Last Saturday, I was running outside and felt like I was having to "push" more than usual to get to a pace that should've been easy. It was windy and cold that day, so I didn't think much of it. Sunday, I ran again, and I struggled there as well. Thinking that the cold and wind was getting to me, I brought my run inside to the treadmill on Monday. Once again, barely made it through 6 miles. Then I decided I needed rest. I took Tuesday off, and rested. I tried again to run outside on Wednesday morning. I couldn't even make it down the block. I was so winded and an 11 minute mile felt like sprinting. I knew something was wrong. I was only having shortness of breath while running. No other symptoms at all.
I took Thursday off again, just to see if it was a fluke, and tried again on Friday. The result was the same. Extraneous effort with a lot of shortness of breath. I came home and immediately called my doctor. The first time I called, the receptionist said to call back on Monday. I wasn't really satisfied with that answer, so I called again, and a different receptionist answered, and after hearing my symptoms, told me they would see me in an hour.
I went and saw my PCP at 2 PM on Friday afternoon. She immediately thought asthma, however after checking my oxygen levels, and listening to my lungs, she immediately ruled it out. I had some blood drawn, and a chest x-ray, and went along my merry way. With strict instructions not to run until they had a conclusive answer. (Drat, she read my mind.)
Saturday around lunch, I took the dogs for a walk. I was almost home, when my phone rang. It was my PCP. She said my DDimer levels were 800, and that I needed to get to the ER right away to rule out clots. After panicking slightly, I called my mother-in-law and she said my SIL, Melody would be over to watch Jacob, so that Jon could take me to the ER.
Half an hour later, we were on the way to the hospital. I was definitely feeling upset, and anxious, but part of me was pretty sure I didn't have a clot. The ER wasn't crowded at all and I was back in a room within half an hour. Once they heard what my levels were and heard I had shortness of breath, they quickly sent me for an iodine CT scan. This scan sends iodine through your circulatory system, to see where the clots are.
Less than an hour later, the ER doctor popped his head in and said "oh hey, you have blood clots in your lungs. Wish I had better news." Understatement of the year....I was hoping he would tell me I'd won a new car. Clots, are sort of a bummer. I was diagnosed with a Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism. A clot in each of my lungs. After that they quickly started me on heparin (a blood thinner), and hooked me up again to the heart montior. An hour after that I got to go upstairs where I spent pretty much all of my time.
The staff at Providence Park was very calm, and very helpful. Which was great for me, as putting on a brave face was getting pretty old. Smiling when I don't feel like it hurts my face.The nurses weren't sure how long I would have to stay, so they told me at least a few days. I was bored already, after 12 hours. I didn't sleep at all Saturday night. It was too bright, and the nurses and CPTs were checking on me all the time. I was not allowed anything for sleep or pain because of the blood thinners. Oddly enough, my hips started hurting from just laying around. I am so not used to being immobile. The nurse was nice enough to give me a hot pad
Sunday and Monday were spent getting blood drawn every few hours, while they tried to get my blood to therapeutic levels of heparin and coumadin. I also had a leg ultrasound to check for leg clots. Fortunately, they did not find any. My clots originated in my lungs, not in the legs. I had a heart ultrasound as well. The doctors all kept saying how strong and slow my heart rate is. Which I wholeheartedly attest to long distance running. Monday, the first nurse in the morning said I couldn't go home. However, after they checked with my doctors, they agreed to send me home if my cardiac ultrasound was unremarkable. Which it was. I got to go home Monday night, and sleep in my own bed. I am however, on a powerful blood thinner, and will be monitored by my doctor very closely.
Lots of people have asked, what caused your clots? I have no definitive answer for that right now. It could be the medication I was on previously, or I have a clotting disorder. The doctors are leaning towards my medication, (I am now off of that med, obviously). However, I will be seeing a hematologist within the next week, and if there is a clotting disorder, the blood work should tell me.
What does this mean for my running? Well, I had planned to run a sub-4 marathon at the Martian Marathon on April 13th. I am slowly coming to grips with the fact that it is probably not happening. As of right now, I am not allowed to run. I am waiting on clearance from all of my doctors. As you may understand, I am incredibly sad, because I have put a lot of time into training for this race. It sounds so silly, but running means a lot to me. And I have worked so hard to get where I am, it's tough to watch it fall through your fingers. However, I am so grateful that if all is well, I will be able to run in the future. I don't take breathing for granted now, that's for sure.
Please, please, I've had a few people tell me "this could've ended very badly." Yes, I know that it could have. I know that this was very dangerous, but reminding me of this only makes me very anxious. As you can understand, I have quite a bit of fear now. Falling on blood thinners can be dangerous, car accidents are dangerous, being pregnant is dangerous. I know all of these things. I can only pray that God will help me deal with the anxiety and that I will learn to trust Him more.
I just want to reiterate, any crazy symptom, like chest pain or shortness of breath. GO TO THE DOCTOR! Don't wait! This is your health.
Thank you all for the calls, prayers, texts, well wishes, and positive thoughts. They really meant so much, and I am grateful for my wonderful friends. Thank you to my mom, for flying out here on such short notice and watching Jake. To my MIL, FIL, and SIL, Mary, Mark and Melody. Thank you for stepping in and helping out so much Saturday and Sunday. And to my friends, Emily, Jen, Amanda, Janssen, Matt, and Danko for stopping by to visit. I loved seeing all of you! Thank you again!
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