Have you ever had your life turn around in what seemed like minutes.
You go to sleep and then the next day things are all turned around.

[Tweet “Sometimes life throws you a curve ball…and you just have to decide to bounce back.”]

This is my story…
When I got diagnosed with DVT and PE (Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis – aka blood clots) my life changed almost overnight. Things I took for granted like health, running around doing my daily tasks, eating what I wanted, and having energy became luxuries.

I came home from the hospital after my DVT and PE diagnosis with answers about why my energy was gone, a long list of do’s and don’ts, and tons of questions about when my life would get back to normal.

For years, I had worked hard to get fit. I was working out and eating healthy. I was taking care of me, and making myself a priority, I was happy and thankful I made such great progress.

Being home from the hospital meant life was going to be different for a while. For one, my new regimen required a major change in diet.
NO Vitamin K– so those leafy vegetables, all my green favorites, broccoli, kale, lettuce, cucumber, were now off the table.

Then with the zap in my energy I had to rethink a number of things.. like long walks, exercise class, running, etc.

Eliminating Vitamin K was a nightmare, because I love veggies and ate them often. I was told that I didn’t have to totally cut them out, but I was told they would have to change my medication dosage according to what I ate and my weekly blood tests.

I guess I learned first hand what they mean when they say your food or your life.

Talk about a bummer… I think I am the only person in the history of life to feel like crying because I couldn’t have Kale salad, string beans, salad and broccoli as often as I wanted.

Eating differently and feeling drained after a few hours of being outside was strange to me. VERY STRANGE. I had to re-learn what my body could and couldn’t do before I pushed my limits to far and couldn’t move. Having this wonderful lesson about my new normal only 15 days until Christmas made that lesson painful.

I was an energizer bunny all my life, and now a 2 hour trip to the store translated into a 2-4 hour nap when I returned home, I was wiped out. I don’t know if it was the diet or the symptoms of the blood clots, but whatever it was, I didn’t like it. I just didn’t feel right, and I didn’t feel like me.

How we managed….the fact that this happened right before Christmas was terrible timing.
We ended up canceling a lot of the Christmas festivities, and stayed close to home
Honestly, it was depressing, but I made it through. Now it is time to start again.

So here is to starting over…and getting back on track.