Day Fifty-Four

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Hernia Recovery
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I've been going to the gym a couple times per week, working mostly my own body weight and some light upper body workouts on machines. I've also worked out with a number of cardio machines and my heart and lungs feel very strong. I can work out consistently at 170 bpm, which is my max heart rate; yet, I don't get tired. A good sign!

The negative is that my right incision area hurts a LOT! Not always and, interestingly, not when I work out or walk or stand. It hurts mostly when I lay down or sit in a low chair(or car seat). When I get up off the chair, or turn over in bed, I get a STINGING pain in my right side, directly in the incision area.

By contrast, my left hernia area doesn't bother me at all.

I am calling my surgeon for an appointment and have him check out my right side. My concern is that the mesh hasn't healed properly and could possibly be unattached. That would be terrible!

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Pulmonary Embolism Recovery
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Continuing with the Coumadin every day, at 4PM. No pain when I breath deep, which I've been doing while exercising and no pain when I sleep on my side. This is VERY good news!

Day Thirty-Two

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Hernia Recovery
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GOOD NEWS!

 

My surgeon gave me the green light to begin swimming and riding my stationary bike. In two weeks, at the six week mark, I should be able to begin lifting weights again. Of course, not heavy, but light workouts.

 

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Pulmonary Embolism Recovery
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Continuing with the Coumadin every day, at 4PM. When I breath deep, I feel a little pain in the left side, under my rib cage. It will take a while before I don't feel any pain in my leflt lung. Part of the recovery.

Day Twenty-Seven

I haven´t been posting for the past few days. Moving forward I will only post every so often, whenever an update is warranted.

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Hernia Recovery
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For the first time in many days I'm posting about my hernias, first. My pulmonary embolism issue seems to have stabilized(at least for the time being).

I am able to walk approximately one mile without much pain. I only feel tightness afterward and some soreness. My right incision still burns whenever I bend or twist in certain positions. I find it's most painful whenever I sit in a car. It's not the seat belt, but the position I'm sitting in.

Something that has not been getting better are my legs. They are VERY WEAK when I wake up in the morning. When I stretch my legs in bed, first thing in the morning, my legs tremble uncontrollably, sending a pain shooting up to my abdominal muscles. I am able to get this under control once I roll out of bed and start to walk. I require a lot of stretching of my calf muscles in order to walk properly.

The other night, out of nowhere, both my legs kicked up from an extended position into a bent position, with knees nearly hitting me in the chest!!! Interestingly, I had no pain! But, it was certainly strange, to say the least. I'm wondering if there's some nerve damage, or nerve sensitivity at work.

Who knows what's really going on! Hernia surgery is a Pandora's box!

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Pulmonary Embolism Recovery
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No pain in my lungs and no blood in my sputum for the past week. Taking Coumadin, once per day, as prescribed.

I worked out my upper body with rubber bands(which simulate weight between 20-40 lbs) and raised my heart rate to 150(170 is my max, per my age). I was not out of breath, nor tired. A little sore the next day, in my shoulders and triceps; specially since I haven't worked out in a month.

Day Twenty

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Pulmonary Embolism Recovery
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Met with my family doctor and the results of the liver enzyme tests were encouraging:

AST = 48 (normal 5 to 47 IU/L
ALT =201 (normal 7 to 56 IU/L)

A few days ago when I went to the ER for the second time, Saturday May 19, they were:

AST = 146

ALT = 301

I've been off the Lovenox since last Thursday and only been taking Coumadin. It hasn't been a full week since I've been off the Lovenox, yet my liver enzymes are still high(but decreasing).

 

Evidently, Lovenox is the culprit behind the elevated liver enzymes. This should not be a surprise, since there is ample evidence and documentation pointing to Lovenox causing liver problems. Google for "Lovenox liver enzymes" and you will find a lot to read.

Bad stuff, this Lovenox. But, essential for what the doctors like to call anticoagulant "bridge therapy"; whereby Lovenox is used for a few days until the Coumadin kicks in(which takes 2-4 days for full effect). Those few days on Lovenox can hurt your liver. 

I will be going back for blood tests on June 4 and meeting with my family doctor on June14@11:15AM. Hopefully, the liver enzymes will be back to normal by then.

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Theory of Clot being caused by arm clot from anesthetic IV(see yesterday's post)
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My  doctor didn't rule it out, but said that "superficial" clots in the forearms are typically not problematic, unless they work their way into the deep veins of the underarm. Of course, there's no way to prove that my forearm clot worked its way up the arm. My doctor still clings to the notion that the clots came from the surgical area due to pressure applied to an artery by someone in the operating room.

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Hernia Recovery
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I overdid it yesterday, having walked over 1/4 mile on a trail near my house. I was in a lot of pain(burning and pulling) from the incisions and had a difficult time sleeping last night; even after taking 5mg of oxycodon.

Day Nineteen

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Pulmonary Embolism Recovery
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Something interesting happened to me a few minutes ago and it may shed light into what's at the root of my bout with Pulmonary Embolism: 

About 15 minutes ago I was chatting with my neighbor, an RN who a few years ago worked with the surgeon that did my hernia surgery, and she told me that some time back she had a clot in her left forearm. The clot occurred after she received the anesthetic Propofol for a particular procedure.

She describe how the "clot" formed as a ball on her forearm, a few centimeters from where the anesthetic had been administered. The ball was about quarter sized, hurt a LOT and was "hot" to the touch.

Interestingly, I had the SAME experience! This happened on day five after the surgery. This is my post on Day Five:

The first setback that I notice is a lump on my left arm, where the IV was inserted. Not necessarily on the spot itself, but a bit further up the arm from the original point of entry for the needle. There is no color to the lump, but it hurts a LOT!

By night time, the pain in my left arm is unbearable; and this after applying multiple ice bags.

Although I didn't post it on Day Five, the lump was very hot to the touch!

My neighbor said that she had an ultra sound to check whether the clot had traveled up the arm; but it hadn't. I didn't have an ultrasound done because, frankly, I didn't think it was a clot! I thought it was a slight infection from the IV/anesthetic and nothing to worry about.

However, the very next day after having this pain in my arm I begin to feel the effects of the Pulmonary Embolism. Could this be a coincidence, or is it the root of my PE?!

Blog post from Day Six:

10:30PM - A *NEW* pain comes into the picture!

While lying down on the couch I feel a stabbing pain on the left side, below rib cage. The pain is excruciating! I can't even take a shallow breath without the pain causing me to scream!

I feel comfort when putting pressure in the area and I'm able to pass gas and burp. Evidenlty, the pain is due to trapped gas.

Sady, the pain lasts another hour and I am finally able to go to bed at 11:30PM, when the pain is tolerable.  

Could the lump in my arm be the culprit clot behind my Pulmonary Embolism?!

I'm meeting with my doctor tomorrow. Let's see what he says.


Went for blood work today with the goal of getting my liver enzymes checked. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment and will know if my enzymes have shot up or down. The measurement will determine whether or not I will keep taking Coumadin(see post from Day Sixteen for more details). 


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Hernia Recovery
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I went for an even longer walk today, covering at least 3/4 miles round trip, along a trail near my house. It was a warm, clear day and a perfect day for a walk. I'm a bit sore, but each day I'm getting better.

Day Eighteen

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Pulmonary Embolism Recovery
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NO blood at all in my sputum. This is the first day since my hospitalization for Pulmonary Embolism that I don't have any blood in my sputum. One positive, at least.

My left lower to mid back still hurts. Feels like muscles aches, but I'm worried that it's kidney-related. After all, the ER doc told me that the ultra sound showed that I have "enlarged kidneys".

I will know more on Wednesday, when I meet with my family doctor.

Continue taking Coumadin at 4PM.

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Hernia Recovery
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I took a long walk today. The longest since the operation. But, I was sore. I still feel burning in the area of my incisions and I take one Oxycodon 5mg tablet after my walk.

Day Seventeen

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Pulmonary Embolism Recovery
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No pain in my left side and little to no blood in my sputum.
Continue taking Coumadin at 4PM.

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Hernia Recovery
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I felt well enough to do some isometric and rubber band exercises. I felt a little sore later on in the evening, but it was well worth the effort. I felt like my body needed a workout.