Some answers, more questions

[KeithT]

So, you all have heard/read about my struggles over the past 6 months or more. Well, I may have some answers, but more things to find out....this is not good news. I never told you that I went to an urgent care about a month ago with a swollen and achy lower leg despite not injuring it that I could recall. They sent me to an emergency room to have a ultrasound to look for a possible DVT blood clot. No DVT found so that was good. They told me to follow up with my Dr. if I continued to have swelling/pain. Well, I did have pain still and went to Dr. this past Friday and he decided I needed to be scanned again and .... I had DVTs in my lower left leg behind the knee. I was told to go to ER and get started on anti-coagulants. I did so, and when there they wanted to make sure no blood clots had moved to my lungs so they scanned my lungs and unfortunately I had small blood clots there too. They did not have to do invasive treatment and I am just on blood thinners. I have no idea how long these clots may have been around or why I would get them. I will be having a lot of follow up Dr. visits and scans and will see a Hematologists. I have been told just light exercise (walking) for a bit until I see more Dr.s, so no hard rows in immediate future. I will be anxious to see what this is all about and if it impacts my future training. I know I will be on blood thinners for a few months at least and not sure what that will do to training either. I know training is not important at this point as DVTs can be fatal. So, anyway, I have some answers to recent struggles but many more questions now about my health and reasons for these clots.

[winniewinser]

So, you all have heard/read about my struggles over the past 6 months or more. Well, I may have some answers, but more things to find out....this is not good news. I never told you that I went to an urgent care about a month ago with a swollen and achy lower leg despite not injuring it that I could recall. They sent me to an emergency room to have a ultrasound to look for a possible DVT blood clot. No DVT found so that was good. They told me to follow up with my Dr. if I continued to have swelling/pain. Well, I did have pain still and went to Dr. this past Friday and he decided I needed to be scanned again and .... I had DVTs in my lower left leg behind the knee. I was told to go to ER and get started on anti-coagulants. I did so, and when there they wanted to make sure no blood clots had moved to my lungs so they scanned my lungs and unfortunately I had small blood clots there too. They did not have to do invasive treatment and I am just on blood thinners. I have no idea how long these clots may have been around or why I would get them. I will be having a lot of follow up Dr. visits and scans and will see a Hematologists. I have been told just light exercise (walking) for a bit until I see more Dr.s, so no hard rows in immediate future. I will be anxious to see what this is all about and if it impacts my future training. I know I will be on blood thinners for a few months at least and not sure what that will do to training either. I know training is not important at this point as DVTs can be fatal. So, anyway, I have some answers to recent struggles but many more questions now about my health and reasons for these clots.

Blimey Keith, sorry to hear this but glad it's been caught now. I have fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

[Dutch]

So, you all have heard/read about my struggles over the past 6 months or more. Well, I may have some answers, but more things to find out....this is not good news. I never told you that I went to an urgent care about a month ago with a swollen and achy lower leg despite not injuring it that I could recall. They sent me to an emergency room to have a ultrasound to look for a possible DVT blood clot. No DVT found so that was good. They told me to follow up with my Dr. if I continued to have swelling/pain. Well, I did have pain still and went to Dr. this past Friday and he decided I needed to be scanned again and .... I had DVTs in my lower left leg behind the knee. I was told to go to ER and get started on anti-coagulants. I did so, and when there they wanted to make sure no blood clots had moved to my lungs so they scanned my lungs and unfortunately I had small blood clots there too. They did not have to do invasive treatment and I am just on blood thinners. I have no idea how long these clots may have been around or why I would get them. I will be having a lot of follow up Dr. visits and scans and will see a Hematologists. I have been told just light exercise (walking) for a bit until I see more Dr.s, so no hard rows in immediate future. I will be anxious to see what this is all about and if it impacts my future training. I know I will be on blood thinners for a few months at least and not sure what that will do to training either. I know training is not important at this point as DVTs can be fatal. So, anyway, I have some answers to recent struggles but many more questions now about my health and reasons for these clots.

Sorry to hear this Keith. At least they are on it now and hopefully you will get more answers. keep us informed how you progress.

[Dangerscouse]

So, you all have heard/read about my struggles over the past 6 months or more. Well, I may have some answers, but more things to find out....this is not good news. I never told you that I went to an urgent care about a month ago with a swollen and achy lower leg despite not injuring it that I could recall. They sent me to an emergency room to have a ultrasound to look for a possible DVT blood clot. No DVT found so that was good. They told me to follow up with my Dr. if I continued to have swelling/pain. Well, I did have pain still and went to Dr. this past Friday and he decided I needed to be scanned again and .... I had DVTs in my lower left leg behind the knee. I was told to go to ER and get started on anti-coagulants. I did so, and when there they wanted to make sure no blood clots had moved to my lungs so they scanned my lungs and unfortunately I had small blood clots there too. They did not have to do invasive treatment and I am just on blood thinners. I have no idea how long these clots may have been around or why I would get them. I will be having a lot of follow up Dr. visits and scans and will see a Hematologists. I have been told just light exercise (walking) for a bit until I see more Dr.s, so no hard rows in immediate future. I will be anxious to see what this is all about and if it impacts my future training. I know I will be on blood thinners for a few months at least and not sure what that will do to training either. I know training is not important at this point as DVTs can be fatal. So, anyway, I have some answers to recent struggles but many more questions now about my health and reasons for these clots.

Best wishes to you mate, please keep us posted on progress.

Funnily enough I'm going to the doctors next week as I'm a bit concerned I might have a DVT. I've got varicose veins in my left leg (thanks Mum apparently they can be hereditary), and after getting back from Greece it started hurting; not swollen or red or anything else, but it's like a couple of muscle knots, and it's not progressed or regressed at all in the past 10 days

Hopefully it will be nothing, but I need to make sure especially as it only started after a four hour flight.

[Sakly]

Sorry to read these lines
I hope you get the root cause and will be able to manage it back to full health! Good luck

[nick rockliff]

So, you all have heard/read about my struggles over the past 6 months or more. Well, I may have some answers, but more things to find out....this is not good news. I never told you that I went to an urgent care about a month ago with a swollen and achy lower leg despite not injuring it that I could recall. They sent me to an emergency room to have a ultrasound to look for a possible DVT blood clot. No DVT found so that was good. They told me to follow up with my Dr. if I continued to have swelling/pain. Well, I did have pain still and went to Dr. this past Friday and he decided I needed to be scanned again and .... I had DVTs in my lower left leg behind the knee. I was told to go to ER and get started on anti-coagulants. I did so, and when there they wanted to make sure no blood clots had moved to my lungs so they scanned my lungs and unfortunately I had small blood clots there too. They did not have to do invasive treatment and I am just on blood thinners. I have no idea how long these clots may have been around or why I would get them. I will be having a lot of follow up Dr. visits and scans and will see a Hematologists. I have been told just light exercise (walking) for a bit until I see more Dr.s, so no hard rows in immediate future. I will be anxious to see what this is all about and if it impacts my future training. I know I will be on blood thinners for a few months at least and not sure what that will do to training either. I know training is not important at this point as DVTs can be fatal. So, anyway, I have some answers to recent struggles but many more questions now about my health and reasons for these clots.

Not good news but you now have like you say, an answer. Stick with it, am sure it will all work out for you.

[btlifter]

Sorry to hear, Ketih

Wishing you well mate.

[KeithT]

So, you all have heard/read about my struggles over the past 6 months or more. Well, I may have some answers, but more things to find out....this is not good news. I never told you that I went to an urgent care about a month ago with a swollen and achy lower leg despite not injuring it that I could recall. They sent me to an emergency room to have a ultrasound to look for a possible DVT blood clot. No DVT found so that was good. They told me to follow up with my Dr. if I continued to have swelling/pain. Well, I did have pain still and went to Dr. this past Friday and he decided I needed to be scanned again and .... I had DVTs in my lower left leg behind the knee. I was told to go to ER and get started on anti-coagulants. I did so, and when there they wanted to make sure no blood clots had moved to my lungs so they scanned my lungs and unfortunately I had small blood clots there too. They did not have to do invasive treatment and I am just on blood thinners. I have no idea how long these clots may have been around or why I would get them. I will be having a lot of follow up Dr. visits and scans and will see a Hematologists. I have been told just light exercise (walking) for a bit until I see more Dr.s, so no hard rows in immediate future. I will be anxious to see what this is all about and if it impacts my future training. I know I will be on blood thinners for a few months at least and not sure what that will do to training either. I know training is not important at this point as DVTs can be fatal. So, anyway, I have some answers to recent struggles but many more questions now about my health and reasons for these clots.

Best wishes to you mate, please keep us posted on progress.

Funnily enough I'm going to the doctors next week as I'm a bit concerned I might have a DVT. I've got varicose veins in my left leg (thanks Mum apparently they can be hereditary), and after getting back from Greece it started hurting; not swollen or red or anything else, but it's like a couple of muscle knots, and it's not progressed or regressed at all in the past 10 days

Hopefully it will be nothing, but I need to make sure especially as it only started after a four hour flight.

I have varicose veins as well - pretty bad on both legs. I think you can get clots in those veins but not considered a DVT but - they could lead to a DVT if there was some trauma (or long flight) etc. I hope that is not what you have and glad getting checked - I had a Brother-in-law pass away from a blood clot at age 46 like a week after an 8 hour flight. So, needless to say, when I found I had clots I was a bit freaked out.

[Dangerscouse]

I have varicose veins as well - pretty bad on both legs. I think you can get clots in those veins but not considered a DVT but - they could lead to a DVT if there was some trauma (or long flight) etc. I hope that is not what you have and glad getting checked - I had a Brother-in-law pass away from a blood clot at age 46 like a week after an 8 hour flight. So, needless to say, when I found I had clots I was a bit freaked out.

First of all I want to apologise for making it about me, rather than you. Given your circumstances you must be concerned, but it does sound like you have done everything you need to do, and I assume not doing anything strenuous is going to be a tough proposition.

I'm going to take the lesson from this post and take it seriously that there's a possibility of it being something to worry about. I haven't properly been concerned about it, as I'm a typical man.

[Erik A]

not the best news but at least now you know what you are dealing with. hope they get it all sorted and you can continue for many years to come.

[Cyclingman1]

Well I can comment at length on DVTs and PEs. It sure is weird how ERs cannot seem to find DVTs. The first one I had I got sent home from the ER. The doc gave me some mumbo-jumbo and he was totally wrong. I gradually more or less recovered from that one over time, but I'm positive I experienced a series of PEs in that time frame. I was riding bikes in that era and occasionally I would get this extreme breathlessness and I could barely turn the pedals over and I was a top cyclist. Probably lucky I didn't keel over during one of those episodes.

Well, a few yrs after that, 2010, I had another pronounced swelling in my calf and I went to a vascular doctor who again sent me home. I persisted and went back the next day and an ultrasound was done around the groin area. The results seemed to be alarming to them because they had me head immediately to the ER and all sorts of tests were done including an MRI of the lungs. I had a significant DVT and PE. I stayed in the hospital 4 days and was put on the blood thinner Coumadin. I felt OK but the PE caused some of the blood pressures in my heart to be off. Took about a yr for previous fitness levels to come back. I went off of Coumadin. Big mistake because I was a ticking time bomb.

In 2014 a DVT and PE reared its ugly head again. I was rowing during that time. This one was worse - a lot of leg pain. I had to make several trips to the ER to get the "docs" to understand what I was experiencing. I had different doctors this time who could not get their act together. Finally a young doc from India came on the scene who put me on Xarelto. I still see him and I still take 20mg every day. It is a lifelong prescription. I passed all of the typical tests for a tendency for DVTs. But studies have been done that show that bigger endurance athletes can be prone to DVTs. Dehydration is somewhat of a factor. Plus I have a low RHR, being in the 30s until age 60. Again, it took about a year to get back to previous fitness levels.

Hopefully, recounting my experiences can help a bit with anyone having a DVT or who thinks they may be. JimG

[aussie nick]

shit. really sorry to hear this Keith and you have all my best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.

well done on going to get checked. as Stu mentioned...it's easy to just keep your head down and assume it'll go away and I'm really glad you've now discovered there's an issue and you/the medical experts can start the process of addressing the issue. I'm sure it's frustrating from an athlete perspective but you'll be able to recover the fitness and strength once you're ready to train again.

i'm a total newb on DVT (other than knowing you can get them from planes). do you have any idea what caused this and how long you've been dealing with it?

[MartinSH4321]

Very sorry to read this Keith, way too much bad news recently. At least you got it checked soon enough, best wishes for a fast recovery!

[jamesg]

Very sorry to hear all this about DVT; and also surprised. Why would people who clearly exercise enough for a racehorse be subject to such risks?

At your ages, you can count on 30 years active life. Any lifestyle changes are well worth it and even small can have effect.

I live in Italy on med diet and a glass of local red a day when I remember. No complaints that coffee doesn't cure. Basic three pills a day, thinner, pressure and cholesterol: never stop anything.

[p_b82]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis - totally unrelated to exercise but my dad was on some medication that put him at serious risk of blood clots (part of his cancer treatment) - and typical for him at that time he developed some that also went to his lungs

He only had to keep an eye on other medication that could thin the blood further; asprin, ibu & he cut out grapefruit juice entirely; luckily for him he didn't eat much vit K rich green veg (spinach/Kale etc) - but with the medication it all cleared up without further issues, but he stayed on the thinners until he died.

So I'm sure as it's been caught early, it'll be controllable for you.