The Doctoral Checkup

[jackshoegazer]

Today, I had my six-month, post-surgery checkup. Apparently all my blood is pooling in my left foot and my leg will look like an elephant's for the rest of my life. Just kidding. Everything is fine, everything is flowing as it should.

After an almost eight year nightmare of worrying about blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks, I can stop taking my anticoagulant medication. I'm going to take Plavix and aspirin for six months longer just to be extra-cautious. I find it a very amusing coincidence that my heart condition started just after Bush took office and is finishing just after he left.

This means no more weekly to biweekly doctors appointments for blood draws, no more worrying if the alcohol I drink is going to cause a hemorrhage, or if the kale I eat is going to cause a clot.  No more wondering what eight years of taking an ingredient in rat poison is doing to me.  In July, one year after my surgery, I will have another CT to make sure the bypass is functioning at 100%.  Just another six months of caution and if I stay clot-free, I am free.

Comments

everything is flowing as it should

[mustangsally78.livejournal.com]

A good theme for EVERYTHING.

Good on you.

::smushes::

Dude, if it wasn't for you, I'd have no cool icons!

I'm so glad you're doing well.

Re: everything is flowing as it should

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

If nothing but for the icons :D

Thanks!

[ohsochewy.livejournal.com]

*boogies down on your behalf*

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

(http://www.tvdance.com/fun-blog-tools/)

[hellocthulhu.livejournal.com]

Awesome dude.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

I thought so :) Thanks!

[were-duck.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness, I feel so relieved for you!! Hurrah!

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[shortcakeness.livejournal.com]

just wanted to reiterate... Yay!!!

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[tyskkvinna.livejournal.com]

That's most wonderful :)

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

I thought so :D

[at-the-stars.livejournal.com]

woot. what an amazing bit of news!

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

I agree :D Thanks!

[besina-sartor.livejournal.com]

Great news!

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

I agree and concur wholeheartedly.

[stelladieve.livejournal.com]

that is ri-freaking-diculously awesome, dude. i'm so glad to hear you're doing well.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Thank you :D Me too!

[kiwikat.livejournal.com]

You ass, you totally scared me!

That is weird that it coincided with Bush. I know he stressed you out and all, but damn man. You can't let it kill you.

I'm so glad that you're almost out! You can do it!

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

What can I say, my health is inextricable tied to my health. Now that Obama's in office, I have to exercise and diet! Bastards!

[kiwikat.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine how angry that must make you! NO FAIR! THAT BASTARD OBAMA GETTING ELECTED AND ALL! How rude.

FYI, no pressure or anything, but since we had talked about it I thought I'd say somethin': if you actually were interested in joining my gym once you have a car they'll let you do a free week trial period. If you wanted we could do a bodypump or whatever class to see if it's something you'd want to do. Personally I love it but I also love brussels sprouts, so I'm kind of a freak.

[sasha-feather.livejournal.com]

I am really glad that things have improved and that you are doing so much better! What a relief it must be for you.

Maybe I'm making to big a deal of this, but I think it's kind of unfair to class Warfarin as "an ingredient in rat poison". I mean yes technically it is. But too much salt will kill rats too, and Warfarin saves peoples lives-- it probably saved your life! It's part of my "body positive" thing that even as an ill person I want to regard my ill body, and my meds, with a positive view point, so that's where this is coming from, and I hope I don't sound too harsh here.

Anyway, I am very very happy and relieved for you! :)

Thanks!

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Don't worry - you don't sound too harsh :) And unlike other places, I welcome differing opinions and debate in my journal :D

I think it is totally fair to class Warfarin as an ingredient in rat poison, because, as you admit, it is. There have not been many long-term studies done because most people are only on it for 3-5 years or less. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence (yes, I know anecdotes do not mean data) of problems with zinc absorption, joint pain, hair loss, nausea, et cetera.

Now, having said this, I do agree, it is a life-saving drug and I am glad that I took it and in the same situation, would take it again. That however never stopped me from worrying about the long-term (or even the short-term) side effects of this medication. The same goes for all medications, really. While doing good, many of them also have the potential to do harm.

Perhaps it is just me, but I have been able to keep both views in mind - the positive view that it is saving my life, making me healthier (to the point where I am a little nervous to be stopping) and also the negative view, worrying about what else it's doing to me. (Especially for a drug that has been not just anecdotally but scientifically linked to necrotic skin diseases. Eeek, scary!)

Funnily enough, Jacquelyn brought up the same point. She said, "A large enough dose of just about anything will kill a rat!"

So on one hand I agree with you, on the other I reserve my right to worry and on the third invisible magic hand, I also reserve the right to invoke Jesus Hyperbole Christ.

Re: Thanks!

[sasha-feather.livejournal.com]

Well, it's very true, I often worry about the side effects and unknown effects of the meds I take too! That balanced view is exactly what I'm looking for-- knowing the positive things the med's doing for me, keeping in mind the negative things to watch out for, and taking the medications respsonsibly, in communication with my doctors and pharmacist. I think what I was concerned about was some casual person reading along and going, "that drug is rat poison? OMG I'm never going to take it!!"

It's a common phrase in toxicology, "the dose makes the poison". Any substance can kill you if you ingest too much of it, or take it in the wrong way.

I'm glad that we can have discussions and not get in huge drama-rific fights about them. ;) :D

[feather.livejournal.com]

Excellent news. What a weight off! I couldn't be happier for you. :)

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Thanks you :D It feels very nice to be so close to the finishing line.

[nearlymay.livejournal.com]

Woot! Yay medical freedom.

"...my heart condition started just after Bush took office and is finishing just after he left." You're like the Empress in Neverending Story.

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

HAHA, my God, you're right! Now, in a feat of esoteric strength, I will make an analogy between this, the Neverending Story and The Empress card of the tarot!

[explodingalice.livejournal.com]

Jeebus, has it been six months? I am so glad that you are moving forward and feeling fine. *hugs your heart*

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

Yay! Seriously, it must feel pretty awesome to be through this, finally. Did you ever get the videos of your surgery?

And you've seen the dihydrous monoxide warning, haven't you? It's pretty funny.

[rainingkisses.livejournal.com]

:)