Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mountain grammy

(29,401 posts)
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 08:52 PM Tuesday

Hey everybody.. I'm home!!

Your response was truly overwhelming and warmed my heart to the point of making me feel so much better..
For everyone here (most of you) who know more than me, the thrombus (clot) is in the right brachiocephalic artery. It's not huge but big enough.
I did not want to have surgery so we are treating it with anticoagulants.. I had was given intravenous heparin for 24 hours and a new CT scan showed the clot had gotten smaller, so I opted for treating it medically..
I'll be at high risk for stroke for a while but surgery has it's own risk and I''m a big chicken.

We are so lucky in Denver to have this large teaching hospital.. the staff was excellent. I don't think there is better care here. Most all the local hospitals are corporate now..

Many thanks to my DU family for being there for me.. I owe you all a beer or two and I love every one of you.

Just want to add... ambulance crews are underpaid.. They were so good.. and advice for all, don't ignore symptoms of A-fib like I did..

94 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Hey everybody.. I'm home!! (Original Post) mountain grammy Tuesday OP
So glad to hear you are on the mend UpInArms Tuesday #1
Thank you.. mountain grammy Tuesday #22
Welcome home! Now take it easy and follow the instructions question everything Tuesday #2
I will thank you! mountain grammy Tuesday #27
Yay! SheltieLover Tuesday #3
Thank you! mountain grammy Tuesday #28
Glad you are back home. mountain grammy. debm55 Tuesday #4
Thanks Deb.. good to be home. mountain grammy Tuesday #29
So good to hear good news 🙏 Deuxcents Tuesday #5
Yes it is.. thank you. mountain grammy Tuesday #30
Welcome home! sheshe2 Tuesday #6
Thank you! mountain grammy Tuesday #31
Happy you are home. gademocrat7 Tuesday #7
Me too! Thank you! mountain grammy Tuesday #32
Hoping for a quick and complete recovery. My father loved the mountains of Colorado and was able to retire there. surfered Tuesday #8
Thank you! mountain grammy Tuesday #35
Wonderful news, mountain grammy Grim Chieftain Tuesday #9
Thank you! mountain grammy Tuesday #37
Glad you're home. Solly Mack Tuesday #10
Me too! mountain grammy Tuesday #38
As Dorothy says.... 70sEraVet Tuesday #11
Yep, so true. mountain grammy Tuesday #39
Great news! calimary Tuesday #12
Yes, thank you mountain grammy Tuesday #40
Yay!!! Welcome Back!!!! hatrack Tuesday #13
Thank you! mountain grammy Tuesday #41
welcome home . now the real healing begins.. AllaN01Bear Tuesday #14
Thank you.. mountain grammy Tuesday #42
Welcome back, mountain grammy! MIButterfly Tuesday #15
Thank you! mountain grammy Tuesday #43
Glad you're on the mend! Take great care of yourself till the risk is over, though. Scrivener7 Tuesday #16
Thank you! mountain grammy Tuesday #45
Sadly seta1950 Tuesday #17
So true.. mountain grammy Tuesday #46
Delighted to hear you are home! 3catwoman3 Tuesday #18
Yes indeed. I think teaching hospitals are the best.. mountain grammy Tuesday #47
I'm glad you're back home and I hope you're comfortable and on the mend FakeNoose Tuesday #19
Thank you! mountain grammy Tuesday #48
Welcome home, my dear mountain grammy! Such great news! CaliforniaPeggy Tuesday #20
Thank you CP.. mountain grammy Tuesday #49
Best wishes for a speedy recovery - TBF Tuesday #21
Thank you mountain grammy Tuesday #50
HOORAY! GOOD FOR YOU! raging moderate Tuesday #23
Thank you mountain grammy Tuesday #53
Just be real careful Figarosmom Tuesday #24
yea, I'm already bruised from the IV's and blood draws.. mountain grammy Tuesday #54
Must be great to be back home! PatSeg Tuesday #25
So true.. mountain grammy Tuesday #55
Welcome home. My dad had a clot and was in hospital for a week. After he was treated with applegrove Tuesday #26
Good to hear! mountain grammy Tuesday #56
That's good news to hear! hamsterjill Tuesday #33
Thank you.. mountain grammy Tuesday #52
Yayyyyy for you being home!!! Continuing vibes for your swift, niyad Tuesday #34
Thank you! mountain grammy Tuesday #57
This is good news. LoisB Tuesday #36
Thank you.. it sure is! mountain grammy 14 hrs ago #66
Good to hear cate94 Tuesday #44
Thank you, working on that! mountain grammy 14 hrs ago #67
Yay! mwmisses4289 Tuesday #51
Thank you! Yay indeed!!! mountain grammy 14 hrs ago #68
Hooray! murielm99 22 hrs ago #58
Thank you! mountain grammy 14 hrs ago #65
Oh wow, I missed where you were having medical issues KS Toronado 17 hrs ago #59
Thank you KS mountain grammy 14 hrs ago #69
Hope you recover fully and quickly! HeartsCanHope 16 hrs ago #60
Thank you! mountain grammy 14 hrs ago #70
Hugs 🧡 and Healing 🩵 Clouds Passing 15 hrs ago #61
Thank you.. mountain grammy 14 hrs ago #71
Yay! area51 15 hrs ago #62
Thank you! mountain grammy 14 hrs ago #72
Great news!👍.... MiHale 15 hrs ago #63
Indeed it is.. thank you mountain grammy 14 hrs ago #73
Awesome! MaineNative 15 hrs ago #64
Thank you mountain grammy 13 hrs ago #74
Be gentle with yourself malaise 13 hrs ago #75
I'm trying. mountain grammy 7 hrs ago #84
I would have made the same choice, grammy! some_of_us_are_sane 13 hrs ago #76
Indeed! mountain grammy 7 hrs ago #85
You're too tough to let a little ol' blood clot in your lungs bring you down! You're going to kick the snot out ... marble falls 12 hrs ago #77
That's what I said! mountain grammy 7 hrs ago #86
👍❤️ underpants 12 hrs ago #78
Thank you 👍💙 mountain grammy 7 hrs ago #87
That clot didn't know who it was dealing with: Ilsa 10 hrs ago #79
You bet! Thank you mountain grammy 7 hrs ago #88
I am glad that you are home and on the mend LetMyPeopleVote 9 hrs ago #80
Me too! Thank you. mountain grammy 7 hrs ago #89
Welcome home, and may you stay safe and it dissolves away fully electric_blue68 7 hrs ago #81
My hope too. mountain grammy 7 hrs ago #90
So gald you're home. Loved big chicken! Me too. Best wishes Evolve Dammit 7 hrs ago #82
Thank you mountain grammy 7 hrs ago #83
i appreciate our ambulance crews . i gave 2 of them a hug when they hauled me out for afib AllaN01Bear 7 hrs ago #91
Absolute angels those guys mountain grammy 4 hrs ago #93
recomendation from a voice of experiance . get yourself on what is called a pulse oxometer. AllaN01Bear 7 hrs ago #92
Thank you, yes I have one.. mountain grammy 4 hrs ago #94

question everything

(52,619 posts)
2. Welcome home! Now take it easy and follow the instructions
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 08:57 PM
Tuesday

I wonder whether there is a foundations dedicated to assist the ambulance crews.

surfered

(15,034 posts)
8. Hoping for a quick and complete recovery. My father loved the mountains of Colorado and was able to retire there.
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 09:27 PM
Tuesday

I occasionally drove them to Drs in Denver.

mountain grammy

(29,401 posts)
35. Thank you!
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 11:17 PM
Tuesday

I love it too and lived in the mountains for 30 years. left because I couldn't breathe anymore and winters were brutal.. not so bad with climate change.

Grim Chieftain

(2,303 posts)
9. Wonderful news, mountain grammy
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 09:30 PM
Tuesday

I am so very happy for you! Please take care and do something special for yourself. You deserve it.

MIButterfly

(3,464 posts)
15. Welcome back, mountain grammy!
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 09:47 PM
Tuesday

It's great to have you back and I know you're happy to be home. I wish you the best in your recovery and I hope you feel better and better every day.

Take it easy, get some rest and take good care of yourself.

Scrivener7

(60,348 posts)
16. Glad you're on the mend! Take great care of yourself till the risk is over, though.
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 09:48 PM
Tuesday

Sounds like you have it on the run, though.

3catwoman3

(30,163 posts)
18. Delighted to hear you are home!
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 09:52 PM
Tuesday

I went to nursing school at the University of Rochester, in the city of the same name, in western upstate NY. It was and still is a major medical center.

It forever set my standards for what good health care is, and I will never, ever be willing to live anywhere remote or underserved.

My master's is from the U of Colorado. I love Denver and the surrounding area. I often wish we still lived there.

mountain grammy

(29,401 posts)
47. Yes indeed. I think teaching hospitals are the best..
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 11:28 PM
Tuesday

Very good experience, except for the being sick part.. great people..

FakeNoose

(42,988 posts)
19. I'm glad you're back home and I hope you're comfortable and on the mend
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 09:53 PM
Tuesday

I'm in Pittsburgh where we are lucky to have some wonderful teaching hospitals. It's a great feeling, knowing they are there for all of us. Be sure to listen to your doctors and follow their orders.

TBF

(37,612 posts)
21. Best wishes for a speedy recovery -
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 10:08 PM
Tuesday

and pace yourself (best advice my cardiologist gave me!). So glad you're ok.

mountain grammy

(29,401 posts)
53. Thank you
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 11:38 PM
Tuesday

not exactly recovered, but managing and know what I'm dealing with.. The doc said it was a good sign that I came out of the A fib by myself..

Figarosmom

(14,635 posts)
24. Just be real careful
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 10:54 PM
Tuesday

Don't cut yourself or anything. It's just till the clot goes away. Be very careful. Glad there was a way to avoid surgery.

PatSeg

(54,009 posts)
25. Must be great to be back home!
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 10:55 PM
Tuesday

Nothing like a hospital stay to make one appreciate being home!

applegrove

(133,731 posts)
26. Welcome home. My dad had a clot and was in hospital for a week. After he was treated with
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 11:00 PM
Tuesday

Warfarin he never had another issue. Had to get regular blood tests.

hamsterjill

(17,943 posts)
33. That's good news to hear!
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 11:11 PM
Tuesday

Which we all need, right? I'm glad you are on the mend. Like you, I share the "chicken" part when it comes to medical issues and I think your decision was a good choice. People who don't understand the anxiety don't get the "fear" that comes.

Wishing you all the very best...and YES ambulance crews are underpaid.

niyad

(135,291 posts)
34. Yayyyyy for you being home!!! Continuing vibes for your swift,
Tue Jun 23, 2026, 11:14 PM
Tuesday

complete, recovery and healing.

KS Toronado

(24,168 posts)
59. Oh wow, I missed where you were having medical issues
Wed Jun 24, 2026, 07:15 AM
17 hrs ago

that or I forgot, been doing a lot of that after my chemo. Glad your home and currently don't need surgery,
hope you stay that way.

mountain grammy

(29,401 posts)
69. Thank you KS
Wed Jun 24, 2026, 10:56 AM
14 hrs ago

I thought of you often and all you've been through. quite inspiring.. you hang in three!

MaineNative

(107 posts)
64. Awesome!
Wed Jun 24, 2026, 10:03 AM
15 hrs ago

You were in good hands. A lot of positive energy is focused on you. I was one of the folks who ignored A-fib like a ding-dong. I felt it while running a couple of years ago, but kept ignoring it, and then the clot happened. It made its way to my brain and dropped me like a 130-pound weight. I felt like I was in the middle of the Pink Floyd song "Comfortably Numb." My partner watched this and totally freaked out. She was speaking Spanish to me (her first language), trying to get me to come around, and it all started to make sense as I came out of it. I am not fully fluent in Spanish, lol, but we've been together almost 38 years.

I went through similar care, although I am now on Eliquis and a statin. Maine Medical has a separate ICU for strokes (I had a TIA), and they took great care of me via the VAs Community Care Network. I've had 4 CT Scans and an MRI. Surgery is a hard decision. I see my cardiologist in a couple of months, and I am sure we'll discuss the ablation option, but it freaks me out. We are sending positive vibes your way!

mountain grammy

(29,401 posts)
74. Thank you
Wed Jun 24, 2026, 11:19 AM
13 hrs ago

and thanks for opening up about it Funny, the doctor said I've had it for a while cause the signs are there.. Yes, I have had episodes that I totally ignored, as I tried to ignore this one, but an hour of extreme chest pain convinced me to tell my husband to call 911. Heart rate was 151.. went up to 200 during the ambulance ride. The good news, I came out of the A fib on my own in the ER.. So feeling so much better, I was stunned whtn the doc came in and said, we're admitting you.. Yikes! I was in trouble and it was just sinking in.

The care I got, holy cow, it was outstanding.. not to have surgery after all the tests and knowing everything, was my decision but my team of doctors approved.. In three days, I had 3 CT scans. What an experience, right? So lucky we had good, competent care.

all the best to you MaineNative.. I love Maine, visited a few times when I lived in CT.. would love to return.. Stay well and don't fall down!

some_of_us_are_sane

(3,848 posts)
76. I would have made the same choice, grammy!
Wed Jun 24, 2026, 12:04 PM
13 hrs ago


WELCOME HOME! I wish you happiness and hopefulness...those two will stand you in good stead!

marble falls

(73,449 posts)
77. You're too tough to let a little ol' blood clot in your lungs bring you down! You're going to kick the snot out ...
Wed Jun 24, 2026, 12:11 PM
12 hrs ago

... of this little setback.

Ilsa

(64,740 posts)
79. That clot didn't know who it was dealing with:
Wed Jun 24, 2026, 02:57 PM
10 hrs ago

Mountain Grammy and all of DU!

So glad you are on the mend.

LetMyPeopleVote

(183,882 posts)
80. I am glad that you are home and on the mend
Wed Jun 24, 2026, 03:56 PM
9 hrs ago

I would also be nervous about surgery. Take care of yourself

mountain grammy

(29,401 posts)
93. Absolute angels those guys
Wed Jun 24, 2026, 08:22 PM
4 hrs ago

We were driving through the city, no sirens, in rush hour traffic.. the attendant in the back started an IV and kept an eye on me and the monitor all the time asking me how I felt, the pain was coming and going. He looked up at the monitor and said to the driver "turn on the sirens.." all the time talking to me and the ER. My heart rate zoomed up to 200! Yikes!

Much love to all you paramedics and ambulane crews out there.. and to you, AllaNO1Bear.Be well!

AllaN01Bear

(30,103 posts)
92. recomendation from a voice of experiance . get yourself on what is called a pulse oxometer.
Wed Jun 24, 2026, 05:57 PM
7 hrs ago

very helpful .

mountain grammy

(29,401 posts)
94. Thank you, yes I have one..
Wed Jun 24, 2026, 08:25 PM
4 hrs ago

just hardly ever use it.. I'll start doing that a couple times a day.

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»Hey everybody.. I'm home!...