Taking an Unexpected Step Back

Don't you hate when you're going along your merry way and something unexpected happens that turns your world upside down. That basically describes this past weekend.

I was just getting back into my workout groove and did a nice, hard leg workout on Wed. One of those workouts that leaves you sore by lunchtime. I thought nothing of it...until my calf and achilles tendon really began to hurt. I shrugged it off as nothing more than a strain from overuse. On Thurs. I worked out in the morning and by the evening my calf hurt even more and I asked my husband if it looked swollen. He immediately said it did and I should go to the dr. Nah, I'll just elevate, ice and cut back on working out since I was convinced it was a muscle and/or tendon injury.

By Sat. morning I could barely walk on it; I was in such pain. But we were heading to Atlantic City that night to see a show. I wasn't going to let my leg ruin my weekend plans. Finally, I couldn't take the pain anymore and let my husband take me to a walk-in doctor clinic since we were already down the shore. My blood pressure was very low (hence why I felt so woozy) and the dr. sent me to the hospital for an ultrasound. He was fairly certain I had a blood clot. Now in my mind I found this laughable. Only the elderly get blood clots. I just turned 40, eat clean, work out six days a week...I'm sure it's just a muscle.

After five hours in the ER, I come to find out I have a blood clot behind my left knee and was immediately put on blood thinners. WHAT?!?!? I was ordered to be on bed rest at home for three days and wasn't allowed to leave the hospital until I provided my primary doctor's info. Now this is beginning to sound serious. I had to learn how to give myself shots of Lovenox in my stomach and was also put on Warfarin (the generic form of Cumadin). I was given a laundry list of symptoms that warranted immediately going to the hospital. I had to have my blood checked every five days to ensure the blood thinners were at the right levels. Is your head spinning yet? Mine certainly was!

I was hot mess when I woke up the next day (leg still in a whole lotta pain) and thought about all the things I potentially couldn't do anymore. No more supplements for fear of how they may interact with my meds. No more crazy races, like the Tough Mudder or Warrior Dash. I can't so much as shave my legs with a razor. No pedicures.

All that said, I'm so incredibly grateful for where I am today and what I can do. I have a loving husband who made me realize I couldn't just ignore the situation. Once my leg pain is gone, I can go back to the gym. I just purchased a fancy new electric razor. Most importantly, my blood clot (also known as deep vein thrombosis, DVT) didn't turn into a pulmonary embolism, which means it could've traveled to my lungs and killed me.

My public service announcement (PSA) to everyone is this: if you take long trips, either by car or plane, get up and walk around. That is the leading cause of DVT. If you're on birth control, such as Yaz, be very careful since one of the leading side effects is blood clots. I didn't realize that not only did I take a long trip (Napa in July), I was on the generic form of Yaz, and I have a family history of blood clots. Good odds, right?

It's hard to take a step back, but sometimes what's going on inside your body is most important than what's going on outside.

Have you ever had to take a step back and readjust your goals? I've love to hear about it!