Well, I am at least starting to move on with things. Sarah and I are recovered from Covid, but not the ramifications of covid–at least for me. Covid, because of the inflammatory response it creates, increases the risk of developing blood clots. It increases it even more with somebody who has already had blood clots (back in 2019), and in anybody over the age of 60. I guess I hit the trifecta! That is what happened to me. I developed a blood clot in my left leg (right leg last time), obstructed below the knee, and partially obstructed up to the groin. With blood clots, small fragments can break off and go the lung, called a PE (Pulmonary embolus). We did not do a CT of my chest because we need to use contrast, and I lost majority of my right kidney with the last blood clot, so I have to be careful. I had been having some shortness of breath, my heart rate was up when I went to the ER, and my oxygen level was dropping, and they had to start oxygen. After conversations with a vascular surgeon in SF, he said there was no reason to get a CT. We just assume I had a PE as well. Usually, we want to know if a patient does or does not have a PE because the length of being on blood thinners for a clot in your leg can be 3-6 months, and for a PE 6-12 months. The vascular surgeon says it does not matter for me. This is my second time having a clot, and now I am on lifelong blood thinners…and all the potential bleeding risks that go along with this. I guess I should just shut up…I am still here. But I won’t lie–I was pissed! I try to do things in my life to help keep me healthy, and promote it as well, and then something comes along to change all of it, and that something you have absolutely no control over.

Yep! I am usually the one on the other side telling somebody else this. Now I have to keep telling myself this as well. I have not stopped my exercise streak though. But, I can only do upper body things. No running–for minimum of 3 months. No leg workouts for months. No biking for months. Hopefully by next month I can get out and do some walking–up to 20 minutes. I am going to drive myself nuts–and Sarah too. At least she is supportive. She does not care about the exercise aspect but just wants me around so I can actually enjoy retirement coming up.

So now I get to work with dumbbells! A dumbbell doing dumbbells! What a deal! At least I am moving. I also got a new piece of equipment, that later I could also use for my legs, but right now I am using for my arms.

At least this has helped maintain some sanity by being able to do something else. Otherwise not running would tip me over the edge. I can’t change what happened. I can’t change, at least just yet, being done being mad about it. I will get there. I am still here to talk about it. It is a lesson we all will come to deal with at some point in our lives. We will have something come up that we do not have any control over. Either learn to control things despite it or let it control you. I tell myself this multiple times a day. I am truly trying to convince myself of this as well.

No question Sarah has helped me immensely during these last few weeks. That is why the picture with her is first. But Tom and Sue have been sending texts, and calling, and brought over a meal one day. Huge Thank you to them as well! One day again Tom I will be running with you again, as well as the rest of our Watertown Area Run Club!

Great way to end this blog for this week. I need to keep reminding myself of this. Everyone, we all have challenges, and we need to keep our heads held high. “Don’t worry if you’re not where you want to be yet. Great things take time!” Keep moving everybody!

Dr. Dan

Consecutive Exercise Day of newest streak: 648