Well folks, I’ve been wanting to hop on here and update the blog, but I’m sorry to say that my stressful life got a little bit more stressful over the weekend. 🙁
I’ve been telling you guys all about poor Kev’s health problems that he’s been having. Yes, it’s been so scary and so hard.
Last week he was actually starting to do quite well. His Crohn’s symptoms had almost completely disappeared. He still looked quite pale to me and he said he felt very tired and worn out. He also said he felt out of shape because every time he’d go up the stairs, pick up the baby or anything, he’d get very out of breath.
He went back to work a little bit and was able to go to physical therapy for his knee (he had ACL surgery a few months ago.) Everything seemed to be on the up and up!
However, he also started to have some severe pain in his thigh. He wondered if it could be a blood clot (he’s had a couple of those before, but they’ve always been in superficial veins.) We also wondered if the pain could just be from physical therapy or because he’d been moving around a lot more than he had been. After a few days, we decided we better take him in to get it looked at “just in case.”
Soooo, on Friday night we headed over the the Instacare. They checked his vitals, did a blood test and then decided to do a CT scan. After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor came in and told us that Kev had several blood clots in both lungs.
I seriously felt my heart stop and felt myself get faint when I heard that. We both knew that wasn’t good. The doctor left the room and we waited for 20-30 minutes (seemed like another eternity!) before the doctor came in again. Kev said he was afraid to breathe or even move. We both had no idea what the next step would be or what to even expect. I had absolutely NO desire to ask Google about it either.
I didn’t want to know.
When the doctor came in again, he was very nice and helped to calm our nerves just a bit. He said that Kev’s vitals were good; his blood pressure, oxygen level and heart rate were all good. He said this tells them that his body was handling the clots okay.
They of course decided to admit Kev to the hospital and we couldn’t believe that he was seriously going to be in the hospital for the third time in just over 2 weeks! Once he got settled in his hospital room, a wonderful doctor came and talked to us.
He informed us that Kev had a large blood clot in each lung and several smaller ones. He said it’s quite normal to have multiple blood clots because they often break up into smaller pieces. He showed us the CT scan pics and helped us to understand them. He also did a risk assessment on Kev (basically determined how likely it would be for him to die from it) and thankfully he said Kev was at the lowest risk level. He told us his prognosis was “very good.”
FYI, the factors that determined his risk factor were age, his vitals when he came in, his reason (if any) for getting the blood clot, his overall health (healthy lungs, heart, etc.) and a few other things I can’t remember. He said the only thing that raised Kev’s risk was his age! He is only 45, but apparently that is now old.
They started Kev on IV Heparin (a blood thinner) and told us they would do some ultrasounds in the morning on his legs and arms to see what the remaining blood clots in his body looked like and determine how stable they were. The doctor told us he wasn’t worried about the clots in his lungs because they weren’t going to move and his body was accommodating them okay. He said they just didn’t want any more clots to get into his lungs.
I went home around 11:00 PM. Our baby was with us the entire time and he was a champ, thank heavens. When I got home, I just felt so defeated, worried and exhausted (emotionally and physically.) Before we heard this news, I felt like I was just starting to heal and relax. The blood clot news just felt like a heavy blow to my already weary body and psyche.
I informed all of the kids about Kev and we all knelt and said a prayer together for him. I went to bed with my stomach in knots…absolutely worried sick.
I think I woke up every half hour all night long. I was just so concerned about the remaining clots in his body and worried that another one would break loose and his body wouldn’t handle it as well. It was terrifying.
Ya know, throughout all of his Crohn’s issues, I kept reminding myself that no matter what happened, he wouldn’t die from it. That did provide me some comfort. However, the clot issues were a whole ‘nother story. I knew people could die and did die from it a lot more often than I was comfortable with.
The next day I was a mess as I waited to hear the results of his ultrasounds. We found out he had a DVT in his thigh and his arm, just as we had suspected. They said they both looked okay though and looked quite stable. They put him on a pill form of a blood thinner (Xarelto) and he was able to come home Sunday evening.
Honestly, I’ve been a little bit scared to have him home. He seems so vulnerable and fragile to me now. They told us to watch for breathing issues, chest pain and other freaky symptoms. They also told him to be very careful not to get hurt because he is on blood thinners. Oy.
I’ve also been a nervous wreck because although his Crohn’s is still doing well, it IS a bleeding type of disease and he is now on blood thinners. It doesn’t seem like a good combo, right?….but whaddaya do?
But seriously folks, I’m just very grateful to have a husband! I am optimistic he will continue to improve and the drama will be over!
In fact, earlier today I went to the infusion center with Kev to get his second Remicade infusion.
We’re hoping it will help his Crohn’s continue to improve and he will start to feel more like his normal self soon.
I gotta say that when Kev was just dealing with the Crohn’s, I was a little worried about when he would be able to get back to work. I knew it worried him as well. Well, since the blood clot thing, I haven’t worried about when Kev will get back to work at all! I told him, “I’m just so happy to have a husband that I don’t even care if we end up bankrupt and out of a job. You are alive!”
Really, I don’t want to be bankrupt or out of a job (that shouldn’t actually happen either), but it seriously just puts things into perspective!
This has certainly been an emotional roller coaster for me (and a lot of other people too.) I had to wait to even write this post until it was a “top of the roller coaster” day. Throughout this whole process I’ve had a few days when I was just a complete and utter basket case (the two days we admitted Kev to the hospital for his Crohn’s, the day we found out about the blood clots and the first full day he was home after the blood clots), but I’ve been thankful that for the most part I’ve been okay.
I have a lot of faith in God and I don’t know how in the world I would ever get through hard times without it. I’ve felt complete calm and peace at times and it’s been such a blessing to me. I know it’s the result of many, many prayers offered up on our behalf. It’s also a witness to me that no matter what we go through in life, we are never alone.
I know we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and will help and sustain us in our trials. I know it. I have felt the undeniable comfort and guidance of the spirit throughout this trial and in many other times throughout my life. I’m so grateful for that.
Well, I need to go to bed now. I will keep you all updated on Kev’s progress. I truly hope the worst is behind us and he will continue to improve from here. I love you all! xoxo
Oh I’m so sorry to hear this, Mel. Add my prayers to the list.
Thanks so much Beth. Your prayers mean a lot to me!
Oh my goodness, I am so sorry you guys went through this! Glad to hear things are looking better. Sending your family lots of love.
Thanks so much Britt. It has been so scary, but I’m sure hoping the worst is over and Kev will continue to improve from here!
Holy cow! Ok- I have been away from the blogging game for a year and just recently came back, so I just read your last few posts and WOW! Keeping you and your family in my prayers!! Would it be ok if I called the Detroit Temple to have Kev’s name put on the prayer roll? There’s not much I can do or say all the way out here in MI, but I know how powerful the prayers can be!!
Oh Jen, that is so sweet of you. I would love you to put his name in the temple. We have had some friends and family do that for us here and it has meant a lot to us. I definitely believe in the power of prayer! I hope you are doing well. 🙂
Hi, I have never posted, but really enjoy your blog as I am also on a quest for a healthy mind and body. Praying for your family. Have you talked to the doctor about Remicade possibly being the cause of the clots?
Thank you so much Tammy! A lot of people have asked me why Kev got the clots. It is actually quite common for people to get blood clots after they have been hospitalized or very sick for a while because of inactivity. Kev is also at a higher risk for clots just because he has Crohn’s. 🙁 Sadly, Kev and I were both aware of those risks, but we were both so consumed with all of the other stuff he had going on that we didn’t even think about clots!! I will be hypervigilant to avoid them in the future though. So scary!!
I was pretty scared when I heard about the blood clots! They can be nasty business. I just want you to know that you guys are constantly in our prayers! We sure love you! Glad he is home.
Thank you so much Angie! It’s sure been scary, but I’m so grateful he’s doing so well now. I sure love you and your sweet little family so much. <3
So sorry to read this. Sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers to you & your family.
Thank you so so much Karen. It means a lot to me. I’m so grateful Kev has been getting better and things are starting to calm down! Soooooo grateful!
Dear mel,
I read this book “The miraculous benefits of high doses of vitamin D” by Jeff T. Bowles.
He says with high doses of vitamin D many people have completely cured their crohns. Apart from this there are many other discomforts totally cured by using vitamin D.
Also check “the iodine crisis” by Lynne.
Oh wow, that sounds so interesting! Thank you for sharing this insight and those books with me Pooja!