June Athlete of the Month

Slowly at a very steady pace the CLOT BUSTER StopTheClot polka-dots are spreading far and wide.

THANK YOU to ALL who have made a purchase so that they can help spread the work about blood clots and blood clotting disorders as well as inspire other blood clot survivors to get back doing what they loved doing either in sport or outside of sport.

Getting polka-dots out of people is very exciting to me because I am always asking to learn about the purchaser's blood clotting story.  I know that it is a bit forward but all stories intrigue me and I always find them fascinating.

June's Athlete of the Month is indeed a victim of my questions...

This lady just wanted to get her polka-dots and get out in Central Park to wear them proudly... but here I was asking away my usual set of questions and of course making in roads to see if she would be willing to share here story with a all of us... Well, THANKFULLY she was willing to share her story of survival from blood clots which you can read more about below.

So, please allow me to introduce to you ANGIE MOREFIELD!

1)   What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it?

I have been competing triathlon for about 4 years. I love pushing myself and seeing what I'm capable of physically and mentally.

2)  How did you get started in that sport?

I originally started doing triathlon for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program to help find a cure for blood cancers. It was a great program to learn the sport and help a great cause at the same time.

3)  What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?(Long bike ride, some race coming up or that you did) .

I am currently training for Ironman Mt. Tremblant on August 17th. I've been training since October. I've put lots of mileage on my bike, in the water and on my running for the legs to get stronger since my PE. This past Memorial Day weekend was the hardest and longest mileage yet in training. I was able to log about 200 miles on my bike, and about 20 miles running. Not to mention a couple open water swims all up in beautiful Lake Placid, NY.

4)  Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission?

Last June I was training for what was then my 2nd Ironman competition. I had flown out to Lake Tahoe to do a Century ride with my brother. After a fantastic day riding 100 miles I then hoped on a red eye flight back to New York City. The next day I resumed my training but something felt off. Wasn't sure if it was the jet lag, the red eye, the NY humidity but something didn't feel right. I continued to train that week. On Saturday I was supposed to run 18 miles but could barely crawl through 4. The next day on Sunday (1 week after my Century ride) I went out for an 80 mile ride with friends. I couldn't ride up the same hills I had been able to ride up for the last 4 years. I just didn't have the breath or energy. I thought maybe I had allergies or some sort of exercise educed Asthma. The next morning, going to work I had a very difficult time walking up the Subway stairs. A close coworker looked at me and recommended I go to urgent care and just have my symptoms looked at. I thought nothing of it but agreed. When I got to urgent care they asked me 3 questions (1: had I done any recent travel, 2: do I have a history of blood disorders in my family, and 3: are you on birth control (I was currently on the Nuva Ring). When I said yes to all the questions they insisted I go to the ER immediately because they thought I had a Pulmonary Embolism. I was familiar with this because my mom had had 2 PE's in the past. But, how could this happen to me? Young, athletic, healthy. Quickly I learned it can happen to anyone.

 5)  When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?

I was released from the hospital 4 days later. My doctor said I could try to run maybe a mile after 2 weeks. So I did. It was the hardest mile of my life. From there I just gratually started riding my bike at a studio and slowly running trying to get my lungs back. I even competed in a Tough Mudder 3 months after my diagnosis. Wasn't easy by any means, but I did it. I was on Rivaroxaban for 7 months and wasn't able to ride my bike outdoors for fear of crashing and bleeding out. The day I was able to ride outdoors again was with my brother. It was very emotional and I couldn't of been happier.

 6)  What is your favorite piece of gear for your favorite activity? (Bike brand, running shoes, perhaps a running singlet or the Clot Buster's

 Running Polka-Dot Technical Shirt...) I love my bike. Miss Roo is her name. She's a black and pink Quintana Roo and she's gotten me through some rough times, races and emotional moments.

 7)  How much are you getting out doing your sport?  (Everyday you do some training, 2, 3, 4 times per week)

I currently train 6 days a week with 1 recovery day (thank god).

 8)   What is your favorite food?  Either generally or after a workout.  For me there is nothing better than a Chipotle Burrito...

Being a California girl living in New York City, I love mexican food. But during training it's not the best food to generally eat before workouts. :) So, I will always still with a good cold beer immediately after a race or major workout to be my favorite.

 9)  If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go?

I would love to go Greece some day. Do they have races there? :)

 10)  What would like to say to someone who is going through a clotting episode, perhaps very similar to yours?  How can people return to do what they enjoy? Tells about your concerns and what you look out after as you got back.

Coming back from having a PE while being so young and healthy has been quite the emotional rollercoaster. Being and athlete the frustration I've gone through with why my body won't respond the way it had in the past or the way I want it to can really screw with your head. But each day, I remind myself of my favorite mantra "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger" and I just keep swimming...or biking...or running. I'm so lucky to have supportive family members, friends and teammates who are always cheerleading for me and pushing me. The body is an amazing things. All I think about these days is the moment I'm going to be able to cross the finish line to my Ironman, and come back from one of the scariest moments of my life. #SUCKITPE

Angie - THANK YOU for sharing your story with us and giving us and insight of what you've been through and how you are able to battle the fear to move on.

Amazing that you are preparing for an Ironman.  I can't even begin to imagine what it takes to get to that place... someday I hope to find out.

However CLOT BUSTER nation is rooting for you from everywhere as you will represent the polka-dots during your training and racing.

Keep at it and here we are WISHING YOU THE BEST OF LUCK!

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

Dealing with Injury...

Problem...

I DON'T deal with injury well.

I try to push through it to the best of my abilities but I can't stop or slow down. 

It is specially frustrating when the summer season full of racing is just ahead.

No other option here but try to adjust and see what I can do heal and keep at it with getting the CLOT BUSTER STOPTHECLOT polka-dots rolling in order to spread the word.

Very much looking forward to be racing this coming Sunday.

I appreciate changing things up with introducing kayaking instead of swimming.  After 3 years of doing this race I am changing some things up to maybe get faster and provide some competition to the folks I've seen year after around this race down the Little Miami River in North Cincinnati.

Let's just hope that this injury that I am nursing let's me go to the speed I would like to go.

We will see on Sunday.

If you get the chance to change things up GO FOR IT and enjoy the new feeling or experience that may come my way.

For sure on Sunday I will enjoy the calm of kayaking down the river on an early summer morning before it is time to run and ride to the finish line.

Racing with the CLOT BUSTER STOPTHECLOT polka-dots in celebration of all blood clot survivors I know and those who I am yet to meet.  Knowing that these folks can overcome near death experiences is so inspiring that you can't help but to get out and attempt your best.

Cross your fingers for me so that I can make it through!

Thanks for the reading,

The Clot Buster

May Athlete of the Month

At last the weather around here is finally turning.  Fortunately we are leaving the winter behind and facing some more reasonable weather.  Soon enough some of us will be attempting what April's Athlete of the Month enjoys in water skiing.  I am still waiting for an invitation for a private lesson...

But if water sports is not your thing then how about some spring/summer travel...? 

I am asking because this month's Athlete of the Month is from a place from on earth I would love to visit someday...

Do you have a guess? Well, how could you really if I did not provide you with any hints... That is why you will need read below to find out.

Once again, the far reaching power of the internet has giving me the opportunity to get in touch with an another blood clot survivor who is making a remarkable come back at one of the most breathtaking places on earth.  Please allow me to introduce you to ADAM WALLER who is May's Athlete of the Month.

Please read on and enjoy his story and his journey... I want to go to where is and get to run where is running...

THANK YOU ADAM for your willingness to share your story with our growing community of blood clot survivors.  All of the stories continue to inspire me and others everyday!

"1)   What is you sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it?

I would say I’m a soccer player-turned-cyclist-turned-runner! I have played football, or soccer, since I was 5 years old and I continue to do so at the age of 27. I took up road cycling at the age of 24 and long-distance running at the age of 26. For me, my heart will always be with soccer but I perhaps get the most enjoyment out of road cycling. I love the cathartic nature of the sport, and the suffering you put yourself through to get better.  I found it a great release at the end of a stressful week at work. The scenery also helps! I saw more of my native North East England than I ever dreamed of.

 

2)  How did you get started in that sport?
In road cycling, I think it started when I watched the 2011 Tour de France. I really got into the sport, and I loved the toughness of the riders. A mutual friend of mine rode for a local cycling club, so I joined and it took off from there. I started as someone who could barely do 20 miles without feeling like climbing off my bike, to someone who was the equal of people who had been riding for years. I learnt a lot from a lot of good cyclists, and by 2013 I was the strongest I’d ever been. I moved into running because of a location change. I am a school teacher by profession, and I had an offer to move from my hometown of Hartlepool, England to Arusha, Tanzania to teach in an international school. Unfortunately, it isn’t very conducive to road cycling but I met some fellow teachers who ran 3 mornings a week. It started from there.

3)  What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?

I ran the 2014 Kilimanjaro half-marathon, so that was a great achievement especially since it was my first half-marathon. The course is very tough – the first 10KM is basically all uphill. I perhaps hadn’t trained as hard as I could have, but I still completed the course in 2 hours 19 minutes.  To be honest, my goal at the start was just to finish without walking! I absolutely loved the feeling afterwards and I can’t wait to do it again. I want to do it again next year and break 2 hours, so I’m already putting together a training plan. My next goal is to complete the 17 mile route of the Osmotherley Phoenix, an event that takes place in North Yorkshire in July. It’s a run/walk across moorland and hills. It promises to be tough.

4)  Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission?

Last year I had a number of cycling challenges I wanted to complete. The first one was to cycle up El Teide in Tenerife, the highest continue climb in Europe. It’s where Team Sky train. I completed that in February of 2013, and it was very hard but amazing. The second was an event in May called the Wooler Wheel, a cycling challenge in the Northumberland region of England. It is a very difficult course and mental strength was so important, but I completed the 70 mile route. Afterwards, I went for a few beers and drove the 2 and a half hours home. A few days later I had a very sharp pain in my right calf. I thought I’d just pulled a muscle but it got worse and worse. My calf felt rock hard.  I went to a physio at the local hospital who diagnosed a torn calf muscle. A setback for the cycling, but I was told I’d be back on the bike in four weeks. I flew to New York and back the week after to visit friends. In this time, my calf actually seemed to have gotten bigger and was still painful. I went back to the hospital to be told it was actually a DVT. I was shocked – I thought those only happened to old people or after long-haul flights. I was on Warfarin for 5 months, and had to deal with the transition of moving from the UK to Tanzania and all the medical stuff that comes with it.

5)  When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?  

Cycling wise, within 5-6 weeks. I did struggle for a month or so after however. I think the inactivity didn’t help, but I kept on getting shooting pains up my right leg and into my right shoulder. A doctor told me it was more than likely related to the clot. By the end of the summer I was flying again, which was great. Running was another story. I tried to play football around month after and I lasted a grand total of 6 minutes. At that point I was petrified I would never be able to run around again. It was at that point I found ClotBusters, and it really made feel positive because I knew it would get better.

6)  What is your favorite piece of gear for your favorite activity? (Bike brand, running shoes, perhaps a running singlet or the Clot Buster's Running Polka-Dot Technical Shirt...)

My bicycle! It’s a full carbon Focus Cayo and I love it to bits. It’s currently in storage, but it’ll be with me for a good while. For running, you can’t beat a pair of shorts that don’t chafe. I have a pair of Karrimor shorts that feel like silk!

7)  How much are you getting out doing you sport?  (Everyday you do some training, 2, 3, 4 times per week)

I play football at least once a week. I go out running around 3 times a week, mixing up speed work with long-distance runs. I’m going to increase it to 4 times a week next month.

 

8)   What is your favorite food?  Either generally or after a workout.  For me there is nothing better than a Chipotle Burrito...

That’s a tough one. I love a full English breakfast, but they’re not good for the waist line! We have a dish in my area of England called Panackelty. It’s a corned beef and potato stew, with added onions, carrots and dumplings. It’s the thing I miss most about being out in Tanzania, behind family of course!

 

9)  If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go?

I’d love to travel South America, particularly Colombia. Not only have I heard it’s beautiful, but I’d love to ride out there.

 

10)  What would like to say to someone who is going through a clotting episode, perhaps very similar to yours?  How can people return to do what they enjoy? Tells about your concerns and what you look out after as you got back.*

The best advice I can give is ‘This too shall pass.’ It takes time, but now I’m fit and healthy. When it first happened, even after the second month, I never thought I’d be at the stage I’m at now. It was a slow process, but I got there in the end. I do worry about getting another DVT – they could find no cause for my first one, but I have been told I’ll be on blood thinners for life if it happens again. The pain of getting bloods taken every couple of weeks is something I never want to go through again."

Who wants to come with me to do the Kilimanjaro Half-Marathon?!?!? How amazing would that be?

So, we learned here of a blood clot survivor who is originally from England but resides in Tanzania... I would never ever would have considered that possibility.  But I LOVE IT because we are reaching far and wide.  I am over the moon knowing that Adam is returning to do what he loves and pushing the boundaries for other challenges.  Blood clots are not stopping him not even slowing him down. 

I am looking forward to hear where he goes next.  Perhaps some day we can meet and either run together or play some football together which is also my start in sport.  I am sure Adam would be able to teach a thing or two from his experience...

Get inspired and get out there to do what you enjoy.  It may be slow at first but as you can see here it is possible!

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

Inspiration ALL AROUND...!

After watching the limited coverage of the Boston Marathon (at least at my household) I always come away with the urge to run...

Does anyone feel that way...?

Specially after this year where the USA finally had the winner runner on a thrilling race. 

11 seconds was the winning margin... I can't hardly eat 2 Samoa Cookies on that span of time...

Speaking of induced inspiration...

The accomplishments that some of the blood clot survivors I know about continue to blow me away...

One individual just ran in the Boston Marathon and beat hear previous Personal Best by more than 7 minutes which was pre-blood clot incident... Blood Clot Survivor!

One individual just recently completed a 100 Mile Trail run... Blood Clot Survivor!

Same individual will be racing the San Francisco Marathon TWICE... Again Blood Clot Survivor!

Another individual just completed the New Orleans 70.3 Triathlon... Blood Clot Survivor!

Same individual will be participating in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon... Again Blood Survivor!

One individual ONLY prefers "longish" marathons... This guy so far this year has competed several 50K plus trails races... Blood Clot Survivor!

And these are only some of the samplings of the constant stream of inspiring accomplishments I see from individuals who WILL NOT let their clotting incident bring them down.

There are no excuses to get out and continue to stand up for this cause. 

CLOT BUSTER #STOPTHECLOT polka-dots are spreading and will be represented at a race near you...

You too can take part on the STOPTHECLOT expansion by getting your very own polka-dots and wear them whenever possible!

The first shipment of this fine technical shirts arrived today and they are ready to be taken for a run, stroll, walk, or to sleep if so desired...

Get up and get going!

Let's make this day and every day count.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

April Athlete of the Month

After the winter we just had I will gladly take the "April Showers" that hopefully will give way to "May Flowers" and plenty of warm weather to finally get out and enjoy...

Ever since I started this series of postings featuring blood clot survivors it has been my goal to feature anyone with a story of survival that can provide inspiration to others who are going through their very own blood clotting incident.

It does not matter what activity you love doing unfortunately we are all at risk as described by April's Athlete of the Month TED DUNHAM.

Ted has been kind enough to share his story with all of us and has made this post much easier for me as he wrote up his story which I present to you below.  Read on and get inspired to learn more about blood clots and the signs and symptoms that may save your life...

"Hi fellow clot busters, my name is Ted Dunham and I’m honored to be able to tell my story as April’s athlete of the month. Until reading Jessica’s story from January, I had thought I was the only athlete dumb enough to ignore PE symptoms for nearly a month, but it seems the stubbornness of athletes is a common thing!

I’m a daily runner, but not a racer. I go about 5 miles per day, which keeps me in shape for my real passion, water skiing. I run the slalom course and once you get to the level of shortening the line, it’s quite the short burst exercise challenge. On smooth days I’ll ski barefoot, and that’s where the story begins.

 

One day last May I came back in the boat from a barefoot stint and had a tiny puncture wound on my left Achilles, barely enough to drip blood. We theorized the foot must have hit the fin of one of the many dead pan fish that are commonly seen floating that time of year (they often die in spawning). No big deal. I went home to plant my garden, but found myself starting to limp. It got worse and worse until I could barely walk on it that night. The next day I was on crutches with a big fat swollen foot, and was still stubborn enough that it took me another 24 hours to go to the ER. The doctor flipped, said it was a serious infection and put me in the hospital (first time in my life) on IV antibiotics. Three days in bed, and the infection was gone, but the damage was apparently done.

 

I got back to running and the foot healed up, but in mid-July I began to have odd pain in my chest. It felt like it war right over my heart. It was pretty much constant, and then my running begin to be a struggle, especially on hills. I found myself having to stop, winded in a way you don’t get unless you’re trying a whole new level. On a Sunday in md-August, I found myself unable to keep up with my son just walking around Cedar Point. I vowed to go to the ER the next day, but after my run my symptoms were so bad I thought it was a heart attack, so I went by ambulance. CT Scans showed bilateral PEs, and ultrasound found a clot all the way from groin to calf in that same leg that had the infection. Straight to a hospital bed I went, on Heparin and Coumadin. After begging my way out of the hospital, I spend 10 days taking Lovenox shots until the Coumadin level was therapeutic in my system.

I did the same thing as all of you. Read all I could on the subject and was wondering when or if I would get back to my regular life. The doctor said no running for 3-4 weeks, and he grudgingly allowed biking and swimming, not to exceed a 120 heart rate. These were the days I thought the constant pain and getting easily winded would be the new normal. It was still water ski season and I was banned. Too hard on the heart, and too much risk of a hard fall.

But in a few weeks, I was indeed back in my running shoes, and a few weeks after that I had worked back up to a respectable pace. So I strapped on my slalom ski and promised to stay out of the course so I wouldn’t push too hard and risk a hard fall. Every day I pushed harder, and every day of pushing too hard  left me with painful reminders the next day that healing is a long process. However, at the end of February I will be off Coumadin, I can run faster and swim further than before the PE, and the chest pains and shortness of breath are becoming more memories than realities. The lake is frozen at the moment, but as soon as we get the boats in the water this Spring, I will be back in the slalom course tearing it up. This time I’ll be especially mindful to keep an eye out for dead fish during those barefoot runs!

My message to anyone who is just days or weeks removed from your diagnosis is this; the first few weeks are hard and frustrating, but it gets better every day, and if you are diligent you will be back to doing the things you love. And tell your friends, it’s protocol in most hospitals to offer Lovenox to anyone who is going to be there even overnight. Take it. I am writing to you today in large part because the hospital didn’t offer me Lovenox when I went in with that infection. Stay focused, clot-busters! Everyone on this blog is living proof you can come back from PE! "

I am SO VERY THANKFUL to have the opportunity to have met Ted virtually and to have his story to share with all who is willing to read.  THANK YOU Ted once more for your willingness to share and inspire.

Reading about water skiing sure gets me ready for spring  and summer.  For sure I will need to work on Ted to see if we can get him to ski while wearing the CLOT BUSTER STOPTHECLOT polka-dots... That for sure would be a first.  Who wants to see pictures of that?!?! No question that would be sensational.

So, with spring around the corner let's get inspired to spread the word about blood clots and blood clotting disorders and to get out there to water ski, swim, bike, run, hike and do anything else you wish to do!

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

Spread The Word about Blood Clots by Wearing your POLKA-DOTS!!!

More than ever you have at your disposal an ample variety of CLOT BUSTER STOP THE CLOT polka-dots available for your use to spread the word because EVERYONE needs to know...!

NEW NOW... RUN TECHNICAL SHIRT

CYCLING JERSEY

TRIATHLON TOP

*** DON'T MISS OUT on the end of MARCH SALE for the Cycling Jersey and Triathlon Top.  20% OFF so that you too can have your very own polka-dots ***

MARCH is coming to an end and at it is my hope that this month can serve as a spring-board for many to learn more about blood clots and blood clotting disorders but MOST IMPOTANTLY about the signs and symptoms since knowing them CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE!!!

Now that you are aware of blood clots make sure you tell others about it!  We cannot miss the opportunity to let other know.  PLEASE JOIN ME in this effort!

Thank you for reading,

The Clot Buster

March Athlete of the Month

Do you know the relevance of March for those of us sporting the polka-dots?

Certainly March is a very important month because it is BLOOD CLOT AWARENESS MONTH.  For that reason during this month I am locked and loaded about spreading the word about blood clots and blood clotting disorders.  CLOT BUSTER STOP THE CLOT polka-dots will be in full display anywhere possible so that they can be noticed and in the very least get people thinking about this topic that could eventually save your life.

One life was saved just over a year ago as this month's Athlete of the Month went through his very own blood clotting incident.

Please allow me to introduce to you CHRIS SOMMER who is a clot survivor and the individual I would like to feature on this month's post.  After you read what Chris so kindly has shared with us you will understand, without a question, the importance of knowing the signs of symptoms of blood clots because they can in fact save your life on a moment in which you may not have a great deal of time to react.

Read on Chris' story and get inspired to learn what you can and want about blood clots and blood clotting disorders but also get inspired to get out and never ever give up!

1)  What is your sport/activity of choice? Why do you enjoy it?
My activity of choice is running. I do race a little, but I mostly run because I enjoy it. It has always been my “me time” and has helped me in so many aspects of my life. Physically, mentally and emotionally. I always seem to find the answers to my hard questions during a run.

2)  How did you get started in that sport?

I began running in January of 2008. I had just started a new job, and decided that I really needed to make a healthy change in my life. I started eating better, started lifting weights and doing mostly elliptical and cycling for my cardio. Then one day I decided to try running on the treadmill and I really enjoyed it. Running has been a big part of my life ever since.

3)  What is the latest milestone you achieved or plan to achieve?(Long bike ride, some race coming up or that you did)

I ran my first race in March of that 2008; a 5 mile event on St. Paddy’s Day which was an absolute blast. I have participated in a number of 5k’s, 10k’s, 2 half marathons, and ran the marathon relay twice. I was hoping to run my first full marathon in the fall of 2013, but those plans were put on hold because of my PE. I’m hoping to train for my first marathon this fall.

4)  Tells about your clotting episode.  Are you on blood thinners now? How long were you out of commission?

Rewind back to January 20th, 2013. I was still recovering from an extended flu-like illness, I was dehydrated that day, we had just celebrated my DD’s 6th birthday that day, and I was exhausted. After the birthday party I decided to take a nap, and fell asleep in an awkward position with my left leg draped over the arm of our love seat. When I woke up, I felt a knot directly behind my left knee. I didn’t really think much of it at the time and life went on. Over the next 10 days I missed more than 1 warning sign that something was seriously wrong. I noticed that I was becoming very winded on my runs, and at some points I actually had to stop to catch my breath. I was experiencing some mild pain in my right lower rib cage area. I had coughed up blood on 2 consecutive days which was when I decided to visit my doctor. He thought the these were just lingering symptoms from my extended illness earlier in the month and sent me on my way with nothing more than a recommendation for some tylenol.

On February 1st, 2013, I was awakened at 4:00 AM by a more significant pain under my right ribcage and in my right shoulder areas. At first I thought I had slept on it wrong and tried to stretch it out, but it didn’t get any better. As a matter of fact it was getting worse and I was feeling a bit more pain when I would breathe. I can’t really explain how I knew, but I knew something was wrong. I woke my wife up, explained to her what I was feeling, and that I thought I needed to go to the emergency room ASAP.

The ER doctors ran a bunch of blood work, chest x-ray, ekg, and everything came back normal. They were about to release me with the generic diagnosis of “pleural lung pain”, when the ER doctor decided he wanted to run one last test on me. That final test was a spiral CT. When they rolled me back to the ER after the CT scan the doctor met me personally and told me, “you have blood clots in your lungs”. They also scanned my legs where they found an active clot in my left leg, just below the knee and extending into my calf. I had just been diagnosed with a sub-massive bilateral pulmonary embolism along with a left leg DVT.

I was immediately started on blood thinners and spent the next 3 days in the hospital. The rest is as they say, history. I met with numerous doctors, all very interested in how a young, healthy, active person ended up there. They ran blood work for all known genetic disorders and they all came back negative. The official cause of my clotting episode is still a mystery (or unprovoked). Statistically speaking, the chance of recurrence is pretty high for unprovoked clots in men over 40. Because of this, I have chosen to remain on blood thinners, most likely for the rest of my life.

5)  When were you able to get back into your activity?  How did it feel that first time?  

Early on in my recovery I did a lot of walking. The doctors said, “walk as much as you like”, so I did. I started while I was in the hospital and would wander the halls quite a bit. At first I felt a little short of breath just from walking, but it got better with time. By 3-4 weeks I felt like I could probably run again, but the doctors did not want me running until the clot in my leg was gone. My legs were rescanned at the 5 week mark and at this point the clot has totally resolved. I was given the all clear to run and I didn’t waste much time. That same day I took a 1 mile spin around the block. It was my favorite run of 2013!

 

6)  What is your favorite piece of gear for your favorite activity? (Bike brand, running shoes, perhaps a running singlet or the Clot Buster's Running Polka-Dot Technical Shirt...)

I’m pretty minimalistic in my running. For the most part I run in Target C9 brand running gear. I don’t own a GPS and don’t run with music either. So I guess my favorite piece of running gear would have to be my shoes. All of them. I always have 2 or 3 pairs in rotation. I have tried a number of different manufacturers, but I’ve been mostly loyal to the Asics Gel Nimbus. They seem to work best for me.

7)  How much are you getting out doing your sport?  (Everyday you do some training, 2, 3, 4 times per week)

I am currently running about 25 miles per week (4-5 days) and my speed is slowly coming back. I missed my St. Paddy’s Day race last year because of my clotting episode and am looking forward to running it this year! I am also planning a spring half marathon at the end of April, and if I can get my mileage up a bit and stay healthy, maybe I’ll take on my first full marathon this fall.

 8)   What is your favorite food?  Either generally or after a workout.  For me there is nothing better than a Chipotle Burrito…

I like a lot of different food, and am actually a pretty good cook. I cook a mean chicken french (if chicken french can be mean).

9)  If you could go some place to visit and explore, where would like to go?

I went to Germany when I was in high school for 3 weeks and had an amazing time. I’d love to go back and complete a tour of Europe some day.

 

Chris' Favorite running spot - Can you guess where this is?

10)  What would like to say to someone who is going through a clotting episode, perhaps very similar to yours?  How can people return to do what they enjoy? Tells about your concerns and what you look out after as you got back.

Everything about suffering a blood clot is very overwhelming, especially early on. So much information; what to eat, what not to eat, anticoagulants, genetic factors, blood tests, compression socks, travel, etc, etc, etc. Don’t worry about learning it all at once. Get a good doctor that you feel comfortable with. I loved my hematologist because he helped me navigate all of the questions I had.

Be patient with yourself. You will get back to doing the activities that you love. There are a lot of factors that go into your recovery and we are all an experiment of one. Some people return to their activities in weeks, some months, and some years. Some get all of their fitness back and more. Stick with it. Your body has been through a lot, allow it to heal and don’t be afraid to take those extra rest days when your body is asking for them.

Be patient with your family and friends. They might not totally understand what you are going through, but the mental stress is just as hard on your loved ones as it is on you.

One final message to someone who is early on in recovery. Never give up! One message from all of the doctors that I met that still rings in my mind is that running probably saved my life. Running gave my body the edge it needed to lessen the impact of a very traumatic event. That was all I needed to hear to know that I had to lace up and keep on running.

CHRIS - THANK YOU a million times over for your willingness to share your story!

Without a question you are a perfect candidate to kickoff the month of March for the blood clot awareness movement.  I look for the day where I will see you racing in Clot Buster polka-dots and if I get lucky enough maybe even race along side you. 

Let us know how your racing goes in 2014. 

Based on your determination that Marathon in the fall will become a reality and we will be cheering you every step of the day even if it is only virtually.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

February Athlete of the Month

Although it is an absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to maintain this blog and to post about the REMARKABLE and INSPIRING stories of the clot survivors I come in contact with...but there is an underlying problem... and it is, unfortunately, the fact that I have to come across clot survivors... and even more unfortunate is that there is no shortage of them...

For me it is truly a privilege to be a part of this community of individuals that, in some instances, come face to face with their own mortality and (thankfully) more often than not they can walk away from their clotting incident and start their very own come back story.  From this platform I get to share with all of you the news of the troubles of the clotting incident but also the process of coming out of the "recovery maze" which can vary from person to person.

I am thrilled to be doing this but at the same time I wish that I did not have to because then it would mean that we have no blood clotting incidents and no blood clotting disorders... 

But unfortunately that is not the reality and because of that I will continue to share the stories that come way so that the experiences of others can guide some out of their own recovery maze...

The text that you will find below I received from an email early in January TIM PETERS a clot survivor who is searching and looking for the way out of his maze and I am more than happy to share his information for all to read... THANK YOU TIM FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SHARE!

"While I know everyone recovers differently I am interested in hearing from cyclist on the difficulties and advice for getting back on the bike.   Because I tested positive for Factory Five Liden there is a good chance I will be on some type of thinner for life a and there is the whole falling thing that has my wife concerned.

Right now fatigue is my biggest hurdle and going for a 1 mile walk is tiring.  It is also winter time in Chicago so it will probably be a few months before I am actually riding outside, in the past I would ride most of the winter but it looks like me and the trainer will be best friends once I get to that point. 

Below is my story and a picture before the start of this years Ore to Shore 48 mile mountain bike race in the Michigan UP.  I raced mountain bikes competitively starting in 1995 and stopped in 2007.  The other picture is from 2004 when raced for the regional Mountain Dew team. I got burned out and took some time off. In 2011 I did a couple 40K TT's, in 2012 I decided to get my head back into cycling and began riding with a group again. In 2012 I also competed in my first mountain bike race in 5 years and did the Master's 40 category Cyclecross Championship  race in Chicago, while I got my doors dusted I didn't finish last.  For 2013 my goal was 5 races; I made 4. 

This is my story of a new chapter in my life, let's say it is the beginning of chapter 3. 

The Folly of the Clot -

Below is the story of my recent diagnoses of my first DVT/PE event.  I am a 49 year old husband and father of two daughters, during my time on this great planet of ours I have had 10 surgeries, 3 from two separate head trauma injuries, 4 for defects to my feet from having a disease called Charcot Marie Tooth and 3 other miscellaneous procedures.  As you can tell I have spent my fare share of time in the ER and hospital beds.  A good sense of humor I found was important in getting through and recovering from these events.  I also never let any of this stop me from being highly active. In my youth I raced motocross and cross country motorcycles and have been racing mountain bikes and cyclecross bicycles since 1995. I stopped the bicycle racing for a few years but this was my year back and for the most part was going well until a few weeks ago.

My DVT/PE story starts with a phone call to my sister on October 29, 2013 who just happens to be a doctor.  With the usual catching up on things conversation she also has a tendency to ask about any current injuries I might have.  Well I said to my sister I do, I think I cracked a rib in a cyclecross race crash on October 19, and I have a pulled muscle in my right calf for a month or more that just won't go away.  She asked more questions and than told me in her doctor voice to make an appointment with my physician the next day as a precaution, she mentioned I should get checked for DVT. I know clots can be serious as my aunt died of a PE in 2001. 

So the next day I see my doctor and in less than a minute of meeting with her I am being told to go for an ultrasound. Well my tech wasn't a very good poker player and I could tell she could see something as her face went from a smile to a blank expression every time she went over a certain section of my leg.  Sure enough clots were found and I headed back to my doctors office.  As soon as I arrived I was told to go to the hospital as I needed a CT Scan of my lungs. I called work and told them I wouldn't return and I would see them tomorrow, was I wrong on that one. 

Once I got to the hospital I was quickly prepped for the CT Scan, so after the scan I was asked to wait in an exam room with the IV port still in my arm. Very quickly I got a visit from a nurse explaining I needed to go to the ER immediately.  Dressed in my street clothes and the IV port in my arm I was hustled off to the ER admission room. My first nurse left and the new nurse came in and quickly started with the questions and told me I needed to be prepped for an IV, I said that wasn't needed as I put one in before I left for work that morning and rolled up my sleeve and showed her the IV port already in place.  I thought she was going to fall off the chair and quickly told her that I got it when they did my CT Scan. She gave a nervous laugh and got me on the gurney.  I was brought into the cardiac room and soon two nurses were around me taking vitals and drawing blood.  Having been in this scene before I noticed they all had that "he's gonna die" look in their eyes as they went about their work very seriously.  I stopped one of the nurses and I said what is your name, she said Michelle.  Michelle I said I am going to be ok you can smile, and with that the mood in the room changed. After some light banter with the nurses and the machines hooked up I was told the ER doc would be in to see me in a second. 

When the ER doc came in she started to explain that two significant clots were found in my right leg and that I had multiple clots in the lower lobes of both lungs, my condition was very serious and would be ordering blood thinner injections immediately.  With that I told her I would rather have a pizza, she chuckled and asked me what I like on my pizza.  My wife, sister (not the doctor) and brother-inlaw soon showed up and I started filling them in on the events of the day.  After 4 or 5 hours in the ER I was wheeled up to the ICU floor for 3 glorious days of observation, learning how to inject Lovenox in my stomach and twice daily blood draws.  Along the way I got to meet some wonderful nurses who made my stay and early recovery the best they could.

It has been three weeks since being released, since than I have had another full CT Scan, ultrasound, about 20 blood draws, and several trips to my internist and the hematologist.  I am now on 6mg of Warfarin daily and have an event monitor for the next month as I have had some heart palpitations that can not be explained but most likely caused by the stress and anxiety. I have also tested positive for Factor Five Liden, this will most likely put me on thinners for the rest of my life. 

Like a lot of you, I have constant fatigue, bouts of depression and anxiety and wonder how much my life will change over the next several months.  So why with all the bad do I call my story the folly of the clot?  Because for every bad thing that it has thrown at me there has been a reason to smile, with every blood draw there has been someone trying make it pain free, and while my buddies are out still racing and riding in the cold Chicago fall I was able to walk around my entire neighborhood without stopping. When next racing season comes around they better be afraid because I am going to kick their butts.  They laugh too when I tell them that and with that they know I am ok. "

Thank you Tim's sister (the doctor) for providing the guidance needed to get Tim seen and saved from his clotting incident.

Well Tim certainly you can and WILL kick my butt any day on the bike.  I know that you will be throwing down on two wheels as soon as this freezer time ends and we are all able to shed some layers. But the only layer you will have then will be your very own CLOT BUSTER STOPTHECLOT.org polka-dot jersey for sure.  Here is hoping that we get to share a ride together someday!

THANK YOU once more for your willingness to share your story.  WONDERFUL to read the positive outlook you have which can indeed be a catalyst to keep you going.  Over the fall and winter  you walked... coming spring you will be riding again!

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

I miss the outside world...

... that I usually see while training and playing.

At this rate, I don't believe my Garmin even works as I've been forced to stay indoors for a while now.

Thinking warm thoughts...

Without a question over the last 10 days I experienced the coldest temperatures of my life.

Thinking sunshine thoughts...

Don't mean to sound down but it is getting difficult to get on the "dreadmill" and run.

Thinking warm thoughts...

By now, I am running out of ideas as to what intervals to do on the trainer.  Can't really do the same training video again.

Thinking about less layers and no fleece...

On the bright side I found a new rhythm to be consistent with yoga time.

Thinking warm thoughts...

Feel lucky and constantly try to process the irony that I get to go swim while it is so cold outside the water would freeze instantly.

Thinking about racing in the CLOT BUSTER STOPTHECLOT.org polka-dots to represent and spread the word about blood clots and blood clotting disorders.

Come on spring!

Get here FAST!

I need you!

Back on the covers...

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

January Athlete of the Month

How were your Holidays?

Here is hoping and wishing that you were able to receive 2014 in grand style and that the new year is bringing you ALL the happiness, good fortune, and good health you can afford.

I am looking forward to 2014 and getting the chance to continue to spread the word about blood clots, get even more exposure to the CLOT BUSTER STOPTHECLOT polka-dots, and of course continue to post some more of these inspirational stories from blood clot survivors.  I simply cannot get enough of learning what the human body is capable of once your mind is set and your body cooperates.

The 2013 series of Athlete of the Month posts end with a fantastic story of a blood clot survivor throwing down with an Ironman Triathlon.

Well, I could not see any other way to start 2014 than with another story of blood clot survival and come back that involves a recent tango with another Ironman Triathlon.

Please allow me to introduce to you JESSICA LEHMAN who very graciously has agreed to share her story of survival and come back with us.  I am VERY THANKFUL to Jessica and for willingness to sit down and go to town on the write up you will be reading below. 

Are you ready to get your 2014 started with a story that will get you off the couch and going... please read on!

" Hi guys! My name is Jessica and I’m so excited to share my experience with Team Stop the Clot.

Less than a year ago I was sitting in a hospital bed thinking my life as an athlete was over. My pity party came to an end when I found this blog. Reading all of the Clot Buster stories gave me hope and inspiration. I hope you find some in my story too.  Please please please contact me if you are newly diagnosed with a DVT/PE and want to talk to someone (jes.lehman@gmail.com). I promise you that you can come back from this! And you will race again J  Here we go….

In January 2013 I had the adventure of a lifetime- summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro. It is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world with an elevation of 19,341 feet.

(You can check out my whole Kili trek here:

www.myhappylittletree.blogspot.com/2013/01/climbing-kilimanjaro)

During the final descent off the mountain (day 8) I developed a sharp pain in my calf. I assumed it was a pulled muscle from summiting. It seemed obvious to me, I mean I did just climb the highest mountain in Africa!

 

 

After another week of safari in the Serengeti we flew home and it was time to get serious about my triathlon training! I was 5 months out from EagleMan 70.3. I remember e-mailing my coach telling her I had a pulled muscle and wasn’t able to run. So I started training by only swimming and biking. My calf was very painful, but triathletes have a very high tolerance for pain (and are just that stubborn) that I refused to go see the doctor.  I knew that if I rested it, iced, and took anti-inflammatories it should go away. And sure enough it did! My leg felt better after a couple weeks. (Later we find out this is because a giant chuck of clot broke off and went to my lungs). So with a healthy leg I started running and training hard.

I realized that my splits were much slower than usual. I told myself that this was because I took a month off to go to Africa and was out of shape. So I started pushing myself harder. I even almost blacked out in the middle of the pool during a time-trial test. I just figured I was dehydrated. Writing this makes me realize how stupid I was… ALWAYS listen to your body!

During the 4^th week back from Africa I started getting out of breath doing simple tasks- walking up stairs, talking on the phone, making a sandwich. The last straw was blacking out during a track practice. That night I went to the ER. And drum roll please…….. DVT in the leg’s popliteal vein and massive bilateral PEs in the lungs. For the amount of clot I had I was lucky to be breathing still, let alone trying to swim, bike and run.

The doctors could only hypothesize what happened. The long plane flight to Africa, my slow heart rate, altitude sickness caused by high elevation, severe dehydration from summit day and birth control pills was my perfect storm of destruction. Sometime after returning home the clot in my thigh to groin broke off and went to my lungs. This is where I count my lucky stars (30% of people with untreated PEs die. I went over a month before going to the ER).

So I got nice and settled in the hospital while they monitored the PEs. I chose to go on the new blood thinning drug Xarelto over Coumadin. No more Lovenox shots in the tummy! This is where I spent my days googling the scary statistics of blood clots (which I’m sure some of you are doing right now). I feel so fortunate to have found Stop the Clot and the Clot Buster athletes. I went to them for inspiration during the following months of recovery. Which were TOUGH. Small victories were climbing the stairs in the hospital, going for a walk, then finally jogging one whole mile. But there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel!

 

I wanted my light to be something huge. I wanted to go out there and celebrate life! I felt so fortunate that I wanted to do something monumental for those that have suffered from clots, those that have passed away, and those that will suffer in the future. I registered for Ironman Cozumel knowing that even if I couldn’t cross the finish line, showing up at the starting line was already an accomplishment.

I made it my personal mission to raise awareness and prevention of these nasty little blood clots by racing for the National Blood Clot Alliance. I raised $6000 along the way!  Most importantly I wanted to set an example that having blood clots does not mean you cannot continue to do the things that most inspire and challenge you.

On December 1, only nine months after being diagnosed with DVT/PEs, I became an Ironman! I really took the whole experience in and enjoyed every second of it. I had a smile on my face for almost the entire race (ok last few miles were ugly). 

 

(check out my full race report here:

www.myhappylittletree.blogspot.com/2013/12/ironman-cozumel)

Check out my support crew’s Stop the Clot shirts and visors!

 

 

So even if you’re on bed rest right now in the hospital or still on blood thinners, keep your head up. Take it day by day. And always live life to the fullest. You’ll be back before you know it!"

What else I can see to add to this story...?

We are so lucky that Jessica shared her story with us to provide us with the spring board we need to get 2014 going.

Get INSPIRED and let's get out there.

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEY YEAR!!!

Here is wishing all of you the VERY BEST on this season.

May the New Year bring along ALL THE GOOD HEALTH, GOOD FORTUNE, and HAPPINESS YOU CAN HANDLE!!!

Looking forward to 2014.

2014 will be start to the CLOT BUSTER's "Redemption Tour..." returning to some races in which I did not go so well and I need to rectify the overall outcome.  Now older, wiser, and more "aero" on top should make all the difference... Be on the look out for the STOP THE CLOT - CLOT BUSTER polka-dots racing along side you...

Thanks for reading,

The Clot Buster

P.S. >>> Not too late to get your very own polka-dots... Cycling Jersey and/or Triathlon Top ALL SIZES available male and female.