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IN 1983, MY appendix burst and I had emergency surgery to remove it. After this I developed adhesions which caused me to have another five surgeries for bowel obstruction.
In 1995, I developed gallstones while pregnant. I delivered my son in February of that year and three months later had surgery to remove my gall bladder. Within just a few days of surgery, I was back in theatre again with another bowel obstruction due to adhesions.
I had undergone two surgeries in two weeks followed by a hospital bug to make matters worse. I was extremely dehydrated and immobile, and a week or two later I couldn’t breathe without feeling a really sharp pain in my chest. It was at this point that I was first diagnosed with a PE (pulmonary embolism) and was prescribed anticoagulation drugs for a period of six months.
I’d no real understanding of what had happened
I left hospital with no real understanding of what had happened to me and why, and whether it was life threatening and could strike again.
Five years later in 2000, I was back working a busy, full-time job, when I found myself with chest pain once again. I decided to ignore it and focus my attention instead on meeting a tight deadline at the time. I had my suspicions of another PE but didn’t realise that it could be fatal to ignore such symptoms.
I was driving on the M50 maybe two weeks later to go shopping in Blanchardstown with my two boys when the pain became acute and I had severe difficulty breathing. I pulled in, called my husband and asked him to meet me in the nearest hospital.
I had another pulmonary embolism
After heading straight to A&E, tests confirmed that I had another PE. I was admitted for a full week and was then put on anticoagulation drugs indefinitely. I was beginning to think that I might have a real problem but nobody actually sat me down and explained exactly what was happening, that it may happen again or how I could protect myself going forward.
A year later, I became pregnant again, increasing my risk of another blood clot. I was looked after by the team in the National Coagulation Centre for the duration of my pregnancy and I was put on daily injections of anticoagulation treatment. My son was born fit and healthy, I continued my anticoagulation therapy and was advised against getting pregnant again.
In 2012, I needed a procedure which involved an injection into my femoral artery which resulted in another blood clot at the injection site. I experienced the excruciating pain of the blood supply suddenly being cut off, yet still, I believed the doctor when he said I was fine and it wasn’t a clot. I was discharged and put on painkillers, but a few days later a nurse friend of mine noticed me limping and advised me to go back to the hospital. If it was not for her my blood clot may never have been detected and I most probably would not be here today.
I had surgery to remove the clot a few days later but there was damage to my artery and it clotted again. I then had further surgery to put in a bypass but again I suffered another clot. Doctors tried yet again to clear the blockage but the outcome was the same, another clot. Six weeks later, I finally went home, still taking pain relief and realising the blood supply to my leg would never be the same again.
20 years later and I was no wiser
20 years on from my first blood clot and I was no wiser. It was at this point that I started asking questions and investigating the condition. I had no real understanding of what was going on and I never met and spoke to anyone with the same issues as me. I had two pulmonary emboli, various blood clots in my femoral artery and a pregnancy spent worrying about my unborn baby, with no one to talk to that understood what I was going through.
I searched and found English and American resources and they were helpful but did not relate to the Irish health system. I decided to look at setting up an Irish Thrombosis awareness and support group.
I know that I am lucky to be alive. I have survived three potentially fatal blood clots for which I now live with the side effects. I can’t walk very fast or run, and hills and stairs are a challenge, but all things considered I am so happy to still be here and alive.
I am now aware of the signs and symptoms to watch for should it happen again and I also know how critical it is to seek immediate medical attention if I suspect another blood clot. Knowing the reality of what I am dealing with and knowing what to do when if I’m at risk makes me feel safe.
Blood clots can affect anyone
I want everyone to know that blood clots can affect anyone, male or female, young or old, fit and healthy and they can be fatal if we don’t know what to look out for. A little knowledge can truly save your life. In an effort to create awareness, I have set up Thrombosis Ireland, a group that aims to give support to patients and their families.
We want to increase knowledge and understanding of blood clots amongst medical professionals, government and the public, as well as improve treatment, services and facilities available to those affected by blood clots or on anticoagulation therapy.
By empowering people affected by blood clots to take control of their own health, they can live more confident and independent lives.
Ann Marie O’Neill, founder of the patient support group Thrombosis Ireland, lives in Firhouse, Dublin, with her husband and three children. Thrombosis Ireland, in partnership with Bayer, has launched a national awareness campaign called #Time2Move for World Thrombosis Day (today 13 October) to educate the public about the risks and preventative measures for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). To learn more about DVT and ways to reduce blood clots visit thrombocoach.com.
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Any chance of some balanced journalism and report on the siege by Turkey and its head hacking allies in Afrin?
Indiscriminate bombing? Check
Civilians being massacred? Check
Lots of kids being blown to bits? Check
Maybe it’s too real and the status quo is afraid Call it for what it is, 100 years since the Greek and Armenian genocide, the Turkish establishment haven’t lost their Mongol slaying instincts
@Chicinho Hear Hear!!! But balanced journalism doesnt fit the US led Neoliberal western agenda..
@Nigel O’Neill: It’s actually a Neo-con agenda being delivered by neo- lib reporters who are owned by Neo- cons. You couldn’t make it up.
@Chicinho: The lack of media coverage of what’s going on in Afrin is disgraceful. It’s been under bombardment for weeks now, and has had no water for over a week since Turkey shut of supply from a nearby dam and treatment plant. All we hear in MSM is Turkey’s version of events. And it’s not like the US are nowhere to be seen as their allies are slaughtered. They are actually watching from a few Km’s away and not lifting a finger to intervene. Disgusting.
@Chicinho: Not to mention Zionist Israel getting the US to fight a proxy regime change war to install a puppet president. The UN previously recognized Assad’s Syria until Israel and the US decided he should go. Putin is no saint but I’m glad he stuck in there because otherwise they would have establish anew front in Iran and that would not be nice for anyone.
@JimmyMc:
Don’t forget Fake News RTE.
Goal are really taking sides in this complex 6 year civil war….Seeing things from the Sunni Jahadi side…..Many of the 400000 civilians in Ghouta don’t support the Sunni Jahadi and wish they would take up the offer from Syrian army to surrender and safe passage to another rebel held area to fight on…..Saudi Arabia and Qatar have armed and trained many of these rebels in Saudi proxy war against Iran…..Whatever about been democratic moderate rebels at start of conflict as John Kerry and Joe Biden called them….For many years they are Sunni Jahadi similiar to IS…..Very wrong of Goal to support them…
@John003: well said
@Jamie Thornton: ‘Sunni jihadists similar to IS’. and backed by the US of course. why can’t journalists report it like it is? because they are owned by corporate greed who have no concept of people suffering.
The official policy of the west – ‘Regime change’ for Syria has been stymied by Russian military intervention. This policy of Regime change, has involved Britain, the Us and and their allies arming and promoting ‘ moderate rebels’ to destabilize the Syrian Government and destroy the country and it’s people. These moderate rebels are terrorists. The west, for all it’s talk of freedom and Liberty and morality, has descended into a pit of double standards, lies and murder. Everyone who has backed the west’s narrative is also in this pit of blood and shares responsibility – this includes the media here in Ireland and around the world esp. state propaganda outlets like RTE and the BBC.
It is no wonder there is huge anti Russian sentiment at the moment as they have ruined the complete destruction of Syria for western and Israeli geopolitical goals.
@raymond grehan: This is not in interest of Israel ….Obama administration did train and arm the rebels in early days of conflict….It was in Jordan not Israel….This Syrian civil war has been a disaster for Israel …. Iran’s proxy army are now on their border with Syria as well as in Lebonan….Israel are close to the Druse in Syria who support Assad….Jews are not stupid supporting a Sunni Jahadi takeover of Syria with one of the main groups Al Nusra in charge would be disaster for Isreal….One of the few things Sunni and Shia agree on is destruction of Israel….Only group Israel support are the Kurds in Northern Syria….
@raymond grehan: well said
@Raymond well said and to add also that this is in Black n white, its not a conspiracy theory. Go check out the white paper named ‘Project for the new American Century’..it tells you all you need.
Sounds like another Whitehelmet story.
work is going well to cleans the Islamic terrorism when you here this propaganda.
@Jamie Exactly. Have you ever wondered why there are none such articles with inside stories from people in Yemen ?? They have been under constant bombardment by US backed Saudi forces for months and months now and theres a humanitarian crisis underway. I recall a funeral of a family member killed by a dropped bomb and then they blew up the funeral home while all the mourners were there, as one example
@Nigel O’Neill: I know nigel its a sad state of affairs in Yemen at the moment and will be for a long time as long as the UK USA are backing the slaughter.
@Nigel O’Neill:
May and the British have blood on their hands. They are arming the Saudi killers.
That’s why I can’t take their self-righteousness about the Rusian guy seriously.
In the future the world should look back in shame on events in Syria, which were utterly preventable.
@Walt the events are awful but whi exactly should be ashamed for what exactly?
@Nigel O’Neill: the apathy
@Walt Jabsco:
Yes because getting involved in regime change has work out so well in the past.. #Iraq
@Walt Jabsco: don’t know what to believe anymore. The American paid “rebels” fight on, and the Syrian government drops bombs. I’m sure it’s awful, but the dripfed white-helmet type nonsense doesn’t get attention anymore. No Twitter in Yemen it seems.
These people are trying to drag us into their war. If they want to stop the violence, they should call on their jihadi buddies to leave Ghouta, and to set the civilian population there free.
I’m sick of all the chancers that have spring up–Whiite Helmets etc. A few months back I saw video of the White Helmets (they took off the helmets) cutting off the head of a Palestinian kid. I have no sympathy for them now.
Goal are an extension of the US foreign policy nexus…always have been.
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