Be careful! Hugs!

[jeannierides]

:eek: Oh my gosh, Sarah! So glad you came through this ok... Sending healing thoughts your way...

[Dogmama]

Please be careful & don't climb back on until the doc gives the "all clear." So glad that you're OK - how scarey!!!

I had to give my DH lovenox in the stomach when he was recovering from cancer surgery - he threw a clot into his lung. Docs didn't even want him to shave.

Here's a trick with the shots: get the needle in & out really fast.

[betagirl]

Dang. I'm happy to hear it turned out ok for you. How scary it must have been to have a mouth full of blood.

Take it easy!

[Geonz]

Sheesh! Glad things are moving back in the right direction.

[DrBee]

Geezies MP! Now that I've read the full story, it's scarier than I had imagined. I'm so glad that you are okay and that they caught it before any worse damage was done. Like everyone else has said, the bike and the rides will be there when you're ready. Take the time to recover and do some fun things with petitepois and DH.

Now might be the time for the dancing shirtless bike mechanics. ;)

Hang in there! Just think - now you'll have more time to chit chat here with us :D

[winddance]

I'm so glad you're all right! Here's hoping for a speedy recovery so you can return to amazing us with your cycling exploits.

[Pedal Wench]

Wow - what a wakeup call for all of us! Lots of us travel to get to events, so I'm so glad you shared your story - it might save one more of us. I'm so glad you're gonna be okay. Good luck with the recovery, and let your body heal itself before you take any risks.

[crazycanuck]

Oh dear,

I do hope you feel 100% better soon. LIke all the other dear girls here have said, it's just nice to have you with us!

C

[annie]

Adding my best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to the large number of well-wishers already posted! So scary to read your story, Sarah. Amazing that you were able to do all that riding with the clots.

Here;s hoping you find lots of fun and interesting ways to keep busy until you can ride again.

annie

[Ninabike]

Wow Sarah, your experience is a lesson for all of us. I have always worried about DVT when flying - especially long flights, and I have always taken aspirin before a flight as I tend to get excessive edema in my legs. But I was never aware of the DVT risk associated with athletics. If anything, I always assumed exercise would help reduce the risk of DVT. I am glad you are feeling better and were diagnosed in time. If there is any good to come out of all of this, it is the lessons we all have learned. Thank you for sharing and take good care of yourself. Your bike will always be there.

Nina

[Jones]

OMG-what a scary story! I am so happy you are ok and wish you a very speedy recovery and hours of guilt free tour watching. Jones

[CorsairMac]

Hugsssssssss MP. I always worry when my breathing is laboured but it would never occur to me that it could be caused by clots. Will this be a reocurring issue or was it just a freaky one time thing? Either way - follow the drs advice, the bike will wait!

Corsairmac - fighting a nasty upper respiratory infection right now! :(

[maillotpois]

Hugsssssssss MP. I always worry when my breathing is laboured but it would never occur to me that it could be caused by clots. Will this be a reocurring issue or was it just a freaky one time thing? Either way - follow the drs advice, the bike will wait!

Corsairmac - fighting a nasty upper respiratory infection right now! :(


CM - hopefully not recurring, but I'll be on anti-coagulants for a while. Hope you get well soon!!

[Trekhawk]

Hugsssssssss MP. I always worry when my breathing is laboured but it would never occur to me that it could be caused by clots. Will this be a reocurring issue or was it just a freaky one time thing? Either way - follow the drs advice, the bike will wait!

Corsairmac - fighting a nasty upper respiratory infection right now! :(

Oh no Corsair - I hope you are feeling better soon too.:)

[slinkedog]

Geez! Look what happens when you don't log on for a couple of days!!! Where's that handbasket?

Sarah, I am so glad that you're okay. Please know you'll be in my thoughts and prayers daily. Hang in there and keep us posted as to how you're doing.

Shannon

[Deanna]

CM - hopefully not recurring, but I'll be on anti-coagulants for a while. Hope you get well soon!!

Okay, I just reread your original story, and what struck me about your treatment is that you have to INJECT YOURSELF IN YOUR STOMACH:eek: You have nerves of steel! I hope you have a super speedy recovery. Do you get to do any physical activity or is it bed rest for a while?

[maillotpois]

Okay, I just reread your original story, and what struck me about your treatment is that you have to INJECT YOURSELF IN YOUR STOMACH:eek: You have nerves of steel! I hope you have a super speedy recovery. Do you get to do any physical activity or is it bed rest for a while?


Bed rest for a few more days. Doctor said it was okay to make the trip to get my daughter from camp (near Placerville) as long as I take breaks from sitting in the car. No "strenuous" activity for 2 weeks at least. Probably no riding outside for a few months. Much will depend on blood tests, which will tell me (I think) how long I have to be on anti-coagulants.

The injections are not great. SK gave me a good tip (holding the syringe to warm the stuff before doing it). That seemed to help this morning. Sticking it into the fat on my stomach (yeah, really, there's plenty there!) is better than having to do it intramuscularly like some folks do for some things.

[emily_in_nc]

The injections are not great. SK gave me a good tip (holding the syringe to warm the stuff before doing it). That seemed to help this morning. Sticking it into the fat on my stomach (yeah, really, there's plenty there!) is better than having to do it intramuscularly like some folks do for some things.

Sarah, I also had to inject my tummy with blood thinners (only once a day, unlike your twice) for two weeks after my pelvic fracture surgery last year. I found that if I numbed up the area really good with an ice cube ahead of time, I barely felt the injection. But no, it's not fun. Just proves that we are stronger than we realize when we can do it - I got many comments from friends who thought they'd never be able to do it. But, when push comes to shove, it's amazing just what we can do...

Thinking of you,
Emily

[Duck on Wheels]

Oh dear oh dear oh dear! As said above: Look what happens when I go off line for a few days! Get well quick, Maillotpois! I'm so glad to hear you're still with us! As for the injections ... been there, done that, not that I'd wish to do it again, but it wasn't so bad as it sounds. Running out of breath and coughing up blood were probably far worse sensations. Glad you're done with those!

[Lise]

My .02--remember to really vary the injection sites. Some folks do it on a grid system, so they cover the entire area of (the belly, the thighs, wherever they told you inject) before going back to the same place twice.

[SadieKate]

Can't this injection be given in the other really fatty area by one's partner?:rolleyes: Of course, this assumes the partner is willing to wield a needle.

[maillotpois]

My .02--remember to really vary the injection sites. Some folks do it on a grid system, so they cover the entire area of (the belly, the thighs, wherever they told you inject) before going back to the same place twice.

That's exactly what the nurse who taught me told me to do. I prefer the lower belly area where all the child birth flab seems to congregate - doesn't hurt as much. But I try to move up and down a line there.

[maillotpois]

Of course, this assumes the partner is willing to wield a needle.

Mine not so much....

Based on today's blood, the warfarin goes up quite a bit. Hoping that soon the injections go away completely and the warfarin takes over. Re-test Sunday and re-adjust dosage Sunday night.

[KnottedYet]

I just remember getting amazing technicolor bruises at the injection sites. (cuz the Lovenox I was taking was really concentrated at those sites and I swear it dissolved me!!!) DPITA tried to make sure she injected me in a lot of different places so nothing got too beat up. I looked so pretty by the end..... (not):D

[emily_in_nc]

I just remember getting amazing technicolor bruises at the injection sites. (cuz the Lovenox I was taking was really concentrated at those sites and I swear it dissolved me!!!) DPITA tried to make sure she injected me in a lot of different places so nothing got too beat up. I looked so pretty by the end..... (not):D

Poor you! I didn't get bruises from Lovenox at all. I had to do the injections myself because my DH would have fainted! He's more squeamish than I am!

Emily

[salsabike]

OK, Maillotpois--while you are waiting to be able to ride again....below I have put some of the links to some sites I like. I offer them as sources of amusement when you (or anyone else) is in need of entertainment. Take heart; you will get through this chunk of time and back to riding. Mean While, Back at the Ranch---

http://www.worth1000.com/

http://galleryoftheabsurd.typepad.com/14/

http://www.woostercollective.com/

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/dave_barry/

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm?cam=LP2

http://bullwinkle.toonzone.net/

http://www.thirteenmoonsgallery.com/

[maillotpois]

Salsa -

Thanks so much!! How very cool.