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Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

macthknife

macthknife

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 9, 2004
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clarksville, IN
Pulmonary Embolism. It was once a word I heard on the General Hospital soap opera, & that's all I knew about it. How could a healthy man, of 36, non smoker have one? Well, here I am ten years later, & I survived one. It turns out that it is the 3rd most common cause of death.
2nd most common cause of unexpected death in most age groups. I will never fully recover, as I'm missing some pretty important parts now, but I still protect myself. I'm damn lucky to be here. Don't let luck be all You rely on.

People should learn about these devastating events, & take precautions to prevent them. If You fly, be sure to get up at least once an hour & stretch, & walk about the cabin. Going on a long trip? Do some research about ways to prevent deep vein thrombosis. That is a leading event that leads to pulmonary embolism.

Educate Yourselves. It may save Your life.

Hope this doesn't sound like preaching, I just had this on My mind & couldn't sleep. Maybe it will help someone.


Mac
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

Way to get me/us all paranoid. Congrats on surviving one I would be interested in hearing details.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

Thanks for sharing. Some of us do make long trips, flying or driving.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

I had one 3 years ago at home one evening. One minute i was fine and the next i didn't know what was going on, chest and head hurt like never before. Bladder and bowls led loose i was already down by then stuff coming out of my mouth and i could do nothing about it, not even move my fingers. Lucky wife was home and called the rescue squad about 5 miles away. Doctors said it came from one of my legs, Nasty thing to happen two anyone.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

I know of a couple other folks that spend way too much time in airplanes who also suffered the same malady; fortunately, none of them have any serious long-term effects.

Looks like one can reduce the risk by avoiding long periods of inactivity and maintaining generally good health, but many of the precursors are things not easily avoided. Scary stuff!
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: opshin556</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Holy shit..
getting older sucks. </div></div>

This.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

Glad to hear you came through that Mac. I have run numerous calls over the years for PE's that didn't turn out so well.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: opshin556</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Holy shit..
getting older sucks. </div></div>

36 is old? Lol...
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Broker</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: opshin556</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Holy shit..
getting older sucks. </div></div>

36 is old? Lol... </div></div>I bet his prostate stills works, his eyes can focus at reading distance, and his joints don't ache every time he gets out of bed.

On a more serious note. Glad you're OK, OP. PE's are scary demons.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

I just turned 47, & am missing the lung that had the embolism. It sucks but I still get to go shooting & do My thing in canyon country out in Utah. You can survive these things, but they will kill Ya if they get the chance, that's for sure. I was having a tough time sleeping last night, & I think writing that little blurb about My event helped put the demon away, & I finally called it a night.

Don't let bad stuff that can happen make You paranoid. That wasn't My intention, but had I known about the dangers of long flights before this happened, I would have probably been able to prevent it.

I was a big scrappin healthy bastard. I'm six feet tall, 200 pounds & I was spent a lot of time in the gym. A former paratrooper with a lot of running in My past. My cholesterol was 110, and My bp was 110 over 65. You don't have to be a disgusting fatbody for this to happen.

Just a little preventive exercise is all it takes. See a Doc about taking an aspirin a day when You are traveling.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mexican match</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had one 3 years ago at home one evening. One minute i was fine and the next i didn't know what was going on, chest and head hurt like never before. Bladder and bowls led loose i was already down by then stuff coming out of my mouth and i could do nothing about it, not even move my fingers. Lucky wife was home and called the rescue squad about 5 miles away. Doctors said it came from one of my legs, Nasty thing to happen two anyone.</div></div> Whoa! Glad You came thru that Man. I didn't feel any pain. My clot built up over a period of several days, & I didn't know it was happening. I started having dizzy spells at work, & the docs couldn't figure out what was happening. Took about a week, & a particularly on the ball X-Ray Doc figured out what was going on, & had Me in surgery in about 15 minutes. I don't think they believed I was going to make it. I can remember all the grim faces, and whispers while they were looking at the X-rays. They jerked 2/3 of that lung outta Me & then went back in later & took more out.

I bitch about Doctors, but the truth is that those fellas saved My bacon. 10 years earlier, & there would have been no Docs that would have been able to do it.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

A few years ago one of my cousins was at work and on break. When the bell rang for everyone to go back to work he got up from the table with everyone else. Then someone heard a "THUMP". It was Chris hitting the floor. They started CPR on him right away. Like less than a minute after he fell. The fire department was there within 5 minutes. They continued until the ambulance got there. It was a total of less than 20 minutes after he fell until he was in the ER at the local hospital. He never woke up. He was 37 years old. He worked out 2 or 3 times a week. He played league basketball and baseball. He never drank or smoked and never had an ounce of fat on him. His wife was 34 and they had 2 young boys at 6 and 12 years old. Their faith kept them going. His wife told my wife and I some months later that it all happened to her in a fog. That prayer got her through, she said without really having to think about anything.

That was just over 6 years ago. Their oldest son was married last month to a wonderful little girl. And my cousin's widow remarried 2 years ago.

So far it seems that most everything has worked out. But my cousin is still dead. And the doctors told us that the way it hit him he PROBABLY never felt a thing.

Bottom line is get checked out by a doctor at least once a year.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

Man. That's a tough one, truth is that sometimes regular doctor visits won't catch it. When it's Your time, It's Your time. Chances are though, that a Doctor can see the signs of a person being susceptible to clots & get them on an aspirin regimen.

Sorry to Hear about Your Cousin Vic.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

Yup scary thing. Aunt didn't feel good for several months and was short of breath, went to doc. She had PEs in 30% of her lungs! All passed through her heart none made it to her brain. Talk about dodging a massive bullet.

Brother in law had one, babbled jibberish and passed out face first into the snack rack peg board at a gas station.

Both are ok but both had a bunch of driving time and long road trips previous to this. Don't forget to stop and stretch along the way.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

That IS some scary shit! I fly once a week for 4 1\2 months of the year and you'll be dam sure I'll be stretching out a little more often...not too many of my flights exceed over 2 hours. Just curious....what would you consider long periods of time and or flight?
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

Glad you're still with us!

I can't sit when I fly, n o more than 10 or 15 minutes.
I'm usually hanging out in teh back or walking around.

Or stretching my feet waaaay under the seat in front of me..

Same thing at work, I get up and walk every 10-20 mins..can't stand sitting.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

I'm retired from the airlines and in the last several years the company and ALPA began banging the point of standing up every so often because of this risk. Sounded a little excessive until I found out how often people throw a clot. Keep moving, keep living.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Burglecutt</div><div class="ubbcode-body">what would you consider long periods of time and or flight?</div></div> Well, My last airline flight was to Johnston Atoll, in the South Pacific & back home a week later. That little Island is 900 miles SW of Hawaii. Who is to say if that is the one that did it, cause I was in the air every day.

As to what I would consider a long period. I think You are at risk if even You remain stationary for 2 hours. If You fly a lot. Talk to a Doctor. There are plenty of more knowledgeable folks than Me.

Moving around if the most important thing. I take aspirin every day, but the horse is already outta the barn & entered itself in the KY Derby in My case. LOL
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ArcticLight</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Glad you're still with us!

I can't sit when I fly, n o more than 10 or 15 minutes.
I'm usually hanging out in teh back or walking around.

Or stretching my feet waaaay under the seat in front of me..

Same thing at work, I get up and walk every 10-20 mins..can't stand sitting.</div></div> Damn good way to be. Thanks for the kind words too.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

Has your doctor recommended testing for hypercoagulable disorders? Some excess blood clotting disorders are inherited (can be detected by genetic blood testing such as Factor V Leiden) or can be acquired.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

It have been determined that My blood does have a high clotting factor. That is why I take aspirin every day. Mostly though, I just have to be aware of My time in the saddle. I'm a motorcycle nut, & will ride to Owensboro, KY for BBQ at the drop of a hat. That is around a 2 1/2 hour ride, so I always stop twice along the way to fill up the bike & walk around a bit.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

Their are many clotting factor disorders. Combine any with excess weight, smoking,sedentary things like long car rides and other things to promote blood pooling and a lower extremity clot is possible. Get one and a pulmonary embolism is a possibility. Many times clots are in inoperable locations and coumadin therapy is life long endeavor. Odd thing is you can be positive for any of the factors and never know it because they can cause clots more readily in some and not at all in others. Not much you can do about acquired clotting factors but if you have close relatives that have ever had a positive factor test or are on anticoagulants it's a good idea to explore being typed for clotting factors.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

Scary. My uncle farms and he has gotten blood clots in his legs at least 3 times. I suppose it could be from sitting on his butt in a tractor or combine for hours on end. Also seems to happen right after a hunting trip.

One of these times I fear he isn't going to be so lucky.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

Thanks for thinking of us here & sharing this info. Glad you made it. Keep truckin'
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Burglecutt</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That IS some scary shit! I fly once a week for 4 1\2 months of the year and you'll be dam sure I'll be stretching out a little more often...not too many of my flights exceed over 2 hours. Just curious....what would you consider long periods of time and or flight? </div></div>

Usually, in reference to DVT's three hours in prolonged sitting justifies "walking" some when taking long trips or plane rides. Prolonged sitting puts individuals at rest for DVT's (as opposed to lying in bed, sick/recovering etc.) A baby aspirin or a Vitamin E are good blood thinners if not otherwise medically contraindicated.
When I was recovering from some procedures and asked the surgeons about DVT's and bedrest - most docs asked said as long as you get up to urinate every couple hours you are good. Other risk factors for DVT's and pulmonary embolism include the recent orthopedic injury/surgery recovery (esp. broken hips.), smoking because it contributes to peripheral vascular disease, pregnancy/hormones (birth control), and some malignancies (i.e. prostate cancer).

BTW - the tests for DVT are really simple - an ultrasound and a blood test called "D-dimers". However, the tests for PE (spiral cut CT or V/Q perfusion scan), are usually not done timely, hence the high fatality rate. I saw one patient go real quick despite a surgeon getting in quick.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

One more thing to look forward too with aging.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Skeee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One more thing to look forward too with aging. </div></div> Interesting You should say that. I was 36 when this happened. I was in damn good shape too. Regular at the gym and a 12% BFI. When I was in the army just 10 years before, I could run the 2 mile in under 11 minutes.

What I'm sayin, is don't wait till You are older to be aware of this. This happens to Young people too.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

My sister in law is factor 5+ as is my mother in law. The sister in law got a DVT at age 27 and is on coumadin for life with some remnants of the original DVT. Mother in law is 74 and never had a problem.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

Just found out today that my wife is factor 5+.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NativeCraft</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is it about flying that increases one's risk?</div></div> I think the most important thing is the long periods of sitting with out moving Your legs. It has also been brought up to Me by My Docs, that the pressurized environment of airliners isn't good either.

The sitting causes blood pooling with can lead to clotting.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ggmanning</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My sister in law is factor 5+ as is my mother in law. The sister in law got a DVT at age 27 and is on coumadin for life with some remnants of the original DVT. Mother in law is 74 and never had a problem. </div></div>

If there is any family history of "early" DVT's as above as well as any miscarriage, a hypercoagable panel is not a bad idea (protein S, protein C, Leiden Factor V, lupus anticoagulant, anti-thombin, homocysteine, antiphospholipid antibody, prothrombin mutation, cryoglobulins). Ggmanning- there are several mutations of each gene, as you are probably aware.
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

^ in addition:
The genetic mutations of each of these bacterium that are pathogenic to humans, are going through mutation as fast as some of them can be 'cured'. I can hardly wait until next semester when I get to go through genetic biology, organic chemistry, and hemotology all at once. My goal as a Medical Technologist specializing in genetics is to try to figurte out what makes these bacterium and virus mutate at such a rapid rate.

From one of my new favorite websites:

http://www.medicinenet.com/pulmonary_embolism/article.htm

In the last few semesters I have gone through so many medical websites for reference and to learn from a source outside of my books, it's truly sickening...there are not enough hours in a day sometimes
 
Re: Taking a moment to educate My fellow hide members

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Switchblade</div><div class="ubbcode-body">^ in addition:
The genetic mutations of each of these bacterium that are pathogenic to humans, are going through mutation as fast as some of them can be 'cured'. I can hardly wait until next semester when I get to go through genetic biology, organic chemistry, and hemotology all at once. My goal as a Medical Technologist specializing in genetics is to try to figurte out what makes these bacterium and virus mutate at such a rapid rate.

From one of my new favorite websites:

http://www.medicinenet.com/pulmonary_embolism/article.htm

In the last few semesters I have gone through so many medical websites for reference and to learn from a source outside of my books, it's truly sickening...there are not enough hours in a day sometimes</div></div> Wow! Thanks for that link, Switch! I have some reading to do.
 
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