So, I've had a fun few days!

[svrich]

Having just read the crash threads I thought I'd add to the carnage. Not bike related though.
A couple of nights ago I had some quite severe chest pains but put them down to a pulled muscle or trapped nerve from using crutches/wheel chair following surgery on my broken ankle. The following day there was still some mild pain but nothing too serious. That evening the pain began to get more noticeable and my wife started to worry that it was something more serious so she took me to A and E at 11pm. Even though it was almost empty I had a bit of a wait but the Dr. got to me and did some blood tests for a Pulmonary Embolism. After quite some time and several tests (including arterial blood taken from my wrist :eek:) they all came back clear but he decided to admit me over night 'just to be safe'. Spent the night on cardiac ward (full of old people having heart attacks :() and had an MRI the following day. The report came back via the Dr. on the ward who said they'd found a clot on my right lung and a pleural effusion (some additional fluid on the lung). Shock followed considering I thought I had a trapped nerve and wanted to stay at home.
Thanks to my guardian angel wife for getting me there before it dislodged and caused serious damage/death
:smt060
I got home tonight, having also had the staples taken out from my ankle and a 'space boot' fitted, with a large bag of meds and an appointment with the Warfarin nurse tomorrow. I'll be on it for 3 months, so off rugby for at least 3 months (more if Wife has her way!) but back on the bike in another 4/5 weeks. Just in time for the bad weather :(

The moral of this story;
Listen to the people who care about you, they're probably right.

[Ed]

Blimey. That's a story and a half!!!

GWS:D

[littleoldman2]

Keep a tight hold on that Lady and cuddle her every night.

[Jayneflakes]

By heck, heal soon and get well sooner!

Things like that can get scary very quickly. I think your wife deserves a bug hug too.

[Nobbylad]

Hmmm I had some massive, sharp chest pains last week and almost spoke to some random person next to me to tell them I was in a bad way when they started to subside. Never had pain like it in my life but never bothered getting it checked out as it cleared over a day or so.

Glad you're OK.

[kellyjo]

Blimey Rich, you dont do things by halves do ya??

Glad you're ok hun and hopefully that'll be the end of your misfortunes for a while!! kj xx

[Kenzie]

Something similar happened to a manager at another of our stores, he thought he had indigestion which wouldn't go away. He was actually having a heart attack.

[timwilky]

Yes her indoors can be life saver. I only found out I wad diabetic because mine nagged the gp that my throat infection was worth more investigation than a second course of antibiotis.

[maviczap]

Well you didn't listen to me when I told you to give up rugby and take up knitting Rich. ;)

Phew glad you're ok mate, that is a scare.

I take it was connected with your broken ankle in someway?

Take it easy chap

[dizzyblonde]

DO AS your wifey says Mr Rich..........we're always right........;)
GWS, you'll soon be back on your feet!


I take it was connected with your broken ankle in someway?

Take it easy chap

I'm no expert, but this is possible. My dad had some rather large surgery, and didn't know he had a clot in his leg, it broke off, and whizzed round his system, and landed in his lung.
Luckily he was on the move when it happened, made him keel over, but perhaps it saved his life, if it had dislodged from there it would have killed him!

[Bibio]

chest pains should never ever be ignored. GP's can be useless. i know this for a fact as mine kept telling me i had severe heart burn due to a nasty bug in my stomach WRONG the only thing he got right was the word heart which ended up me having a 5 graft by-pass as the symptoms had been going on for years.

glad you got to the bottom of it and GWS.

[Reeder]

(including arterial blood taken from my wrist :eek:)

Ouuuuuuchhhhhh!!
Hope all is well darling x

[Kenzie]

I know what you mean about being careful. It's taken two years to get to the stage I'm at with the hospital. I complained of pain under my ribs, GP said nothing wrong. Kept going back as it didn't go away and he said "I'll refer you as I'm out of ideas" Turns out my spleen is enlarged due to an unknown blood disorder. Still undergoing tests. Don't let them fob you off and don't ignore it if you're worried either.

[littleoldman2]

The NHS like all large organisations has its fair share of problems. I recently (April ) discharged myself from hospital out of shear frustration. It was only later I realised part of the problem was the contrast to the months of supurb service I'd had else where. This week had to go to 3 appointments at different hostipals so they booked them all in on the same day with the correct time intervals between them, bloody marvels.

[svrich]

Cheers for the well wishes everyone.
Yes, it is linked to my broken ankle. I had to have surgery to fix a plate and seven screws on the right side, and regular surgery to reattach the ligaments on the inside (they couldn't fix the bit that broke off on the inside as it was way too small to do anything with (screw or wire) so they bypassed it and it will sit in there for ever more as it would cause too much damage to remove). I had a back slab cast fitted to allow for the swelling to go down around the wounds. I was told to move around without putting any weight on it but to have it up when resting. I did all this but the fact that my ankle was set and no amount of activity would circulate the blood enough meant that a clot built up and then dislodged. Fortunately is was small (but if it had been bigger I would have felt it and reacted sooner) and stuck on my lung. It could well have gone to my heart or brain and been a much bigger problem. The clot is still there, and there is now a small section of my right lung that is dead, but they will leave it there as it is small and won't cause any problems. I'm self injecting one med and started the warfarin today. I'll have a blood test every morning for the next week or so, then weekly, as they try to get the correct dose sorted. And I'll be on it for 3 months. Hopefully the meds and my body will do the job to break the clot up and prevent more forming. If not I'll be dialing the 9's asap!