Whose a Clot!

[DaveCon]

A word of caution to riders of my age (66) above and below.

Visited the doc today only to be referred directly to the Infirmary, to learn I had a blood clot. No issues really, Doctor to tests to treatment took just 3.5 hours. (The NHS is fantastic).

Asked what I might have been doing that brought this on, long flights etc, I admitted that I had been riding around the Arctic Circle (Norway 2016) for a couple of weeks, and that my lower limbs were pretty much inactive the whole time, despite stops for fuel and coffee etc. Also, I was asked if I was dehydrated, and on reflection I was (not getting up for a pee in the night), and the weather was above 20 degrees for 5 days, (really, it did subsequently go down to 0.5 degrees for a spell) and I was layered up for the cold.

Delighted with the NHS treatment, but I would hate to learn of anyone else being caught out the same way. Try and move your legs about as you ride, (my colleague was all but performing pirouettes on the bike to my amusement) and ensure you are well hydrated.

Doc says I can still go riding and to stay active, but my risk of a Pulmonary Embolism and Stroke have improved.

Take good care everyone.

Were there any symptoms to look out for, or was it just a routine check-up?

[johnnyboxer]

Good advice

Even on pure road trips I always have an insulated Camelbak with 2 litres of water on all time

I drink 2 litres in the morning and 2 litres in the afternoon

Every time I fuel I refill it with a bottle of ice cold water from the garage fridge

My mates laughed - but now they use one

Also stopping every couple of hours for a stretch is good

[scorparider]

As has already been stressed, hydration is vital to reduce the risk of thromboembolus (clot).
However the biggest problem for a motorcyclist is venous stasis, the pooling of blood in the blood vessels of the legs. Muscle action is required to keep the blood returning, simple "toe raisers", i.e. clenching the calves and raising the knees while riding can help pump the blood back up the legs.
Another vital issue to consider is the tightness of the rider's trousers behind the knees. Tight trousers can have the effect of a tourniquet, again restricting the return flow of the venous blood. Make sure your trousers are a loose fit in this area.
Taking one aspirin a day whilst on tour will also help reduce the risk of embolus, it has an anti platelet effect which reduces the stickiness of these specialised blood cells.

As an aside, thromboembolus can occur in apparently healthy, fit individuals due to inherited genetic disorders.

[Bimbler]

Were there any symptoms to look out for, or was it just a routine check-up?

None on the trip, but I had a pain in the leg after I got home which didn't go away

[SteveR]

Too much tea Paul!!

Very pleased though to find out you sussed the problem before it became really serious. I have to say I always like a good walk at the end of a days riding, the body just seems to need it! Spud will have to come up with an "on bike" exercise routine for us old 'uns!!

not enough Tea Steve

cheers Spud

Though tea was a diuretic??

[scorparider]

Were there any symptoms to look out for, or was it just a routine check-up?

'Venous thromboembolism' (VTE) is a collective term for both 'deep vein thrombosis' (DVT) and 'pulmonary embolism' (PE). A DVT is a blood clot in the deep veins of the leg. A PE is when all or part of the DVT breaks off, travels through the body and blocks the pulmonary arteries.
VTE can be difficult to diagnose, and can very easily be confused with less serious conditions. For example, a DVT does not always cause any swelling or changes in the leg, sometimes just pain, and so can be mistaken for a torn leg muscle or a sprain.


"Deep vein thrombosis' or 'DVT' is the term used to describe a blood clot that forms in any of the deep veins in the body. Although most people think of the legs in relation to a DVT forming they can form in other deep veins, including the arms. The deep veins cannot be seen beneath the skin as they are located within muscle. A DVT can occur in the calf, behind the knee, in the thigh or very high in the leg veins within the pelvis. Most DVTs occur in the calf veins, except during pregnancy, when they tend to lie within the thigh and pelvis. Symptoms of a DVT may include:

•swelling, usually in one leg
•leg pain - for 80% of DVTs, pain is the only symptom
•tenderness of the leg muscles, often the calf muscles
•reddish or bluish skin discoloration
•a leg that is warm to touch.
A DVT may break off and travel to the lungs as a pulmonary embolism (PE).

'Pulmonary Embolism' or 'PE' is the term used to describe a blood clot in the lungs. A pulmonary embolism is caused by all or part of a DVT breaking free and travelling around the circulation to block some or all of the blood supply to the lungs. If the blood supply to the lungs is blocked then that individual can't oxygenate blood properly. If all the blood supply is blocked then oxygen supply is totally stopped and it is clearly fatal. If a clot blocks a smaller artery then that area of lung supplied by the artery dies off. This causes pain.

Signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism usually start suddenly, and can vary widely depending on the size and the site of a PE.Symptoms may include:

•sudden shortness of breath - this can vary in degree from very mild, to very obvious shortness of breath
•chest pain that is sharp or stabbing and that may get worse when breathing in
•rapid heart rate
•unexplained cough, sometimes with bloody mucus
•a mild fever
•feeling faint, unwell, or completely collapsing
•there may also be symptoms of a DVT, such as pain at the back of the calf, tenderness of the calf muscles and swelling of a leg or foot.

[Simon_100]

Glad to know you're OK Paul. I had a DVT after three months with my leg in plaster and confined to a wheelchair as I also broke my collar bone so couldn't use crutches. No spectacular symptoms just pain, more in the a*** than the leg and it only got noticed when I mentioned it at out patients for follow-up.

So, another short bout in hospital - nice nurses! (thumbs) - but six months on Sintrom* with tests up three times per week - a real PITA. Curiously this occurred after the plaster was removed and started walking around lots. The sawbones took me off the anti-coagulant jabs pretty much at the same tike as removing the plaster - and printed out an article in some US journal saying that these jabs were ineffective anyway ...

See you in September - you can be in charge of Balto twice a day, that'll keep you on form (thumbs)



Regs

Simon
* that's what it's called here, Sp. sin = without or none and Sp. trombosis =thrombosis get it! :whistle:

[SteveR]

so early start at the hiss morning run. water therapy then the train as you strain session. or just a trip for a shower shit and a shave!!!

To be honest, a good days trail riding is a damned fine workout!!

[robson]

good to take aspirin before long hauls.

[Spike941]

Wish I'd read this 3 weeks ago, before setting off to the Nordkapp. Rode on average 11 hours a day for 16 consecutive days, many over 20C and didn't drink nearly enough. After a few days the DVT possibility did cross my mind, coupled with the regular need to get my arse out of the saddle, I started 'on the move' leg excises. Looks like I was lucky. Shaln't make that mistake again. A good post, and thanks for posting.