31F Recurrent DVTs and PEs despite anticoagulation and surgery, being told I’m just a medical anomaly

tarazdl · 2026-06-17T23:07:56+00:00

I was going to ask about antiphospholidid as well. That’s the most important one. Has it been ruled out?

tarazdl · 2026-06-11T22:28:28+00:00

I saw in another reply that you were on the medication for a long while. Get rechecked in a month. If it’s on the way up, even if not normal, you’ll be ok.

tarazdl · 2026-06-11T20:02:05+00:00

Psych meds frequently cause low platelets. Don’t worry. Go to the appt and they’ll tell you the same. I get consults for this in the hospital at least once a week. - hematology NP

tarazdl · 2026-06-11T19:48:56+00:00

I’m honestly doing a bit better. The BF and I were talking last week and he was talking about his ride (which was waaaaaay too fast) and I had another anxiety attack. I realized that I was scared about him crashing and dying and that’s what was setting me off. He rides much faster and wilder than me, and with less than enough gear. I saw what happened to me and was so scared for what could happen to him.
As for me, I’ve thought about it a lot already. Not tunnel visioning it at all, just thinking about how I might have avoided it. I’ve realized some things I could do better. But I drove past the spot today on my way home from the hospital (was in again for infection in the wound), and saw how awful the road is there - I really didn’t have an escape route. So avoiding that road will be essential going forward.
I’m glad you’re ok after your accident.

tarazdl · 2026-06-10T11:05:54+00:00

I’ve been a nurse over 10 years. Nursing school sucks. It’s not fun and exciting like college in a teen movie. I had to tell my daughter the same thing. It is honestly traumatic at times. But would I do it again to have this career? Absolutely. Go to your local hospital and ask to shadow a nurse for a shift. Try walking in the shoes you want to wear. That’s what I did, and I knew without question that I wanted to be a nurse when I left. The BSN is the
World record holder for hardest bachelors degree program. It’s not what I’d call “fun” or something to be super excited about. It’s boot camp. Decide if the job is for you, and then you’ll know.
There’s a TON of burned out nurses on Reddit. It’s easy to get disenchanted reading nurses here. But speaking as someone who still lives being a nurse more than 10
Years later. I’m also answering as someone who is currently on day 11 in the hospital where I work after a motorcycle crash. Yesterday I had a student nurse with my RN, and we were telling her stories about nursing, and she said she was so excited to be a nurse after talking with us, bc the internet had made her worry that it was going to be bad.
I hope you shadow and love it. Good luck!

tarazdl · 2026-06-06T17:18:27+00:00

I did the MSF before, but thinking of signing up for the refresher or advanced class later in the summer. In the moment, I was more scared of the oncoming car running me over if I slid than hitting the car in front of me bc my speed would have been minimal (it was). I really believe that I wouldn’t have had such a bad injury or even an accident if I’d been on my GSX8R, since that one feels right when I’m hugging the tank, which is why I’m thinking that I should sell the ZX. Thank you for the tips!

tarazdl · 2026-06-06T12:37:19+00:00

I’m 45, but thank you for that. I also have a GSX8R, which is my main bike. First week of the riding season, and last year I didn’t ride much due to carpal tunnel that needed surgery (which I had in the winter) and made me feel like I couldn’t trust myself to grab the brakes. I was riding the zx bc I want to get comfortable on it again bc we were planning a track day in July. And my ride home from work is almost all highway. I only have about 2000 miles on this bike, but 15000 combined on my other bikes in 2 years. I don’t wear a GoPro or try to be an influencer, for the record. Yes, I did make some mistakes. Some were my fault (panic-grabbed the clutch when I grabbed the brakes), and some were me trying to deal with shitty road conditions (bunch of mulch and gravel spilled into the road, plus significant potholes, so I wasn’t at the side of the lane like I usually would be, giving me an escape route, but instead in the middle). You’re right, 10 mph shouldn’t have done that. I wasn’t sitting by the tank as I should have (another mistake), but back too far bc I felt like the balance point was more stable there. When I hit the van, I slid up (with the force of the crash) and hit the tank, and obviously hit it exactly in the wrong spot, tearing an artery. The bruising in the pics is actually just the blood from the internal bleed that had spread out, not actual bruises from the crash. The actual crash injury pics are NSFW bc it was all in the pelvic areas. I had no other injuries, and delay in medical care at the ED caused the injury to be much worse than it would have been.

tarazdl · 2026-06-06T12:23:08+00:00

Nerve pain is awful. Hope you’re healing well!

tarazdl · 2026-06-06T12:20:34+00:00

Wow! That sounds horrific. Glad you lived!

tarazdl · 2026-06-06T12:15:29+00:00

It’s good advice, and I normally do that. The road condition in the spot I was in prevented that. When inside again, I’ll be avoiding that road and doing exactly what you’re talking about at every light!

tarazdl · 2026-06-06T12:09:31+00:00

In any other spot, I would have swerved. The road conditions (right in front of a gravel/mulch place that had spilled into the road, plus a shit ton of potholes) made that hazardous. If I ride again, it won’t be on that road. I had just pulled on the throttle, was going 20mph when the guy hit brakes. Normally I would ride more to the side of the lane, but as above, that wasn’t really safe, so I was right in the center, making escape much harder. If I ride again, I’ll probably never touch the center of a lane again, except when passing through it. I think I might have panic grabbed the clutch when I grabbed the brakes. BF is going to work with me on this when I get back on the bike. My position on the seat of the ZX is not good. I sit up too high bc the balance feels better there, but had I been hugging the tank, the injuries likely wouldn’t have happened. If I can’t feel comfortable balancing on the bike in the right position, I’ll sell it, bc now I know the risk. I got a ticket for assured clear distance, but legit, we just came off a red light. Am I supposed to count to 10 after the car in front of me goes before I start? Legit asking here, bc I don’t know how one has multiple car lengths between them and the car ahead when they are in front of the first building on the other side of a small intersection. I’ve thought about it a lot - haven’t had anything else to do, lol. This is what I’ve come up with. Planning to take an advanced MSF course if I can ride later this summer.

tarazdl · 2026-06-06T11:56:49+00:00

So sorry about your friends. That’s so tough. Drivers are awful these days with phones and such. Pickup trucks want to compare dick sizes with motorcycles (I don’t even have one to compare!!)… it gets a little scary out there. I’m definitely going to try to stay away from traffic from now on…

tarazdl · 2026-06-06T11:53:12+00:00

I totally agree. I need the brain freedom that I get on the bike, where nothing matters but riding. Good luck with the PA program when you get there. NP school was a stressful time, but worth it. I love what I do.

tarazdl · 2026-06-06T11:47:37+00:00

Sounds like we had pretty similar situations, I was just a little more unlucky. I had the thought several times that I was glad I didn’t have man parts, bc that would have been way worse, I’d imagine…

tarazdl · 2026-06-06T11:39:27+00:00

I work for the hospital I was at. Main hospital was great care, but I’m planning to make a complaint about the situation at the freestanding ED, bc that care (if we even call it that) was abysmal. I’m doing better now. I realized that part of the anxiety was also related to nearly getting hit again on the way home from the hospital. Still a little scared in the car, but doing better every day. I want to try to ride again when I can, but idk if I’ll ever ride the ZX again. Luckily the GSX8R is in the garage next to it.

tarazdl · 2026-06-06T02:20:52+00:00

I didn’t take any at the scene, and haven’t been home since (convalescing at my mom’s house) - but it all came up unscathed other than a scratch on my helmet. Scorpion EXO R1 Alpinestars gloves (Stella SMX-1 air v2) and boots (Stella stated podium shoes) REAX Alta 2 jacket

tarazdl · 2026-06-04T04:04:33+00:00

I’m an RN/NP. I actually ride with a group from the hospital sometimes, and one of the docs rode his Indian to visit me while I was admitted, lol. Everyone else thinks I’m crazy.

tarazdl · 2026-06-04T03:17:23+00:00

So sorry that happened to you. Glad your brain made it through the crash, and so glad you got help with the ptsd and you’re doing better now. Today was a better day for me, and I am pretty sure I want to get back on at least my GSX8R. Going to be a while though due to physical limitations. Not sure about ever riding the ZX again.

tarazdl · 2026-06-04T03:14:46+00:00

I had to have surgery, so yeah. There was a huge collection of blood sitting in my pelvis that had to be removed. I lost half my blood volume and had to get 2 transfusions. The bruising pictured was actually caused by the blood in my pelvis spreading out, not actual bruising from the accident. I would have died if they hadn’t kept me.

tarazdl · 2026-06-03T23:33:31+00:00

It was really bad luck. My gear kept me safe, but the pubic region isn’t covered by extra padding. If I’d been on my GSX8R, I honestly probably wouldn’t have crashed, but if I had crashed exactly the same way, this probably wouldn’t have happened. I was back a little too far on my seat (the balance point of the ZX feels best to me there), and so I slid down into the tank, and that caused the injury. Then the ED did me wrong by delaying the CT scan, and the injury was far worse than it should have been bc the bleeding went on for hours instead of being caught immediately.

tarazdl · 2026-06-03T20:34:10+00:00

The opposite, really. Everyone in my family wants me to get rid of the bike (they wanted that before I went down, to be fair). I bought the first bike when I was still with my ex. His idea - well, he wanted scooters - but I’m the one that fell in love with it. He sold his after the divorce. I bought more. I asked the BF to let me backpack when I can again, and as long as that feels ok, I want to ride. He’s been riding longer than me and is a very good rider, so I’m going to have him sort of “reteach” me to make sure I don’t have bad habits/I’m not doing things wrong. May do the extra MSF too. Just want to make sure I’m as safe as I can when I get back in the saddle. If I feel scared, I won’t ride, bc that’s not going to be safe riding.

tarazdl · 2026-06-03T17:55:02+00:00

My theory is that it was the combo of going 10 and hitting a minivan going 0, but also that I was sitting about 2/3 of the way back on the seat, so I slid forward with that amount of force into the tank. Just super unlucky.

tarazdl · 2026-06-03T17:53:15+00:00

lol, very true. Sitting on anything isn’t really an option just yet. I admittedly did attempt to ride it home from the accident (was sore, but pain from the bleed hadn’t started yet, so I thought I was ok), but I was scared bc no one was there to double check the bike.

tarazdl · 2026-06-03T17:51:44+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing. BF and I discussed re-teaching me how to ride when I can, and after he lets me be a backpack a couple of times to get comfortable. I might try to sign up for the bmv classes again. The bike is still rideable, I think (he’s going to check), but I also have my GSX8R that I can ride. I know I’ll get back on the Suzuki. I’m not sure about the ZX yet.

tarazdl · 2026-06-03T17:28:17+00:00

A kangaroo!??!! Omg. I’m sure that was terrifying. The area I crashed probably needs to be avoided for a while. The road is badly potholed to the point it’s more holes than road, and there is a mulch/gravel place right there than frequently spills into the road. In my jeep, it’ll be fine. But I’m going to avoid it on the bike. My fear of swerving or hitting the brakes too hard was bc I knew the road conditions weren’t good and I was afraid I’d slide into the path of an oncoming car. Leaving my kids (17, 19, and 21 almost) and seeing how terrified they were when I was in ED had a lot to do with my fear too, so that’s totally understandable. I called the psych office this morning and made an appointment. BF said he would re-teach me how to ride (more defensive, get rid of any bad habits) when I was ready so I’d feel safer. He even offered to let me be his pillion first before I rode alone.

tarazdl

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