As seen on T V

[Richard Pickering]

There probably isn't a good place for this so I placed it to get some exposure. We have all seen the ads for different blood thinners; and the ones by attorneys who want to get a class action. I wasn't much interested in blood thinners until about 10 days ago. At some previous point I developed a blood clot in the left leg. Lots of clots form in the legs. They sometimes migrate and are pumped into the lungs. That is what mine did. I don't know how much of it migrated, but enough did that it caused problems.
If you feel ''just tired'' or have a pain in the lower back you should beware. I thought my pain was just a muscle pull. Many of us sit a lot. We sit at work or sit at home or while driving. This is not good if it isn't countered with some exercise.
Especially if the pain worsens such that it grips your back and you cannot get comfortable-----have it checked. Especially have your blood / oxygen saturation checked. Normal is about 97. If you register less you need to proceed to ''Why''.
I could not even lie down due to the muscle spasms. It also affected chest and abdominal muscles. I had only one choice. Of course, it was made for me. ''We are going'' was the decree. It was the proper decision. Blood Clots are dangerous. And they are Stealthy.
So, I am not having all my clothes boxed and donated this week. And, rumors of my demise have been exaggerated-----apparently not by much. Take better care of yourself. Richard Pickering

[19 Turkeys]

Thanks for the warning Richard & VERY glad you are A-OK!

Steve W.

[borregos]

Thanks for the warning Richard & VERY glad you are A-OK!

Steve W.

This!

[high standard 40]

Richard. I'm glad you will be OK. We'd like to keep you around a little longer.

[hardtoseeovergut]

Glad you're OK, good ccautionary tale.

[260 Striker]

A buddy of mine would say "Drink more beer". He is pretty healthy and I think he looks for any excuse to drink beer. Glad they caught it in time and you are mending.

[braud357]

Richard, glad you made it through this - take care of yourself !!

[Richard Pickering]

It is time for an update. I had to take a blood thinner (Pradaxa) for six months. I had an ultrasound on the leg and no clot was found so I was released from Pradaxa and allowed to use 81mg aspirin daily. This has been three months, roughly. Earlier this week I had a familiar pain on the left and in back. It seemed worse upon taking a deep breath. Still, it was not nearly as severe as last April. Thursday I visited the family doctor. The oxygen level was good at 95. I asked about that and down to about 92 is acceptable. A reading in the 80s is cause for concern.
The only way to prove or disprove a recurrence was a CT scan. Later Thursday the news was no new clots-----cause for smiling. Apparently not all of the original clots had completely dissolved. And, I was developing pneumonia. I go back on Pradaxa for a month and on an antibiotic for 10 days.
I'm happy that we think the April event was atypical and not likely to recur. Also, I'm glad they didn't admit me. This is Saturday and already the spasm pain does not occur with a deep breath. I did get a vaccination for Pneumonia earlier. Apparently it isn't a total prevention.
An early realization of what that pain indicated helped. Most times you would think it is just a strain. Pain in the back behind the lungs shouldn't be ignored.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas season and a prosperous 2017. RP