Friends, I would like to start things off by telling you about a serious health issue that affects many drivers today. It's been dubbed the silent killer and many have lost their lives to it. I'm talking about Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT.
I have been personally affected by this. Here is my story:
In August of 2007, I noticed swelling and redness in my right leg. Then, came a burning feeling from within. It took me two weeks to see a doctor. As fate would have it, my doctor was on vacation, so I had to see another one at the same clinic. He diagnosed it as torn muscle tissue, gave me some pain meds and anti-inflammatories, and sent me on my way.
About a week later, I was loading an excavator in Gulfport, MS and found myself getting short of breath. At the time, I was smoking about a pack and a half a day, so I just figured I was smoking to much. A day later I unloaded in Austin, TX and it had gotten worse. I went home for a day and my sweet wife tried to get me to go to the ER, but me being my stubborn self, I declined. I went to Ft. Worth and loaded some forklifts and that's when I admitted to myself something was wrong. I took those to Louisiana and then back over to Gulfport to load an oversize load bound for Virginia. That was September 8, 2007. The day my life changed forever.
I was preparing to secure my load and I had no breath. I remember feeling like I was sinking. And ill never forget this huge black man, nearly a full seven foot and probably 350lbs grabbed me under my arms and put me in a pickup truck. He reminded me of Michael Clarke Duncan from The Green Mile. He took me to a nearby hospital and I walked into the ER.
At first they said I had a heart attack, then I showed them my right leg. It was DVT, but worse. A clot broke loose from my leg and traveled through my heart and lodged in my lungs, which caused the shortness of breath. It was a pulmonary embolism. The cardiologist told me he had no medical explanation why I was still alive.
I have to take medication and wear compression stockings now for the rest of my life. If I would have listened to my wife and went to the ER when I was home, the PE probably wouldn't have happened.
So, my message here is if you see these symptoms; swelling, redness, or a burning feeling in the calves; please seek medical attention. It could mean life or death.
Additionally, I'd like to add I that I haven't had a cigarette since the day I went to the hospital. I also never found out the name of the big man who took me to the hospital and I've never seen him again. I will be forever grateful to him for being there and helping me when I needed it.
And men, listen to your wives.
Til next week, safe travels.
I have been personally affected by this. Here is my story:
In August of 2007, I noticed swelling and redness in my right leg. Then, came a burning feeling from within. It took me two weeks to see a doctor. As fate would have it, my doctor was on vacation, so I had to see another one at the same clinic. He diagnosed it as torn muscle tissue, gave me some pain meds and anti-inflammatories, and sent me on my way.
About a week later, I was loading an excavator in Gulfport, MS and found myself getting short of breath. At the time, I was smoking about a pack and a half a day, so I just figured I was smoking to much. A day later I unloaded in Austin, TX and it had gotten worse. I went home for a day and my sweet wife tried to get me to go to the ER, but me being my stubborn self, I declined. I went to Ft. Worth and loaded some forklifts and that's when I admitted to myself something was wrong. I took those to Louisiana and then back over to Gulfport to load an oversize load bound for Virginia. That was September 8, 2007. The day my life changed forever.
I was preparing to secure my load and I had no breath. I remember feeling like I was sinking. And ill never forget this huge black man, nearly a full seven foot and probably 350lbs grabbed me under my arms and put me in a pickup truck. He reminded me of Michael Clarke Duncan from The Green Mile. He took me to a nearby hospital and I walked into the ER.
At first they said I had a heart attack, then I showed them my right leg. It was DVT, but worse. A clot broke loose from my leg and traveled through my heart and lodged in my lungs, which caused the shortness of breath. It was a pulmonary embolism. The cardiologist told me he had no medical explanation why I was still alive.
I have to take medication and wear compression stockings now for the rest of my life. If I would have listened to my wife and went to the ER when I was home, the PE probably wouldn't have happened.
So, my message here is if you see these symptoms; swelling, redness, or a burning feeling in the calves; please seek medical attention. It could mean life or death.
Additionally, I'd like to add I that I haven't had a cigarette since the day I went to the hospital. I also never found out the name of the big man who took me to the hospital and I've never seen him again. I will be forever grateful to him for being there and helping me when I needed it.
And men, listen to your wives.
Til next week, safe travels.
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