Members Popular Post HDee Posted May 27, 2022 Members Popular Post Report Share Posted May 27, 2022 When I heard yesterday that the husband whose wife was killed in the Texas shootings had most likely suffered a fatal heart attack, I reflected on this very sad and tragic event...I wonder how often this happens...more than we will ever know, I think. Here is what happened to me. My husband of 50 years passed away this past December. For months I had been caring for him at home, other times sitting for five or six hours each day at his hospital bedside, not eating properly AND not being careful about hydration. After he passed away I spent more hours lying around the house, and again, not eating properly nor staying hydrated. Add to that, varicose veins which I'd had for years and years without EVER a problem...and unbeknownst to me at that the time, the Factor V Leiden mutation (clotting). The stage was set. The final straw was something foolish that I did: I feel asleep with a heating pad and during the night it burned three of the worst rope-like varicose veins on my right leg. Burns that were extremely painful for days...and then, one week later, a DVT in the right leg. So, I've been on blood thinners for three months, clot is slowly resolving, I have three more months of blood thinners to go. I'm pain free. Now, I make sure I eat properly, drink water all day long, and walk. I've done a lot of research about the physical aspects of grieving and yes, the clotting factors in the blood increase during grief! It's poorly understood, but it's a fact. When I asked the doctor about this, he said, "Yes, you're lucky you didn't have a heart attack. Start taking care of yourself." Remember, I had a perfect storm of predisposing factors...and then I made things worse. Now, health anxiety....sighhhhhhhhhh. 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Laura Vence Posted May 28, 2022 Members Report Share Posted May 28, 2022 I'm so glad you are taking care of yourself now. When we become caretakers, it's like our ability to take care of ourSELVES is almost robbed from us. And when we DO take care of ourselves, people almost blame us. (I took a caretaker's break after 4 straight months of caretaking my husband prior to his death. I think that "saved me," and allowed me to get through the death--not that I'm "through" it.) Please continue on this path. You are worth it! with love, Laura 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators KayC Posted May 28, 2022 Moderators Report Share Posted May 28, 2022 https://kval.com/news/nation-world/husband-of-teacher-slain-in-texas-elementary-school-dies-of-grief-uvalde-texas-robb-elementary-school-mass-shooting-irma-garcia 23 hours ago, HDee said: one week later, a DVT in the right leg. A friend of mine was rushed to the hospital last night, a blood clot in her leg, was to have surgery, haven't heard update...she still has three young kids she's young enough to be my daughter! It can be scary. 23 hours ago, HDee said: the clotting factors in the blood increase during grief! It's poorly understood, but it's a fact. When I asked the doctor about this, he said, "Yes, you're lucky you didn't have a heart attack. Start taking care of yourself." Yes, so important to see a doctor during early grief! My husband (on his deathbed) wanted me to promise to get a stress test, I did, I passed with flying colors. But I got edema when he died, it scared me, I'm amazed I didn't have a heart attack. I take excellent care of myself and 17 years later, still no heart problems but it could have been, easily. It runs in my family. I don't know why one person and not another, nothing in life makes sense it seems. I do take a baby aspirin and Bromelain per day (both thin blood), doctors didn't put me on it but it helps my BP. They haven't told me not to and are aware of everything I take. I'm glad you got some help/treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ronni_W Posted May 30, 2022 Members Report Share Posted May 30, 2022 On 5/27/2022 at 10:43 AM, HDee said: Remember, I had a perfect storm of predisposing factors...and then I made things worse. Now, health anxiety....sighhhhhhhhhh. Oh, HDee...you did make me laff! (But I didn't want to use the 'Ha-Ha laugh emoticon' in case I'd come across as all insensitve.<sigh against my own self>.) Anyway. "Health anxiety" is the perfect thing that I went through just this morning. For the past...since March 2020, I can count on one hand the number of people who I've been willing to let into my apartment. But I got careless on Friday night, and let in a new-to-me neighbour from two doors down. Then, this morning, "OMG!!! My right hand is feeling all 'limp' and my right leg is feeling all 'numb'. And, what are the symptoms of Covid??? And, what should I do now???" (I already know that I live one of the most unhealthy lifestyles on Earth...and, I challenge anyone to come and tell me that theirs is unhealthier! <LOL>.) So...if I go and add the 'Ha-Ha laugh emoticon' to your original post, you won't think me a perfectly thoughtless and insensitive moron. Right? Because, what I'm actually trying to convey with it is: Thanks, SO MUCH, for the laugh! 💓. Ronni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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