My family

"Living life is fun and we've just begun
To get our share of the world's delights" (We are family - Sister Sledge!)

I married into Jim's family almost 11 years ago. I've known them for 17 years. At the beginning, it was his family, and I loved them! Now, I can't help but look around and notice, along they way, they've become my family. Together, we're all creating this new unit and I.freakin'.love.it.  They are doing most of the creating with their little ones, and I'm grateful all the more!

Pulmonary what?

So, the new year started just like any other...actually, it was the best. Christmas 2012 was one of the best ever. New Years was spent with friends and my parents at a favorite spot downtown.  I went to the most beautiful wedding of a colleague/friend. I was returning to a team I was looking forward to working with and leading. I was flying all over the country doing my job and loving it.

Christmas in Athens

Infamous Stringdusters!



New Years 2012!

 That came to a semi-screeching halt on Jan 14th. I didn't feel quite right. I thought I was just too relaxed and not getting into the swing of work - too stressed, not thinking clearly, and my foot - holy hell - I pulled my Achilles (so I thought) and it hurt...bad.

The full, screeching, stop-right-now halt came on Jan 15th. I went to work...barely made it to the door which required a few steps and hardly an incline. I was having a panic attack (so I thought.) What was my problem? I should take the day off.  I made it through the door at work to collapse in a co-workers office.

Hubby came to get me and follow me home. Rest. Sleep. You'll feel better tomorrow. Fast forward to 4:00pm that day and -



The moment


"When did you last fly?"
"What medications are you on?"
"How long have you been on the pill?"

Mom had taken me to the hospital. We were there just waiting for a "you're-too-stressed-out" diagnosis. The doctor came around the corner and said, "You are not going anywhere. You have what is called bilateral pulmonary embolism. You have blood clots in both of your lungs."

"Do you have a living will?"
"Where is your husband?"
"These nurses just need your left arm."

Mom - down she goes.
Me - ok. ok. "I really thought I'd be here 'cause of leg pain. I pulled my Achilles earlier this weekend." The next day they found clots in my leg called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This clot in my leg was breaking off, passing up my leg, through my heart and lodging in my lungs.

Here is the doctors drawing (on the far right. Those lines are veins in my lower calf):

What I didn't realize at the time is the long recovery ahead of me. I finally had to just tell people it was like a bomb went off inside my body and everything needed to repair. I had pulmonary hypertension because my heart was trying to make up for the lack of oxygen for almost two days. I developed asthma (which may or may not have been there but was exacerbated by the incident.)

I was in for months of blood test, lung recovery, heart recovery, stamina recovery, etc. etc.

Lucky to be.

I share this in case someone stumbles upon this blog. I searched and searched for anecdotal evidence of what to expect. This was information  I found early on to be super helpful and shared with family to remind me when I got freaked out.  I even emailed a PE survivor who shared his experience well (in my opinion.)  My theme for so long was "slow and low."  I had go really slow and just lay low which is not my usual style. Of course, I have wonderful friends who understood my new found "introvert" status -

I also had a new use for my sweet clinque bag:



Never had I seen so much medication. All for me now.

As of July 16th, I'm off all but one of my meds. I will be monitored at least through September to see if my blood levels remain where they should (and it is totally expected that it will.)  I know more about the D Dimer blood test than I ever thought I'd know. My number should stay at .1. Anything above a .4 will raise a red flag. In January, this test was at a 22. So, clearly, I had a clot just by the blood test. 

Several times through the process (mostly early on) I was back in the ER because I couldn't breathe. The second visit was when I found out I had clots in all five lobes of my lungs - not just one clot in one lung and one clot in another lung.
 

 There is so much more... so much more. I hope if anyone who is diagnosed stumbles upon this, that you find some of this helpful.  Eventually, after five days, I got to go home and start a new experience! And truly, a new way of thinking... life is precious, delicate, and a miracle. 

Heading home after 5 days. This girl has no idea what is in store.  

 

I let the experts take care of me.

Going back to work fully in March



Pictures from life:

13

Summer breeze...makes me feel fine!

I am 6 mo post bilateral pulmonary embolism  as of July 12. Today, I started a series of post 6 mo diagnosis appointments and tonight, I am enjoying my first cold beer since December. Actually, maybe Nov because we know I am a Merlot drinker at Christmastime.  Anyway, more to come but what a GREAT day - grilling out, enjoying the hot evening in the sweet sunny south. So lucky.