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A few weeks ago I woke up with pretty bad pain in my right calf. I thought I had a cramp at night. I didn't feel it cramp, but it felt like the pain after the cramp goes away. I didn't think much of it, since it was cold that night.
My calf kept being sore which sometimes happens after a bad cramp. I decided I'd massage it to make it feel better. But even though I massaged it, it didn't feel any better at all. I went to a hot tub to warm it up, and somehow it felt worse. I started to get concerned, but I put on a compression sock and waited for it to improve. But one day while playing StarCraft it started to hurt a lot. I couldn't wait to finish playing the game so I could lay down. The pain was agonizing, the worst calf pain I've ever felt. I didn't get up except to go to the bathroom for a few hours. I eventually drove to the hospital and waited for the doctor to examine me.
The doctor touched my calf for half a second, said my pulse is strong so I probably don't have a clot. He then diagnosed a strain and then prescribed me a muscle relaxant and a pain medication. I started taking them. I didn't feel as much pain, but one day after a long session of StarCraft I looked at my foot and my entire lower leg was swollen. I earlier read that if I got further swelling that I needed to go to the hospital again. I put on my compression sock and went again.
The first person who looked at me (probably a nurse) again touched my calf for a second and said it's still probably a strain. I told him that I was concerned about the swelling so I saw a doctor in an examination room. He thought I might have a calf tear, so he touched my calf, but what he did differently is he moved my heel to stretch my Achilles tendon. Because I didn't have any pain from it, he ordered an ultrasound. He said "when we don't find anything, I can't really help you". It didn't really look like a clot upon examination. But after I got the ultrasound, they found a blood clot in my vein. The doctor was amazed. He said he hasn't seen that in twenty years.
I'm 30 years old. I don't smoke, I don't do drugs, I don't have a history of blood clots. I've never had cancer or a stroke. I have a 22 BMI. According to a calculator, someone with my profile only has 3% chance to have a blood clot. The only risk factor I have is sitting for long periods of time to play StarCraft.
Check my stream lengths: https://www.twitch.tv/iopg/videos/all
I was streaming for 12-16 hours when playing SC:R only getting up from time to time to get water or go to the bathroom.
Now I have to inject myself in the belly with a blood thinner medication every 12 hours. There is a chance the clot breaks off and goes into my lungs causing a pulmonary embolism which could kill me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_vein_thrombosis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_embolism
Remember to not let blood pool in your legs for prolonged periods of time. Do not sit without getting up to walk around for more than an hour at a time.
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Oh no That is sad to hear my man. I hope that clot dissolves or w/e needs to happen so you can be better. I will note this down, I'ma take a walk right now, been at the computer too long myself.
Again, wish you the best and recover soon!
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thedeadhaji
39472 Posts
Thanks for sharing. I'll try to remember your story to get myself to walk around every hour!
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Anesthetist here:
You're a sedentary, non active person. Those are huge risks for DVTs. My guess is your nutrition is poor as well. DVTs are easily avoidable if you:
1. Are not overweight 2. Drink plenty of water 3. Stay active 4. Don't lead a sedentary lifestyle / stay in the same position for long periods of time. Positions that obstruct blood flow (sitting down, cross legged sitting ext.) are the worst offenders.
Your Doc probably gave you coumadin (careful of vitamin K containing foods with this one) or sub Q heparin. Those are going to stop the clot from getting bigger. And eventually, it will dissolve. However this does take some time.
My best advice to you is: 1. Be more active, and take care of yourself (after your doc clears you and the clot is dissolved) 2. Be conscious of your lifestyle choices. walking around, doing jumping jacks, pushups and light calisthenics between each game will 100% prevent this issues. 3. If you continue to get DVT's even while making lifestyle modifications, i would suggest going to a hematologist- as you could have a genetic disorder.
Glad you're ok, good luck!
Edit: and once your clot is gone, you can think about getting a set of these:
https://www.medcomgroup.com/scd-machines-sequential-compression-devices-1/
We use them in hospital all the time. Simulates walking, with out the need to walk. Great preventative strategy
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That sucks! Hope you are getting well and pain goes away. Oh, and follow your rules too, don't stream that recklessly much!
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On September 11 2017 05:54 Ramiel wrote: Anesthetist here:
You're an overweight
Today I learned I'm overweight
https://imgur.com/V5zaAV0
I guess I have to get down to single digit body fat percentage to be healthy
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United States1429 Posts
Iopq nooooo. I hope you get better.
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On September 11 2017 06:11 iopq wrote:Show nested quote +On September 11 2017 05:54 Ramiel wrote: Anesthetist here:
You're an overweight Today I learned I'm overweight https://imgur.com/V5zaAV0I guess I have to get down to single digit body fat percentage to be healthy
I re-read through your OP. I thought it was 32 bmi, not 22. My bad XD
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Yikes man hope you recover soon! I'm going to get in the habit of standing up and stretching after each game as soon as the score screen comes up.
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On September 11 2017 06:33 Ramiel wrote:Show nested quote +On September 11 2017 06:11 iopq wrote:On September 11 2017 05:54 Ramiel wrote: Anesthetist here:
You're an overweight Today I learned I'm overweight https://imgur.com/V5zaAV0I guess I have to get down to single digit body fat percentage to be healthy I re-read through your OP. I thought it was 32 bmi, not 22. My bad XD Don't worry, it was just an excuse to post a medically relevant picture
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On September 11 2017 06:43 iopq wrote:Show nested quote +On September 11 2017 06:33 Ramiel wrote:On September 11 2017 06:11 iopq wrote:On September 11 2017 05:54 Ramiel wrote: Anesthetist here:
You're an overweight Today I learned I'm overweight https://imgur.com/V5zaAV0I guess I have to get down to single digit body fat percentage to be healthy I re-read through your OP. I thought it was 32 bmi, not 22. My bad XD Don't worry, it was just an excuse to post a medically relevant picture
Such muscular definition :3
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I would advise you first of all sir, to cut your standing sessions greatly (on the long run...)
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Awwww..
Have they excluded any of the promthrombotic disorders and are there any family history of venous thromboembolism? In a case like you we may well treat it as a provoked dvt but still in a young guy like you it may be worth checking for other stuff as well...
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I hope you have a speedy recovery man
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Shit I remember when Incontrol had the exact same thing. Hope you recover soon.
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Damn bud.... Hope for a speedy recovery.
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ouch, that sucks.
On September 11 2017 05:41 iopq wrote: I was streaming for 12-16 hours when playing SC:R only getting up from time to time to get water or go to the bathroom.
I assume you also got up to eat? I was also wondering if you had to traverse any stairs any of that time or if you're place is all on the same floor.
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thedeadhaji
39472 Posts
On September 11 2017 06:11 iopq wrote:Show nested quote +On September 11 2017 05:54 Ramiel wrote: Anesthetist here:
You're an overweight Today I learned I'm overweight https://imgur.com/V5zaAV0I guess I have to get down to single digit body fat percentage to be healthy
yeah man, thinly veiled brag itt
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): Too much of anything is a bad thing! I hope you have a speedy and safe recovery my friend.
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