What the hell is ‘thrombosis’, I thought. An eighteenth century wind instrument? An obscure eighties boy band? Sadly, the doctor explained that I was suffering from blood clots in the veins –one of the most common silent killers in the UK. I say ‘silent’ because very few people, including medical professionals, know about thrombosis. In fact, 25,000 people in England die from venous thrombosis contracted in hospital. The problem is that thrombosis often comes with no obvious signs or symptoms. It can be confused with less serious conditions – a clot in the leg can be mistaken for a sore leg muscle.
That’s what had happened to me. I developed clots in hospital after a knee operation. But no one spotted them and I went away on holiday to recuperate. The flight aggravated the situation. One of the clots moved into my lungs where it developed into a full-blown pulmonary embolism. Afterwards the doctors said Iwas lucky to survive the flight.
Fortunately, even if you’re susceptible to clots, there are things you can do toavoid developing clots:
Don’t sit still! Every 90 minutes, get up from your desk. Stop the car and walk around.
If you’re on a plane, get some flights socks – although they might save your life, they’re definitely going to ruin your chances of joining the mile-high club. NOT sexy! Stop smoking. Each cigarette thickens your blood for 15 days, leaving you moresusceptible to clotting. Exercise for half an hour 3-4 times a week, eat a healthy diet, and don’t put on weight. Cut down on the booze. You don’t have to go teetotal (what would that do to business on the Fulham Palace Road!), just cut down the benders! POST RUN!!! I advise you to go through this email with a fine tooth comb, if you are considering entering a 'Fun' Run. If you would like a simple, quick version to this - Nike know b*gger all - DON'T DO IT!
DO NOT - walk outside if at all possible without thermals / a Santa suit and antler ears. It was minus 4.
DO - Ensure you have strictly briefed supporters of the points they should be running between on the circuit for maximum support value
DO - ask people who are quite fit to come and support you - see point above
DO NOT ask me to come and support you at 'fun run' events (see previous 2 points)
DO - make sure you listen to 'Team Staunton' Motivating Chat. From my dad " Don't come last - that would be embarrassing " (Reminiscent of school days perhaps?) or from my brother (fellow runner and sufferer of hereditary conditions) "Most accidents happen at the start of the race - run at the edge , as you have less chance of being knocked over and make sure you switch sides that you run on - otherwise one leg will hurt more than the other ". My god - FUN RUN. Full of Christmas cheer
DO NOT - accept a one size fits all Santa suit from the organisers. The rip up my costume made in the first few steps did provide amusement for supporters. Hmm. Fear not, I did have my luxury - M & S value trackie Bs underneath. So not total humiliation .
DO try to loose the fast runners in your start group. James and Sue, despite being very kind and running slower than usual (James had planned to do it in 24 mins) broke off from our little group after about 2 ks. I don't think it as possible to run any slower for them! It did mean that Beth and I could run (Well, plod) happily at the back.
DO Ensure your outfit amuses the crowd as you run /plod past. All the children we ran past loved seeing 'Rudolf' running with me. Hmm. Concern that I may actually resemble a very good Santa. Might need to run a little faster .
DO NOT look up towards the veeerry looong hilll as you move towards to it. It did remind me of the big long hills I used to hike up on D of E . I think I could actually have walked faster up the hill, but we still kept running .... (Most other people seemed to walk it - so was rather chuffed with ourselves.)
DO Make sure you take water with you , for after monster hill, otherwise you get a corking headache - oops. I knew there was something I'd forgotten. Time to remove the white beard I think , to maximise chances of breathing.
DO NOT, whatever you do, get slightly over excited at the final leg that you sprint in to the finish. You will look like a complete loon, as you collapse over the line - Oops.
DO be rather pleased with yourself, despite it taking 45 minutes to finish. I did indeed manage to run all the way, which hasn't happened in a very very long time.
DO - say a monumental thank you to everyone who supported for this event. I have genuinely be bowled over by everyone's enthusiasm, support and generosity. To help me train, to thanking me for the updates, to coming to support me on the day, for not taking the p1ss out of me for ONLY running 5 ks and of course for the cash donations. Online I managed to raise - £2,240. Including the gift aid on your donations and the £250 from Experian - this means I have raised £3,029. http://www.justgiving.com/clarestaunton
DO - remind everyone that part of this was about raising awareness about Lifeblood - the thrombosis charity - and what they're trying to ensure you all know about.
Please please, read their website http://www.thrombosis-charity.org.uk/cms/index.php . My personal saga continues now - after seeing one of the top specialist in the country and having a second deficiency detected in my blood (again hereditary) combined with multiple previous episodes of clotting - I have been advised that I need to take blood thinners for the remainder of my days . This is scary stuff - " If you have a big one , Clare, it's a box for you". Just as cheerful as James and dad's motivating chats!
DO Listen carefully to the advise of your specialist - "No running for you" Seriously. And this isn't even BUPA - I had paid her nothing - No running. My veins are too far gone to send the extra blood through. Shame .... I was just getting into it as well
