Well here's my story...
I have a genetic health problem, a deficiency in a natural blood thinner called AntiThrombin III...this means that my blood is thicker than most peoples', and as a result, I am always at risk of getting blood clots. All of the males in my family have this deficiency, and my father and older brother have both had blood clots before.
A few months ago, in August 2007, I came down with a nasty strain of influenza and for two weeks was unable to do much at all. I would spend most of my days just lying around watching tv because I didnt have enough energy to do much else, let alone feel like doing it. What I didnt realise is that during this time, blood clots were forming all throughout my lungs.
In the space of less than 5 hours, i went from just having the flu and no other symptoms of anything else, to being rendered practically immobile and in EXTREME pain (in my chest), unable to breathe. Also, at the same time, my influenza developed into pneumonia, and i ended up with a lot of fluid in my lungs.
I went to the emergency department at my local hospital 4 times on the next 4 nights, and I was still not helped in the ways i should have been. It ended up that it was the busiest weekend the hospital had had in a long time, possibly ever. At one stage, I was also stuck there in a wheelchair, close to passing out, for two hours before I got any assistance.
Then on the fourth day, a tuesday i think, I was finally admitted to one of the wards. The problem here, however, was that when I was admitted, the doctors didnt note that I have the ATIII deficiency, and so for the next few days I was treated only for pneumonia. They were confused when I showed no improvement, so I had a CAT scan. That revealed that the main problem was not pneumonia, but in fact very extensive blood clotting in my lungs.
I was on soooo much medication when i was in hospital, including morphine for the pain. At one stage, the doctors were worried that I was still in too much pain and wanted to give me more morphine, but i refused. I told them that my pain level was ok, and that I wanted to avoid morphine at all costs, because I know people can get very easily addicted to it.
I was in hospital for another week, before being discharged. I was on heaps of medication (morphine, antibiotics, blood thinners and even Nexium, a drug to protect my stomach from getting damaged by all the drugs I had to take.
I continued to improve over the next 3-4 weeks after being discharged from hospital, and finished up most of the medication I was on.
Ever since, I have still been on warfarin (the blood thinner), and have regular blood tests to make sure my blood is the correct thickness and I am not in any danger of getting clots again. The blood clots in my lungs take a long time to clear, and even now, we are unsure if they are still there or not. Because my pain level hasn't dropped since about 4-5 weeks after hospital, we're thinking that maybe the clots did clear rapidly back then, in September, but I have been left with permanent lung damage from the extensive clotting.
It has been an amazing journey for me, drawn me so much closer to the Lord. He never left my side through everything that happened to me. He has blessed me so much through it all, and opened my eyes to many things. There was a whole week in which i had massive clotting in my lungs and could have died at any moment, but it was not the Lord's will for me. He saved me! His saving grace became so much more real to me through my experiences.
For the first few days in hospital, I was really struggling, not knowing why any of it was happening to me, but my best friend, Anita, helped to show me a new way of looking at it. She sent me the song "Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns. These are the lyrics:
I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
It is our human nature to feel down, to feel low when bad things happen, or to be angry or sad. So many times, we blame God, or get angry at Him for allowing these things to happen to us, to think that He has deserted us and isn't there with us. But what we have to realise, and remind ourselves of every day, in the good times AND the bad times, is that God allows bad things to happen to test our faith, to make us stronger, and even to bring us to our knees before God, in true humility and submission. We need to learn to always praise God in the storms of life, because God has promised that it will all work out for good!
Romans 8:28 says "And we know that God works all things together for the GOOD of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Don't take life for granted. Every moment is a blessing from God.
Don't feel down when bad things happen. Instead, keep your eyes focussed on Jesus and His sacrifice for you, and praise the Lord for all He has done for you, even for every breath of air He so generously gives you.
Always remember that God loves you more than you can imagine. He never leaves you or forsakes you.
Praise the Lord!
God bless you all, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ our Lord! May He bless you too, with a revelation of His great love and mercy!
-Eshy
I have a genetic health problem, a deficiency in a natural blood thinner called AntiThrombin III...this means that my blood is thicker than most peoples', and as a result, I am always at risk of getting blood clots. All of the males in my family have this deficiency, and my father and older brother have both had blood clots before.
A few months ago, in August 2007, I came down with a nasty strain of influenza and for two weeks was unable to do much at all. I would spend most of my days just lying around watching tv because I didnt have enough energy to do much else, let alone feel like doing it. What I didnt realise is that during this time, blood clots were forming all throughout my lungs.
In the space of less than 5 hours, i went from just having the flu and no other symptoms of anything else, to being rendered practically immobile and in EXTREME pain (in my chest), unable to breathe. Also, at the same time, my influenza developed into pneumonia, and i ended up with a lot of fluid in my lungs.
I went to the emergency department at my local hospital 4 times on the next 4 nights, and I was still not helped in the ways i should have been. It ended up that it was the busiest weekend the hospital had had in a long time, possibly ever. At one stage, I was also stuck there in a wheelchair, close to passing out, for two hours before I got any assistance.
Then on the fourth day, a tuesday i think, I was finally admitted to one of the wards. The problem here, however, was that when I was admitted, the doctors didnt note that I have the ATIII deficiency, and so for the next few days I was treated only for pneumonia. They were confused when I showed no improvement, so I had a CAT scan. That revealed that the main problem was not pneumonia, but in fact very extensive blood clotting in my lungs.
I was on soooo much medication when i was in hospital, including morphine for the pain. At one stage, the doctors were worried that I was still in too much pain and wanted to give me more morphine, but i refused. I told them that my pain level was ok, and that I wanted to avoid morphine at all costs, because I know people can get very easily addicted to it.
I was in hospital for another week, before being discharged. I was on heaps of medication (morphine, antibiotics, blood thinners and even Nexium, a drug to protect my stomach from getting damaged by all the drugs I had to take.
I continued to improve over the next 3-4 weeks after being discharged from hospital, and finished up most of the medication I was on.
Ever since, I have still been on warfarin (the blood thinner), and have regular blood tests to make sure my blood is the correct thickness and I am not in any danger of getting clots again. The blood clots in my lungs take a long time to clear, and even now, we are unsure if they are still there or not. Because my pain level hasn't dropped since about 4-5 weeks after hospital, we're thinking that maybe the clots did clear rapidly back then, in September, but I have been left with permanent lung damage from the extensive clotting.
It has been an amazing journey for me, drawn me so much closer to the Lord. He never left my side through everything that happened to me. He has blessed me so much through it all, and opened my eyes to many things. There was a whole week in which i had massive clotting in my lungs and could have died at any moment, but it was not the Lord's will for me. He saved me! His saving grace became so much more real to me through my experiences.
For the first few days in hospital, I was really struggling, not knowing why any of it was happening to me, but my best friend, Anita, helped to show me a new way of looking at it. She sent me the song "Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns. These are the lyrics:
I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
It is our human nature to feel down, to feel low when bad things happen, or to be angry or sad. So many times, we blame God, or get angry at Him for allowing these things to happen to us, to think that He has deserted us and isn't there with us. But what we have to realise, and remind ourselves of every day, in the good times AND the bad times, is that God allows bad things to happen to test our faith, to make us stronger, and even to bring us to our knees before God, in true humility and submission. We need to learn to always praise God in the storms of life, because God has promised that it will all work out for good!
Romans 8:28 says "And we know that God works all things together for the GOOD of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Don't take life for granted. Every moment is a blessing from God.
Don't feel down when bad things happen. Instead, keep your eyes focussed on Jesus and His sacrifice for you, and praise the Lord for all He has done for you, even for every breath of air He so generously gives you.
Always remember that God loves you more than you can imagine. He never leaves you or forsakes you.
Praise the Lord!
God bless you all, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ our Lord! May He bless you too, with a revelation of His great love and mercy!
-Eshy
