Me, as a cautionary tale

A few weeks ago, I noticed that there were suddenly little reddish-brown to black dots under my fingernails.  The one on my right ringfinger (pictured below) was circular, like a mole, but the one on my left ringfinger was more like a tiny line.  At the time, I didn't think too much of it.  I figured that, since I work with my hands a lot, to make jewelry, maybe I bruised my fingers or maybe one of the chemicals I work with did it.  However, as I noticed that the spots were not growing out with my fingernails, I became more concerned.  I looked up information on the internet that explained that these spots could be due to nutritional deficiencies, psoriasis, or, most disturbingly, melanoma.  Since I work in a cancer hospital, as my day job, I know how nasty melanoma is, so I made an appointment with my doctor which was about a week from when I called. 

This past Wednesday, I had my appointment with my family doctor in the afternoon.  He asked if I'd had shortness of breath, which I had, on exertion, like when going up stairs or walking uphill.  It had been annoying, but it had come on gradually and I figured I was just out of shape.  I also told him that my left calf hurt.  I recently got new tennis shoes and had some charlie horses so I thought those were the reason behind the pain, though it had been getting worse instead of better.  By that time, I was visibly limping.  He explained that spots on the fingernail can, sometimes, indicate blood clots.  On one hand, I'm only 34 and I have never smoked, so that was a longshot.  On the other hand, I've been on hormonal birth control for about 10 years and I'm obese, both due to having PCOS.  However, the pain in my leg, and the fact that, when he measured my calves, my left was a couple centimeters bigger than my right, were troubling so he was scheduling me for an ultrasound on my leg the next morning. He did say that I was much more likely, though, that the spots were due to working with my hands.

Thursday morning, it was off to have an ultrasound.  I was surprised when they found a DVT, deep vein thrombosis, or clot, in my calf.  The ultrasound technologist sent me back to my family doc who happened to be right next door.  He explained that I had a clot and would need to start on Lovenox and Coumadin immediately.  I had to go to the ER to be trained to use the Lovenox.  So, I got back in my car and drove myself to the ER at the hospital on the campus where I work.  They became concerned about my shortness of breath and sent me for a CT of my chest.  At the CT machine, I met a series of giddy technologists who were excited because I was one of the first people to be scheduled for their brand new CT machine.  In fact, I got the impression that they heard that someone needed a chest CT and they went out of their way to snap me up.  That was rather cute.  Anyway, I went back to the ER where they explained that I had two pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in my lungs.  As such, I would need to be admitted, but I needed to wait for a bed.  In the meantime, they were nice enough to let me use one of their phones and computers to get my work stuff in order since I would be out of work for, at least, a couple days.  My job is fairly complex, and I have a lot of patients who I follow, so I wanted to let my coworkers know what was going on so they could cover for me.  This resulted in a lot of good-natured teasing - "Look at her!  She had a PE and a DVT, and she's still working.  That's worse than me!"  However, to be honest, I didn't feel that bad, and just waiting in the ER room was boring.  Plus, the coworker most likely to cover for me, Vandana, is an absolute sweetheart, but pretty new to the job, so I'd want to do everything I could to prepare her.

Finally, they got me up to my room.  The rest of the hospital was booked, so I ended up on the infectious disease service.  To be honest, I was concerned because I didn't come in with an infectious disease, and I certainly did not want to leave with one, but they assured me that anyone with an airborne disease or MRSA is kept in reverse-airflow isolation.  However, I still refused to sit on the toilet - I did that hovering thing that women do :).  Overall, the staff was great.  I really liked my nurses, Tammy and Joel, my PCAs (except the middle of the night one who kept coming in and leaving our door open when she left, despite the fact that we were right across from the nurses station with loud talking and alarms and such, prompting me to get up multiple times in the night and close the door again), and my doctors.  Some of the younger doctors seemed pretty excited when seeing me - I don't think they often see PEs and DVTs on someone so young, especially in the infectious disease unit.  One really bizarre coincidence is that my nurse manager was Jill Burkhart, which was my maiden name (though my last name was spelled in a less common way) for 32 years!  We actually already knew of each other because, for a while, before my name changed after getting married, we had the same name.  Because her name is spelled in the more popular way, she started getting my emails and phone calls.  We still sometimes get each other's communications.  She came in to meet me because she said that she was worried since she feels like she knows me!  Anyway, my mom felt like it was a good sign since my nurse manager had the same name as me.

I got out of the hospital last night, mainly because there was not much more they could do for me and I was "out of the woods."  Plus, I nearly begged to go home so I could actually sleep!  The hospital is about the least restful place one can be! 

So, now I'm home.  My husband and I are giving me my Lovenox shots.  Fortunately, that will only be twice a day for about a week.  The Lovenox had a $80 copay!  Not too good for people who aren't well off!  The Coumadin, however, only had a $4 copay.  I'll be on that for at least 6 months.  In the meantime, no more hormonal contraceptives for me.  I'm also supposed to lose weight.  However, that's definitely easier said than done for me.  With PCOS, insulin-resistance, and hypothyroidism, I'm screwed when it comes to losing weight.  I've been to all the specialists and they say that, while there is research being done, there isn't much out there to help me.  I doubt I'm a candidate for surgery to help me, since I'm on blood thinners.  We'll see what I can do!

Comments

[ctmott]

I have bloodclots that are on the surface..not the dvt type. What a fright..It is so good you posted this and all the information..I will always remember it..Thank you so much..So happy you are home and okay..

[Bits]

Holy Cow. That is CRAZY. I would never think to ask the doctor about changes in my fingernails.

Good luck on the weight loss thing. I think that the deck is stacked against all of us on that one.

[Megan]

Jill, I am so sorry to hear that you had to be hospitalized, but I'm glad that your were released pretty quickly. I'll send some good energy your way.

[Karla Ross]

Oh my GOSH! What a scary experience! You sound so much calmer than I would be. I know this is presumptuous of me...but I have a friend who is a published author and former spokesperson for the National Diabetes foundation...she has helped ALOT of women in similar situations to your own. She advocates low glycemic meals EVERY day...eating every 3 hours (6X per day). Do some moderate walking or other exercise. And above all else...get on the best quality vitamins/supplements you can afford. I don't mean Centrum or One a day. Your pharmacist has a book called "ThE comprehensive guide to nutritional supplements"...they can tell you which brands are ranked highest. Those others I mentioned? They score less than a 20 on a 100 pt scale. You need something with an OPTIMAL dosage...not a minimum daily requirement. I just finished reading this book called "What your doctor doesn't know about nutritional medicine may be killing you." There is a new wave of thinking that you CAN reverse these degenerative conditions!!! Some of the docs you can check out are Ray Strand and Ladd McNamara and Myron Wentz. People in WORSE situations than yourself have turned their lives around. Sorry. Dont' mean to offer unsolicited advice. If you want more info...feel free to message me. I wish you the very best!!! -Karla

[Chrmd]

Glad to hear that you are out of the woods for this. Amazing how we see little things and ignore 'em cuz they seem so insignificant. Glad you caught this early!!

[Kerrie Slade]

Gosh that sounds so scary! Thank you for posting about the warning signs and I wish you a full and speedy recovery.

[Cellobella]

Crumbs I'm with Bits... I'd never go to the doctor for dots on my fingernails.

I'm checking them RIGHT NOW!

And my family's.

Good luck with the treatment.

[LuckyGirl]

Oh, my, I would have been a frightened mess! Thanks for sharing this, I wouldn't have thought twice about fingernail spots.

[Lynne]

Glad to hear you went to the doctor, many would have ignored those little black dots. Hope your recovery goes smoothly and quickly. :-D

[Renee]

I'm so glad you're out of the hospital and out of immediate danger! How scary! I'm sending prayers your way :)

Renee

[storybeader]

WOW - hope you are feeling better. Have to admit, I looked at my fingernails, while reading your story. Would have never known it was something to worry about...

[LizzyT]

It just shows how we all should take notice of even small changes in our body. Take care of yourself.

[Anna]

So glad that the docs were able to figure out the problem and that the treatment could be continued at home. I wish you the best of luck with the future and diet necessary to regain your health! I know that I need to lose weight as well and will be rooting for you and for me to get it done! Hang in there hon!

[Leslie]

Wow, I*m glad you reacted on it. I hope you get well soon, because hospitals are no fun!

[corline]

First off; I am so pleased that you took immediate action. We just never know. I am so happy for you that they were able to find your problem and start on treatment. I will be checking back to see how things are doing.

[Daisy the Curly Cat]

What a scary thing! I think it's a good thing you paid attention to the little changes in your nails so the underlying condition was found. I hope you are all better soon.

[Laura]

It's so good to hear you're OK. Best Wishes and prayers.

[Body Natural Soap]

Wow completly amazing how something that seems so insignificant is a sign of something much more serious.

I am so glad you were able to catch this so quickly. I hope you get better real soon.

[Mary Moon]

That sounds like a scary situation.
Going from doctors to the e.r. and then to infectious disease.That would have put me over the edge.I definetly couldn't work in a hospital.
I'm glad your o.k. and hope you continue to get better.

[Teresa]

Gosh, good thing you had that appointment with your family Dr. He probably saved your life! Take care of yourself and stay away from sharp objects. ;)

[Teresa]

Gosh, good thing you had that appointment with your family Dr. He probably saved your life! Take care of yourself and stay away from sharp objects. ;)

[Teresa]

Gosh, good thing you had that appointment with your family Dr. He probably saved your life! Take care of yourself and stay away from sharp objects. ;)

[Teresa]

Gosh, good thing you had that appointment with your family Dr. He probably saved your life! Take care of yourself and stay away from sharp objects. ;)

[Teresa]

Gosh, good thing you had that appointment with your family Dr. He probably saved your life! Take care of yourself and stay away from sharp objects. ;)

[Victoria]

Wow, that's crazy. Good thing you got to the doctor and got the everything checked out. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.