Kilt Wearing Could Be a Lifesaver

[cessna152towser]

I've been feeling under par since the moment I stepped off that Boeing 747 from Los Angeles at London Heathrow airport eight weeks ago. Stiff legs, particularly the left side, muscle aches, lethargy, depression. I'd put it down to leaving friends and family behind in the Californian sunshine to come back to living alone in cold wet Scotland just as the long hours of winter darkness came in.
Earlier this week a couple of friends drew to my attention that my left leg was slightly wider than my right one and suggested I ought to see about it, the second friend giving the matter more urgency than the first. Well it turned out I had a massive blood clot on my left leg which the doctor said had probably been growing for around two months, caused by a Deep Vein Thrombosis, which the doctor said was almost certainly caused by the long haul flight.
I've just been discharged from hospital tonight, I need to go back in the morning for another anti-coagulant injection and I will be on warfarin for the next three to six months. Thank goodness I wear kilts, which enabled my friends to see my legs and alert me to the slight swelling, otherwise I probably would not have gone near a doctor or a hospital until the clot eventually broke when it could have caused a potentially lethal pulmonary embolism.

[Bob C]

I am SO glad you discovered the problem before it became worse. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Detroitpete]

Ok--THAT was too close! So glad to hear you've received treatment. The flippant response I'm sure is something about the 'power of the kilt', but this is something alltogether more serious. Recover well!

[Inchessi]

God speed on the recovery.

[Hamish]

Frightening news, Alex, but it seems the problem has been diagnosed in good time. So sorry to hear about this and I'll keep everything (or almost everything!) crossed for a full recovery, even if it takes a while - you cannot rush these things.

You've not mentioned it, but I dare say they will put you into those powerful elastic/support stockings after a while - that'll be an interesting sight when you're kilted!! Been there and done that.

I will PM you in a couple of days. Meanwhile, hang in there - you are in good hands.

Take care,
Ham.

[Pleater]

Life saver indeed - my best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery, both physical and mental.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[sydnie7]

That is frightening news, Alex, and thank goodness for your friends noticing and for you taking them seriously. One of my sisters went through this (and she's the lean, fit one who exercises daily!).

I always try to walk around a bit while on long flights, or at least do something I read about in a flight magazine -- "write the alphabet" with each foot, several times during the flight.

Best wishes for your recovery, and I hope this doesn't affect any of your upcoming travel plans.

[Coinneach]

Thank goodness for friends! You should take them out and buy them a few pints...or better yet, let them take you out for a few pints to show you gratitude for following their advice! (I think that works.)

We'll keep wishing you good thoughts in the meantime for a quick, painless recovery.

[pdcorlis]

That's terrible! I'm glad the diagnosis came sooner rather than later but sorry to hear about the continued medical treatments.

Take care of yourself Alex!

[Jock Scot]

That was a close shave Alex. Thank goodness for your observant friends. Look after yourself!