A Little More Scary Than Expected

I am a snooper of my wife's health. I'll just say it. So yesterday, when the nurse came for yet another blood test, I asked to see all the results thus far. I looked at them all, and from my experience of judging numbers and seeing what doctors do at what levels, I could tell she borderline needs more blood. But pumping un-thinned blood into her right now while she's got blood-clots isn't the best idea is it?

That's not the scary part. The scary part was the ultrasound results that I read. Deep Venous Thrombosis. She's got TWO blood clots. One in her chest and one, as I was reading, in her left internal jugular. Jugular? That scared me because of my training. They teach us where those are and how to crimp them, choke them, etc. And I know what would happen if I'd put Alison in one of my Marine Corps blood-chokes. So this blood clot could do the same thing?

I decided to go out for a breather. I called the physician that is assigned to my unit and asked, "I know we have four jugular veins. What function does a right internal jugular play?" He told me that it supplies blood and oxygen to the brain. I think I figured that but hearing it solidified a fear. He said as to 'why,' that these clots can be a byproduct of those that are bed-ridden due to long-term illness, they have a tendency in people with tumors, and that ports inevitably slow down the blood flow of that vein. I am not sure that the clots are in the port-vein, but I'll accept that answer. I was appreciative for the advice.

I am glad that Alison listened to her body and insisted that something was wrong. A little swelling of the arm, a bit more swelling of the collar-bone, and some insistance may well have saved her life. We're in good hands, and I think that God facilitated her good care and responsiveness.

I'll keep you posted.