Training with a DVT

[Cyclingman1]

Beyond genetic blood chemistry that tends towards DVT's, I would have to guess dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and overexertion in regard to DVT and the muscle disturbance. Hopefully, you are replenishing carbohydrates almost immediately after exercise. That is when they are most needed and effective. Cycling is a very calorie intensive form of exercise, probably on the order of 50 cals/mile. It is easy to get depeleted on long rides. NOT good.

[Robert Wildes]

Dehydration could have been a factor in my development of a DVT. I was always very careful to stay hydrated
when I was running, but I really slacked off on that when all I did for aerobic exercise was train on my Concept 2.

I have ingested a fairly high amount of caffeine for over two decades now which may have also played a factor.

Kind of like cyclingman1 and possibly others on this thread. The doctors don't know how mine developed.

I've been on blood thinners since mid December 2012 and the clot does not seem to be diminishing as the medical
personnel thought, so I was recently urged to see a vascular surgeon.

I tried running and not rowing for about five months to see if that would help. Now I think that I will get back into rowing

[heroesfitness]

I would be interested to hear from anyone that is still rowing after a DVT. Just general information on how you train
now versus before the DVT would be appreciated.

Looking at what most people have been quoted after a DVT I would say that after 6 weeks of the DVT being dealt with you can pretty much train aerobically as much as you want, increasing arterial blood flow will help reduce the risk of anymore DVT's.

[Robert Wildes]

Anyone on this thread ever had a Doppler test done on their clot?

[DavidA]

Anyone on this thread ever had a Doppler test done on their clot?

Yes, a number of times
I also think that mine were possibly related to dehydration, but I don't really know, and I haven't seen anywhere that that is a risk factor.

David

[vorplbunny]

This may be a zombie thread, but here goes anyway. I just had to post my experience.

I've been rowing since 2007 and my profile has logged well over 2.5million meters. I just joined this forum looking for training advice and I found this thread. In Feb. 2013, I was diagnosed with several PE blocking 70% of my lung capacity and a 120 resting heart rate. Turns out I had a leg filled with clots. It was not a pretty sight. Doctors can't point to a smoking gun. I was very active rowing, ice hockey, skiing, and working a sit down job with long hours. I also recall being dehydrated so I'm sure that was a factor. I think the long drive home for the holidays is what sealed the deal.

I'm back to indoor rowing now feeling all jealous that my mates are rowing on the water. I took time off the water because it took me 10 weeks before I could get on the erg and I still cannot handle workouts in hot and humid conditions. It's taken me 6 months, but I can finally feel the power returning. I'm on a blood thinner for another 6 months, but it does not impact my abilities. Lately, my workouts have become unstructured, but I am able to survive 12k meters in 45minutes. The power feels good, but my time out has caused a weight issue I need to address.

Basically, all I'm saying is rowing saved my butt and I'm ready to do it all over again. Hope this can be inspirational to someone else.
thanks.

[Mr_Michaels]

Thanks for sharing. I have a similar story. I completely tore my ACL in April while skiing. I had ACL reconstruction surgery on July 26th. Three days after surgery I started having breathing issues. A couple days later I was rushed to the hospital. My resting heart rate was in the 140's and my O2 level was low. Long story short I was diagnosed with bilateral Pulminary embolism. Spent the next 5 days in the hospital taking heparin and oral Coumadin. Part of my lung is now infarct. Not sure exactly how badly damaged my lung is yet. Going for a pulmonary test next week. Was sent home after the 5 days and will continue taking the Coumadin (blood thinner) for nine months. Yesterday was exactly 5 weeks from my ACL surgery.
I was first introduced to rowing about a year ago doing Crossfit. I bought a used model d and have enjoyed it the last year. Training was off and on.
Now, as a recovery aid from ACL surgery and my recent issues with PE I'm back on the concept 2 everyday. I decided to start the Pete's beginner plan 5 days ago. I'm feeling positive effects already with range of motion in my knee and strength. Not sure how the lungs are effecting me yet as I'm generally not in good shape currently. After the initial ACL injury in April I backed off on all my exercising.
My lifetime best at 2k is 7:31. As a secondary goal to getting the knee back into shape and my cardio back. I want to beat my lifetime best. Hoping following a steady plan over the coarse of the next few months will get me there.
My Dr is sure I had a clot in my leg from the surgery the passed to the lungs but they never found a clot in my leg during my hospital stay via ultrasound. For what it's worth I'm a 43 year old male.

[Robert Wildes]

I'm still monitoring this thread.

We all seem to have different reactions to our respective DVTs. Hopefully we can learn from each other.

[Scoiattolinovolante]

Hi all,

I'm new on this forum. I just got my rower when I was in hospital to treat a DVT which was from the knee to the iliac vein. Back home now my leg is pretty ok compared to what it was, but veins are larger and easily visible once I stand. I have been told to exercice, but also to avoid flexing too much hips and knees while rowing if I really want to row.
Does anyone has an opinion about this?
Does joints' flexion while rowing reduce venous drainage and inceease risk of veins dilation?

Thanks for sharing

[jamesg]

I think it's unlikely that you'll find many MDs with experience of DVT who have also seen the effects of using the erg and can cross check any evil connections, so we can have our anecdotal say. All contributors above seem to favor use of the erg.

Articles like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_vein_ ... is#D-dimer have a long list of risk factors for DVT. Inactivity is one of them.

I'm an engineer (NOT an MD).

So I would have thought that erging activity is better than inactivity, given the pump action of leg muscles, even tho' veins in the hip could be restricted when thighs are close to our chests as in the rowing action. I'd hope that by now evolution has given us veins in the hip that stay open whatever. With absolutely no knowledge of anatomy, my totally uninformed guess is that static compression of those veins could be disastrous, as in any pipe. But static is the opposite of what happens on the erg. After erging I see no symptoms of leg swelling. Does anyone?

[Cyclingman1]

Several of us posting in this topic have experienced a DVT and in some cases a PE. Every case is different. But it seems that most of us have resumed normal activities including vigorous exercise. I can't imagine that rowing presents any more of a problem than anything else. Rowing is not like sitting, which actually does cut down ciriculation. One person posting in this topic is a vasular surgeon. He has not suggested limitations when it comes to rowing. I would say to keep on eye on your reaction to rowing. If there is even a hint of trouble, stop and see a doctor.

[Robert Wildes]

One of my first concerns after being diagnosed with a DVT was that I would never be as competitive on the ERG as I had hoped to be. I no longer care about that as much as I did at the time.

I was on Warfarin for a few days short of one year when I had an appointment with a vascular surgeon. The surgeon explained that he felt that there was no benefit to taking blood thinners after six months of treatment because the risk of a pulmonary embolism was very minimal at that time.

I still had a clot in my right calf/thigh last October when I had some type of imaging test. My guess is I still have the clot. I m guessing that my vascular system can find a way around this problem by enlarging the veins and arteries around that area.

I feel like I am not where I was, rowing wise, before the clot, but am able to row an hour a day at present which can't be a bad thing.

[Cyclingman1]

I think in older people that serious injuries and medical conditions take a toll that cannot necessarily be totally recovered from. DVT's and PE's certainly qualify. It may be hard to live with, but expectations have to be lowered.

[Cyclingman1]

I very reluctantly make this post. I recovered from a DVT in 2011/12. Was on Coumadin for almost a yr, discontinuing it mid-2012. No reason for my DVT. Blood chemistry all checked out. Now, here I am in June, 2014 with another DVT in my other leg this time. However, it is much more onerous. Last time, after a couple of weeks there were few signs of the DVT and I was already starting to exercise. This time, the clots are more extensive. They exist from ankle to groin with a great deal of thigh pain. In fact for a few days I had to have morphine and valium to stand the pain. The docs have me on Xarelto, the new anti-coagulant med, to prevent more clotting and hopefully dissolve at least some of the clotting. The pain continues in the thigh some 23 days later. I get by with Ultram for the most part. I suspect that I will be taking Xarelto the rest of my life.

I do this post partly because DVT's are not exactly like an injury. Injuries can be prevented - DVT's for the most part cannot. A DVT is a silent condition that sneaks up on one in the night and slams you in the back of the head. If you have ever had a DVT, your chances of having another are quite high. Secondly, I just hate all of this. I'm potentially a pretty decent rower, but I can't avoid medical issues. I've constantly been starting over from issues like back problems, a hip replacement, statin drug reactions, and now two DVT's. Be thankful if you are getting older, whatever that means, and have managed to avoid these kinds of issues. I'm not giving up. I'll be on the exercise bike soon.

[Robert Wildes]

Damn that is rotten luck for Cyclingman1. Thanks for posting it.

I 've read some of your numbers and I did feel that you were going to make a name for yourself in National competitions with the C2.

I have returned to a much greater emphasis on strength training which seems to be much less affected by a prior DVT than rowing or running are.

I wish the the best with your recovery.

Are you using a wind trainer?