As we look back over the past year we thought we'd remind you of our 5 most popular medical posts for 2016 in case you missed any of them. The F words of recovery - could you have PTSD? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, can occur in anyone who has experienced a terrifying or traumatic event including serious injury or threat of death. The cluster of symptoms are … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2016
Christmas clot look-a-likes
New Zealand enters into a special time of year from now till February, when it is basically SHUT! In the Northern hemisphere, journalists have what they call the 'silly season' where there is little news through the summer: But in New Zealand we have summer and Christmas rolled into one, so for January almost everything is very quiet and people go on holiday. We will be … [Read more...]
Christmas food and warfarin
This time of year there is a tendency for us all to eat a little more than usual. For most people their main concern is putting on a bit more weight, but if you take warfarin you have the added concern of how will it affect my INR. When I lived in the UK and supervised an anticoagulant clinic, Christmas was always a difficult time. For some people their INR control went all … [Read more...]
The Story of Christmas Disease
Once upon a time in a land far away, in fact England in 1947, a boy called Stephen was born. While he was still a baby, his family took him to live in Canada where he soon started having problems with severe bleeding. At the age of 2 years he was diagnosed with haemophilia. On a visit back to England in 1952 at the age of 5yrs, Stephen unfortunately ended up back in hospital … [Read more...]
Coagulation Carols – WARNING – you can’t unsee them!
Paul and I have had fun all year thinking up contributions to this post. But be warned - once you've read them you can't unsee them! So, if you're brave enough here are Coagulation Conversation versions of some famous carols To the tune of O little town of Bethlehem O little vial of heparin How much you make me cry When jabbed into my tender flesh I wish that I could … [Read more...]
Clot risk – family history
This Medical Monday series is about risk factors for venous thromboembolism, VTE (pulmonary embolism and DVT). The post 'Are you on the red or blue team?' outlines the difference between arterial and venous clots. We are going to cover Strong risk factors; being in hospital, having surgery and immobility Moderate risk factors; age (60+), a previous blood clot, family … [Read more...]
Weekend Reflection – “This too shall pass”
You may have guessed by now that I love Christmas! We decorate the house, have family visit, have special foods, Christmas pyjamas and even a Christmas crockery set. But, it's important for me to stop and remember there are people for whom Christmas is not a time of rejoicing. As foster parents, we became aware of this when we saw children grieving for what could not be. And … [Read more...]
Six Coagulation-linked Christmas gifts
How are you getting on with your Christmas shopping? I've just bought 32 Christmas tree decorations and written "Thank you for being my friend. love from Isaac" on 32 labels so he can give one to each of the children in his class. Isaac has Down syndrome and is in inclusive education so we really value the help he gets from his class-mates. You can see Isaac holding one … [Read more...]
Hilary Clinton’s history of blood clots
One month after the US election and another post about politics and blood clots - Did you know that Hillary Clinton has a significant history of blood clots and is on long term anticoagulants? She has had three episodes of thrombosis. DVTs in 1998 and 2009 Hillary Clinton had her first DVT in 1998 while she was the first Lady. She was on a fund raising trip to … [Read more...]
Clot risk – a previous clot
This Medical Monday series is about risk factors for venous thromboembolism, VTE (pulmonary embolism and DVT). The post 'Are you on the red or blue team?' outlines the difference between arterial and venous clots. We are going to cover Strong risk factors; being in hospital, having surgery and immobility Moderate risk factors; age (60+), a previous blood clot, family … [Read more...]
