My husband and I are keen long distance walkers
My husband and I are keen long distance walkers and in September 2020 decided to celebrate coming out of lockdown by walking Hadrians Wall path.
I had relatively new walking boots and developed right foot pain similar to a Morton’s neuroma.
I work as a Physiotherapist and on returning to work I sat with my right knee bent under my chair taking pressure off my foot (but of course limiting blood flow).
Due to Covid we were still “seeing” a lot of patients virtually meaning lots of sitting. I had the perfect storm of oral HRT (I was never offered anything else), prolonged sitting with a flexed knee and poor hydration (I do 10 hour days and I wasn’t good at drinking enough).
My calf throbbed constantly, I was unable to sleep
Two weeks after our walk I developed right calf pain. Being a Physio I knew this was not musculoskeletal and knew I was at risk due to the HRT. My calf throbbed constantly, I was unable to sleep, and I developed an area of redness but not much in the way of swelling. I called 111 and was advised to go to my Urgent Treatment Centre where I saw a Nurse practitioner. I explained that I was sure I had a DVT , my risk factor of HRT and that I was a Physio and was sure this wasn’t a calf strain. He “assessed” me told me he didn’t think I had a DVT, wasn’t referring me for further investigation and told me to go home and see my GP if it didn’t improve. I asked him what he thought was causing my pain and the answer was “I don’t know”.
My pain and redness didn’t improve so I called my GP practice the next day and saw a GP a day later. By this time I was hobbling badly. I reiterated everything that I’d said to the nurse practitioner and begged him for a D-Dimer and a scan.
He went off and discussed it with a colleague, came back and said no investigations were needed as it was cellulitis and it should get better by itself. He said “is that ok?” and my response was “well it will have to be. I think I’ve got a DVT but you say not”. I left very frustrated.
My calf pain did seem to settle over the next few days but I developed a pain behind my knee which I thought was from walking awkwardly. A few days later I felt “off” and had severe left shoulder pain worse when breathing in. The following day I woke and knew something was terribly wrong as I was struggling to breathe and my pulse rate was 145 at rest. I called the GP practice who said to go in straight away and was told to go to A&E (no ambulance called- my husband was told to take me) with, as I suspected, a possible PE.
This was confirmed in A&E. I had multiple PEs and my D-Dimer was over 9000. My troponin levels were elevated and the Consultant said that I was at high risk of a stroke or heart attack in the next two weeks.
Now I was being told I potentially could die. I was terrified.
This was so surreal. Two weeks previously I had hiked across England, now I was being told I potentially could die. I was terrified.
I was given Fragmin injections and Apixaban and sent home with follow ups for a CT to look for cancer and heart US looking for long term damage.
It took me at least a year to feel anything like normal again. Thankfully I’m a pusher so I have slowly but methodically regained my fitness (pleased to report I hiked the Pennine way last autumn).
After my clots, I obviously came off oral HRT and eventually saw a private menopause specialist who was appalled that I had been given it as a first line of treatment. I am now on patches and 2.5 years later so far so good.
You really have to be your own advocate
So yes, fit people get DVTs and PEs and even when you are a medical professional who knows the signs and symptoms and their own body you still get ignored! You really have to be your own advocate. I didn’t push enough and should have refused to leave until investigated. In hindsight I wish I’d gone straight to A&E but these were Covid times and we were advised not to (NHS 111 signposted me to the UTC)
If my story helps one person I will be happy.