Blood Thinners, Clots, etc...

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Mar 11, 2020
1,404
4,476
Southern Illinois
I actually just got out of the hospital this afternoon they thought I had blood clots in my lungs, then they thought COVID, final answer was bad case of pneumonia and start of COPD. As much as it pains me to say go get checked out. The hospital was mad that I didn’t have COVID but they still took good care of me. And to tell you the truth the COVID test is not that bad
 
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Mar 11, 2020
1,404
4,476
Southern Illinois
Hospital here is putting "covid positive" bracelets on patients admitted to emergencies. They don't even test them. Everyone's positive now.
That’s what they did and tested me three times even tried the anti body test and it came back negative. I tried to explain I didn’t have COVID symptoms except for short of breath. They finally discharged me after the third test
 
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olkofri

Lifer
Sep 9, 2017
8,033
14,644
The Arm of Orion
That’s what they did and tested me three times even tried the anti body test and it came back negative. I tried to explain I didn’t have COVID symptoms except for short of breath. They finally discharged me after the third test
At least you got tested. An acquaintance of mine went in for a broken bone and they put the bracelet on him. Again: no testing for c19 at all. He asked why, and why were they deeming him positive without ANY testing, and they just said "it's the new policy". Way to inflate their 'cases' numbers.

Of course, a patient in pain with a broken bone is not gonna argue, is he? He'd be sent home without treatment.
 

Sloopjohnbee

Lifer
May 12, 2019
1,291
2,288
Atlantic Coast USA
The thing
I actually just got out of the hospital this afternoon they thought I had blood clots in my lungs, then they thought COVID, final answer was bad case of pneumonia and start of COPD. As much as it pains me to say go get checked out. The hospital was mad that I didn’t have COVID but they still took good care of me. And to tell you the truth the COVID test is not that bad
what was wrong with you? symptoms? glad you are out
 

shanez

Lifer
Jul 10, 2018
5,188
24,080
49
Las Vegas
Here's my story about my blood clots as a little food for thought here:

I had a bi-lateral pulmonary embolism. Blood clots blocked both of my lungs from my heart. I was not overweight, didn't drink or smoke on a regular basis, and I exercised on a somewhat regular basis.

For several weeks I had been walking around with at least 1 lung blocked from my heart. I thought I was just getting out of shape really fast since I never felt any pain or localized sensations of any kind but it took very little for me to get "winded".

Walking into a building on day from the car to the first floor elevators, about 50 yards max on flat ground, I got real winded and passed out. This is possibly when the second clot blocked the other lung, No pain in my chest or anywhere else. Just out of breath.

My boss was with me and he woke me up. We went in, did our paperwork, and left. I was feeling green and greasy. I had my boss take me to the hospital instead of home which is probably why I'm still here to type this.

I walked into the ER, checked in, sat down, and started filling out my paperwork. A minute later a nurse came over and said forget the paperwork and that I needed immediate attention. Numerous questions and tests followed. At this point I was no longer allowed to walk or even sit up. After the tests didn't show anything the ER doctor said there was a possibility of one more thing and that I need a CAT scan to find out. Off I went for the scan (they also scanned my head in case I did any damage when I passed out and fell down).

The scan revealed the clots and several specialists were called in. I was hooked to about 5 different machines on IVs and was given a "clot busting" drug to get rid of the clots. The one specialist said if I was much older I wouldn't get the drug as it was both powerful and potentially dangerous. Unbeknownst to me, the same specialist told my father over the phone that if I had another clot that night that I most likely would not survive.

The clot busting drug worked. I did spend 5 days in ICU and and 2 days in a regular room. I was prescribed Xarelto and was on it for the next 18 months with regular visits to a hematologist for checkups. In the end, the doctor said since we could not figure out why I had the clots in the first place is was just as dangerous to stay on the drug as to discontinue it so it was best that I stop taking it.

I was shown the scan images from before and after the clot busting drugs. The arteries were about the diameter of a pencil on the screen. On side had a tiny spot about the diameter of a toothpick that the doctor said they thought was giving me oxygenated blood to my heart otherwise it wass 100% total blockage. The after images looked perfectly normal.

Blood "thinners" have some very curious aspects and they are not all the same or even do the same thing so don't go thinking you can self-prescribe an aspirin routine with whiskey and all is good because it's not.

While in the ER the first night the specialists said I could not have "leafy green" vegetables while on the drug. An surreal conversation ensued about "yes I could technically have a double cheeseburger" that night but "no I could not in reality have a double cheeseburger" that night or for a few weeks. I was also asked if I smoked and I told them I enjoyed an occasional cigar or pipe. The specialist looked at me and said he asked if I smoked not occasionally enjoyed something else. I could also drink while on the drug but I should avoid heavy inebriation.

A short period of time afterwards I had veins removed from my legs. There are a kind of "back-flow prevention" valve in our veins that as the vein weakens or stretches as we age looses it effectiveness which can cause blood to pool in our feet.

Here it is, around 8 years later, and I measure my heart rate, oxygen level, and blood pressure on a weekly basis and anytime I feel a little "off". The equipment to do so is readily available and surprising not expensive. Thankfully there have been no issues so far.
 

Sloopjohnbee

Lifer
May 12, 2019
1,291
2,288
Atlantic Coast USA
Here's my story about my blood clots as a little food for thought here:

I had a bi-lateral pulmonary embolism. Blood clots blocked both of my lungs from my heart. I was not overweight, didn't drink or smoke on a regular basis, and I exercised on a somewhat regular basis.

For several weeks I had been walking around with at least 1 lung blocked from my heart. I thought I was just getting out of shape really fast since I never felt any pain or localized sensations of any kind but it took very little for me to get "winded".

Walking into a building on day from the car to the first floor elevators, about 50 yards max on flat ground, I got real winded and passed out. This is possibly when the second clot blocked the other lung, No pain in my chest or anywhere else. Just out of breath.

My boss was with me and he woke me up. We went in, did our paperwork, and left. I was feeling green and greasy. I had my boss take me to the hospital instead of home which is probably why I'm still here to type this.

I walked into the ER, checked in, sat down, and started filling out my paperwork. A minute later a nurse came over and said forget the paperwork and that I needed immediate attention. Numerous questions and tests followed. At this point I was no longer allowed to walk or even sit up. After the tests didn't show anything the ER doctor said there was a possibility of one more thing and that I need a CAT scan to find out. Off I went for the scan (they also scanned my head in case I did any damage when I passed out and fell down).

The scan revealed the clots and several specialists were called in. I was hooked to about 5 different machines on IVs and was given a "clot busting" drug to get rid of the clots. The one specialist said if I was much older I wouldn't get the drug as it was both powerful and potentially dangerous. Unbeknownst to me, the same specialist told my father over the phone that if I had another clot that night that I most likely would not survive.

The clot busting drug worked. I did spend 5 days in ICU and and 2 days in a regular room. I was prescribed Xarelto and was on it for the next 18 months with regular visits to a hematologist for checkups. In the end, the doctor said since we could not figure out why I had the clots in the first place is was just as dangerous to stay on the drug as to discontinue it so it was best that I stop taking it.

I was shown the scan images from before and after the clot busting drugs. The arteries were about the diameter of a pencil on the screen. On side had a tiny spot about the diameter of a toothpick that the doctor said they thought was giving me oxygenated blood to my heart otherwise it wass 100% total blockage. The after images looked perfectly normal.

Blood "thinners" have some very curious aspects and they are not all the same or even do the same thing so don't go thinking you can self-prescribe an aspirin routine with whiskey and all is good because it's not.

While in the ER the first night the specialists said I could not have "leafy green" vegetables while on the drug. An surreal conversation ensued about "yes I could technically have a double cheeseburger" that night but "no I could not in reality have a double cheeseburger" that night or for a few weeks. I was also asked if I smoked and I told them I enjoyed an occasional cigar or pipe. The specialist looked at me and said he asked if I smoked not occasionally enjoyed something else. I could also drink while on the drug but I should avoid heavy inebriation.

A short period of time afterwards I had veins removed from my legs. There are a kind of "back-flow prevention" valve in our veins that as the vein weakens or stretches as we age looses it effectiveness which can cause blood to pool in our feet.

Here it is, around 8 years later, and I measure my heart rate, oxygen level, and blood pressure on a weekly basis and anytime I feel a little "off". The equipment to do so is readily available and surprising not expensive. Thankfully there have been no issues so far.
Excellent read - very informative and touching, scary at points - if you don't mind me asking how old were you(around or exact) when this happened?
 

KafkaStoleMyBike

Starting to Get Obsessed
Jul 10, 2020
197
839
Dallas, TX
I’m curious how this turned out, but will echo others’ suggestions to get to your primary care provider for screening if you haven’t done so already. Blood work and a urine sample would narrow things down considerably; a CT scan would be a little later, but they try not to dole those scans out like candy (especially in the abdomen).

A blood thinner will be preventative, and depending on what you are prescribed you may need to alter your diet (eg, warfarin and certain vegetables). Some of the newer thinners do better with vitamin K, though they can be expensive.
 

Sloopjohnbee

Lifer
May 12, 2019
1,291
2,288
Atlantic Coast USA
I’m curious how this turned out, but will echo others’ suggestions to get to your primary care provider for screening if you haven’t done so already. Blood work and a urine sample would narrow things down considerably; a CT scan would be a little later, but they try not to dole those scans out like candy (especially in the abdomen).

A blood thinner will be preventative, and depending on what you are prescribed you may need to alter your diet (eg, warfarin and certain vegetables). Some of the newer thinners do better with vitamin K, though they can be expensive.
will get back to you, friend.
 
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BROBS

Lifer
Nov 13, 2019
11,765
40,026
IA
so I figured I owed everyone an update as I took your advice and made it to GP last week. He's a good diagnostician, and a gastro doc -
well, today, still in agony but ran he some tests and says he isn't worried as he didn't see anything - he assumes spasms are causing all this pain - I was mainly concerned with clots or embolism - which I assume was ruled out
Frankly I cannot understand any of it but my entire body is acting up - everything from burning sciatic, plueric, and flank pain(down to leg - feels like I'm twisted) to leg pain and upper back pain(bone) - constipation ended but now have the opposite- lost 7 pounds in 1 week, fatigue
Trying to stay optimistic but I suspect there is something underlying - I feel like a 85 year old man sitting around not being able to move
unfortunately these symptoms I'm running align with M.M.(blood/bone marrow disease, pretty rare but happens) - Granted you know the net and self diagnosis etc... I knew about MM when I went in but I didn't want to sound like a nutjob alarmist so I didn't mention it to him - I think they have to test for M. protein in blood to confirm - not something they openly seek out and order in the bloodwork
I mentioned "could it be prostate?" - no reply so I figured he isn't worried about that
the only other thing I can think of is 3 years ago had a bullseye like a tick bite, got tested for lyme but test only showed small lyme activity and not enough to be deemed positive -
That's where I am and appreciate all of you putting up with my complaining
I'd love a smoke but I've been staying away - I may get back into it shortly
Lyme disease is a good possibility
 

BROBS

Lifer
Nov 13, 2019
11,765
40,026
IA
you think so? glad you caught the post - I deleted it accidentally
I say that just because it can cause so many strange immune responses.. no experience myself. Just something that would make sense to me. I think you are over-worrying thinking about more serious stuff to tell you the truth. I do the same thing when something is wrong with me.
 
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