I just wanted to take a moment to let you all know that you have all been on my mind this past week, thinking and remembering all the fun and laughter we all shared throughout our fabulous week end. I had been home just 1 week, when last Monday, ended up in ICU for 5 days with a pulmonary embolism. I had 4 blood clots in my left lung. One quite large one, and 3 smaller ones. I was in the hospital for a total of 8 days. I am just home this evening. I had worn the compression stockings, and had walked several times on the plane, both heading to Savannah, and then back to Seattle, thinking I was doing all the right things, so one just never knows. I just wanted to say, that during those long scary days and nights, I had so many wonderful memories of my trip to reflect on. I could picture so many of your faces, see you smiling, and it really helped to keep me from going crazy with fear. I am now out of the hospital, will be on a 6 months of Coumadin...... Ugggh. But at least the worst is behind me. Thank you for being part of a wonderful week end.
Oh my goodness Sandra. I am shocked to read this post and thank God you are okay. You were a wonderful, important part of my great trip to Savannah. Sharing all the first meetings with you and talking late into the night waslike being a teenager again. You were the best roommate I could have had. Please take care. I'm glad you posted this. We all send you "get well soon" wishes. Keep me posted on your recovery.Barb Cabot
Posts: 293 | Location: Long Beach, California | Registered: 27 August 2007
Oh, Sandra! I am so sorry to hear what you went through (was it the air travel?), but so glad to hear that you've pulled through and are doing better. I know that you will do whatever has been prescribed and you will continue to improve.
We have such fond recollections of our visit to Bonaventure Cemetery and our day together. Please, please stay well and take very good care of yourself!
Yikes, Sandra! That's a close call, girlfriend! What happened, and how were you diagnosed? That's so scary, Sandra. Are you well now, or are there more clots that need removing? Please take good care of yourself, so we can get together again with you in Savannah, or in any other place where the Slowtrav peeps hang out.
"You have a cough? Go home tonight, eat a whole box of Ex-Lax - tomorrow you'll be afraid to cough." ~ Pearl Williams Brenda
Sandra, thanks for sharing this with us because as you know, ST is a caring community. I wish we had had some laughing time in Savannah--just too many people but I am so glad we met. Take care. We always feel so fortunate when we come out of something that holds so much potential for danger. I am so glad to know that you are OK. Jane
Posts: 3975 | Location: San Diego, CA | Registered: 26 June 2001
Oh my, Sandra, how frightening! Please take good care of yourself, and get well soon. It was so nice to meet you in Savannah; I'm glad that the memories of your trip helped sustain you through such a difficult time.
I join all the others who met you in Savannah and wish you the best. We enjoyed meeting you and having you there for all the fun. I'm so glad you are ok. What a scary experience. Take good care of yourself, and keep us posted on your recovery!
How horrible! I'm so glad you're doing better. I remember at dinner in SAV on Saturday night you were feeling ill. Have you been ill since then? Take care of yourself there's traveling to do.
Posts: 218 | Location: Mississippi | Registered: 31 October 2004
Thank you very much for all the well wishes, they really mean a lot to me. To answer a few questions, yes, my Drs, think it was more than likely from the air travel, even though I wore the stockings and did walk during the flights. I am not sure when they actually developed. I have Asthma, and had trouble with the humididy while down there. When I returned, I was very winded when I did any walking, and just all around quite tired. I just chalked it up to the long trip. On Sunday, before I went into the hospital, my sister and I were out all day, shopping, and a movie, that evening I started having chest pain in my left side, by the time I went to bed, it was quite painful, but I thought ,"oh its just gas" The next morning, I got up to go to work, by the time I was there, I had such horrible pain in my left side of my chest, going up into my shoulder and my jaw. I was sure I was having a heart attack. It was closer for me to go to my desk, than to get all the way to the ER. Once at my desk, my manager, and co worker,took me to the ER, in a wheel chair. They tested my blood, and did an EKG which were both normal. Then they did a CAT scan of my chest and found the 4 clots in my lung. After I was admitted, they did a CAT scan of my brain, and did not find any clots there, also twice they did doppler scans on my legs, to be sure there were no more in my legs. I will now be going in for daily shots and lab work, (which will eventually be less frequent), and be on a blood thinner Coumadin for 6mo, to be sure the clots have completely dissolved. So, now I'm to take it easy and get my strengh back, and my first goal, is to join weightwatchers, and get some of this weight off!!!! As Kendall said, there's traveling to do
Holy Cow! Sorry to hear of your pulmonary embolisms, and wishing you a speedy recovery. My parents are on Coumadin, and hate it, but you just have to hang in there. Glad that memories of the ST Gathering were filling your head. Start planning your next trip and the recovery process will speed up with all of those good endorphins racing through you!
I am so glad that you were diagnosed and are doing better. How scary!!! I will be keeping you in my prayers. (And I am really thankful that nothing happened on the plane. They have become so heartless and callous, just one more reason that flying now-a-days sucks.)
I'm so sorry to read about you having to go to the hospital! I remember, too, that Saturday night at the dinner you weren't feeling well.
Glad to see that you are out of the hospital and on the road to recovery. I wholeheartedly agree with Marion, plan your next fabulous trip and that will bring a smile to your face.
Really great sitting next to you at Paula Deen's, even if the crab cakes were too salty ....hey! that's it, too much salt in your system from the crabcakes!
I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers too!!
Sandra, I don't think I met you in Savannah but I'm beginning to think of everyone that was there as my friend. I'm so sorry for your trouble and hope that you are on the road to recovery. Get well and surely we will meet at a future gathering.
Kathy
Posts: 83 | Location: north of cincinnati | Registered: 02 December 2002
Girl, I can't believe it! We thought Dee's crackers and Gatorade Saturday night was going to cure you! Whew, I was happy you didn't have the flu so far from home. Didn't have a clue that was the least of your worries! Glad you're better! Know you hate Coumadin but if it makes you feel any better my father has been on it over 30 years. He's 85, eats what he wants and doesn't miss a beat.
Paulette
Posts: 13 | Location: Florida | Registered: 13 July 2007
So sorry to hear of your problems & are so glad to hear you are doing better ; Karen & I will keep you in our prayers. We are so glad to have had the chance to meet you and take you home form the Gingerbread House.
Our kids keep making fun of all the supplements we take but at our age our health is the most important thing we have so take care of yours & we’ll see you next year.
Karen & Mac
Posts: 64 | Location: Dallas Texas area | Registered: 04 January 2007
Slow Travel Talk 
The next morning, I got up to go to work, by the time I was there, I had such horrible pain in my left side of my chest, going up into my shoulder and my jaw. I was sure I was having a heart attack. It was closer for me to go to my desk, than to get all the way to the ER. Once at my desk, my manager, and co worker,took me to the ER, in a wheel chair. They tested my blood, and did an EKG which were both normal. Then they did a CAT scan of my chest and found the 4 clots in my lung. After I was admitted, they did a CAT scan of my brain, and did not find any clots there, also twice they did doppler scans on my legs, to be sure there were no more in my legs. I will now be going in for daily shots and lab work, (which will eventually be less frequent), and be on a blood thinner Coumadin for 6mo, to be sure the clots have completely dissolved. So, now I'm to take it easy and get my strengh back, and my first goal, is to join weightwatchers, and get some of this weight off!!!! As Kendall said, there's traveling to do 
; Karen & I will keep you in our prayers. We are so glad to have had the chance to meet you and take you home form the Gingerbread House. 
