Life after DVT (How safe do you feel about flying?)

Member Name: jeanjeannie

Product:	How safe do you feel about flying?
Date:	20/04/01 (125 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Death !

It always happens to me!
We were on holiday staying with relatives in London when I had a miscarriage; I had no idea I was pregnant but it was soon evident that something was very wrong.A doctor was called who confirmed my suspicions and told me just to rest. Wish I had listened – (I’ll have that put on my gravestone). No, not me – I wanna go home I cried, I want my Mum, I want to be in my own home so, my long suffering husband, put me in the car – a souped up Mini Cooper S which went like the wind and drove three hundred miles home to Devon which, back in the early 60's took about 6 hours. Well, we all know NOW about deep vein thrombosis don’t we but not then; I was just pleased to be home and not that upset about the miscarriage just annoyed at the inconvenience of it all.

However, I became very ill with an infection and was carted off to hospital where the gynaecologist quizzed me as to whether I had been to London for an abortion. Sensitive soul he was – not! Nothing was done and I was discharged after a few days when the fever broke but , needless to say I was very weak. My legs ached and I found it more and more difficult to walk. Weakness I said to myself – need to walk more to build up my muscles again – exercise – I must exercise. Well I tried but the pain in my leg got worse each day until I could not get up the stairs. I was eventually confined to bed with my dear old Mum looking after me when I noticed my leg was swollen and blue. Didn’t look too healthy I thought so the doctor was sent for. He took one look at it and phoned for an ambulance.

The journey to the hospital was thrilling – very fast and very noisy with the old bell going. By this time I was convinced that I was going to die – And do you know what I wanted more than anything – a cigarette. I was so wound up and , in those days a twenty a day girl. The ambulance man just looked at me wit
h a knowing smile and I must have looked really ill because he lit a cigarette for me and held it whilst we sped along the road. How would that be viewed today – a hanging crime I suppose but I think that he thought it was my dying wish and even a condemned murderer is given that .

At the hospital various tests were done and it was confirmed that a clot had travelled from my leg ,through my heart and on to my lung. A pulmonary embolism which could, and often does – kill. Wasn’t I lucky? This is what many people get on long haul flights and I think mine was probably caused by being cramped up in that Mini Cooper for such a long time plus being hospitalised afterwards.

This time I was in hospital for several weeks and took anti- coagulants for about twelve months but I’ve survived – as you can see and, two years after, gave birth to a beautiful daughter with the biggest brown eyes you have ever seen. Doubly precious, she was so wanted by my husband and me and made our lives complete.

Well we thought they were until our grandsons arrived – what joy. Now I know what immortality really means.

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