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Clots!

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Knucklehead, May 3, 2021.

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SteveScott Road Train Member

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Deep vein thrombosis that develops into a pulmonary embolism can hit about anybody at any age if you're prone to blood clotting issues. I remember when that war correspondent for NBC David Bloom died in Kuwait during operation Desert Storm from this at age 39. He was a young and healthy guy, but sitting in that troop transport all day caused a DVT and it killed him.

SteveScott, May 4, 2021

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Knucklehead Road Train Member

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Accidental Trucker said: ↑

Clots are the reason I’m off the road. Three days in the ICU with lots of TPA to try and get multiple, bilateral, embolisms in my lungs, plus two fully clotted up legs. Had to do the root-rooter treatment thing, after they put a clot catcher in my main chest vein..... nurses were awesome, though, with the exception of the former marine medic. No sense of humor.

If your legs start hurting (stinging, sharp pains), short of breath, legs swelling, shoes don’t fit anymore.... get yourself checked out. Any of those clots in my lungs could have been “lights out” if they had gone “left” instead of “right”. Like they did my uncle at 44.

Try to walk around for five minutes every two hours, or at least do toe lifts and leg pushes to keep the blood moving.
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Good LAWD!!! You just plain got lucky, my friend. Well, lucky after the fact, anyway.

Good advice on prevention and self-diagnosis.

Knucklehead, May 4, 2021

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not4hire Road Train Member

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Sorry for the loss of your friend.

Lots of good advice in the thread. I don't drive anymore, but I probably sit nearly as much now, at a desk, as when I was driving. I do work from home, though, so I get up and around and the dogs remind me... frequently.

not4hire, May 4, 2021

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Knucklehead Road Train Member

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not4hire said: ↑

Sorry for the loss of your friend.

Lots of good advice in the thread. I don't drive anymore, but I probably sit nearly as much now, at a desk, as when I was driving. I do work from home, though, so I get up and around and the dogs remind me... frequently.
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When I was home for 16 days, I did some digging, planting, lifting, walking, and other such things. By the time I got back in the truck I felt better and stronger.

There's another reason to farm than just for the food.

Knucklehead, May 4, 2021

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Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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@InTooDeep

Dave_in_AZ, May 4, 2021

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GYPSY65 Road Train Member

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smokey12 said: ↑

This is one reason I take my dogs. We get out and walk every few hours. I do think I am going to start taking a baby aspirin a day. U got to watch your sodium and carb intake also. Junk food causes edema when sitting behind the wheel all day. I have noticed mygmy ankles get puffy after weeks on the road..when I get home it goes away.
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I’ve always had dogs but never in the truck
80% of the time I would like a Boston Terrier but when it’s pouring and the dog needs to go out???
Meh....

Still might do it

I did buy this cordless hammer drill type device after a chiropractor used one on my shoulder after being ran off the freeway by some gal while on my motorcycle , that along with my seat that has some electrical type massage seems to make a huge impact

GYPSY65, May 4, 2021

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buddyd157 Road Train Member

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Knucklehead said: ↑

My best friend Smitty, who ran for AN Webber, was asked to run teams, mostly from Chicago to El Paso and back. Well, they ran hard. Made good money. Ends up they ran too hard.

Smitty developed a clot that traveled to his lung and killed him a week ago this past Sunday. He was 64.

I had two bouts with clots myself. Not surprising, seeing as they ran in my family. The first one traveled from my sprained ankle (they can start from an injury) up to my lung, and killed a small part of that lung. The second time, I went in for my routine CT scan to watch for any returning cancer. It showed that my lungs were full of small clots. I stayed in the hospital for a few days until the doctors were sure they were gone.

Both times I had them, they developed while I was driving. And we run pretty hard at Great Plains. The first time I had a pain behind the knee. The second I got weak and sick to my stomach for days, until they found them. Now I take an aspirin a day, and keep an eye open for any changes. But many times there are no signs something's wrong; and when they do find them, often it's too late to help. That was Smitty's result.

Smitty dying was the final straw for my wife and me. I'm getting off the road because of the clots. It's not worth chancing it.

If you run hard, make sure you take frequent breaks and walk around. That helps to prevent clots from forming. Take an aspirin a day. That lubricates your blood cells, so they don't stick together as easily. Aspirin may help prevent heart attacks as well, in the same way.

Don't take this lightly. Find out if you're at risk, and do what's necessary to prevent them. They're more common than you might think.

Take care of yourself, drivers!
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about the first time i ever heard of this problem, was back during the Iraq war. a NBC newsman, David Bloom was killed by such a blood clot, as he spent many days in an army vehicle.

which is why i appreciated the jobs i had where i had to get out every so often...

David Bloom - Wikipedia

he was a weekend co-host with Soledad O'Brien, then went to cover the war....then died.

buddyd157, May 4, 2021

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smokey12 Road Train Member

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GYPSY65 said: ↑

I’ve always had dogs but never in the truck
80% of the time I would like a Boston Terrier but when it’s pouring and the dog needs to go out???
Meh....

Still might do it

I did buy this cordless hammer drill type device after a chiropractor used one on my shoulder after being ran off the freeway by some gal while on my motorcycle , that along with my seat that has some electrical type massage seems to make a huge impact
Click to expand...

Yea it's a bit inconvenient when it's raining and snowing..we make short trips when that happens

smokey12, May 4, 2021

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InTooDeep Donner party survivor

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I had deep vein thrombosis that turned into a pulmonary embolism. Wasn't a pleasant few weeks. Fortunate that I knew something just wasn't right and got treatment quickly. Still on Dabigatran but everything is fine now. Used to drive 5. 6 hrs before stopping, now don't for more than 3 hrs before getting out and walking. Also keep flexing leg muscles and moving legs while driving. If your legs start hurting in the calf or thigh areas might be time to get checked. Don't wait till you have breathing problems like this idiot did

InTooDeep, May 4, 2021

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PureLeafTea Light Load Member

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Become a dog walker.

PureLeafTea, May 6, 2021

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