007 - So, I Almost Died (Part I: Wake-Up Call) :: 7/21/24
Valley Tales with West Coast Güero
Release Date: 08/12/2024
007 - So, I Almost Died (Part I: Wake-Up Call) :: 7/21/24
Valley Tales with West Coast Güero
Surprise, surprise! Finally gotta a new episode for ya! In April of 2024, I—the West Coast Güero—had to check into the ER which subsequently sent me into emergency surgery to fix a case of blood clots. Yes, that’s CLOTS, plural, with an “s.” Scary stuff. Not casual at all. Unbeknownst to me, I had been living with DVT for up to possibly 10 years, maybe even longer. We’ll never know for sure their age! But it was so long, in fact, that after the original clot sat comfortably for a while, a second vein joined the party and formed its own. I was diagnosed with an extremely rare blood...
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005 - The Nighttime is the Write Time :: 6/4/18
Valley Tales with West Coast Güero
Good morrow, brethren. We are long overdue for another installment of campfire nostalgia, and so, let's gather! We face very perplexing and uncharted waters in this modern age, and Sindependent Media would like to extend positivity and hope that you are all safe and staying vigilant! It's ok to be dealing with, and mitigating, big ol' balls of stress, we are all human; but here, we present to you a bit of distraction during this global pandemic, in the form of a Valley Tales episode. Episode 005 was originally recorded in early June of 2018, and Micah covered the topic of "colorful break-ups."...
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003 - Get Outta My Bus & Into My Dreams :: 5/21/18
Valley Tales with West Coast Güero
We're back, and very much still in business! Micah has had to take some time to dabble in real life duties the last couple few months, but, alas, the warmth of the summer campfire is glowing upon us again. The tales this week involve the theme of the "outer limits," and what can happen when things are pushed passed what is accepted as normal. First up, we dip back to the opening week of 2006, as Micah began his New Year with a puzzle to solve with his former roommates, in Echo Park, CA. In a time when medical cannabis and social media were still relatively new, and smart phones were not...
info_outlineSurprise, surprise! Finally gotta a new episode for ya! In April of 2024, I—the West Coast Güero—had to check into the ER which subsequently sent me into emergency surgery to fix a case of blood clots. Yes, that’s CLOTS, plural, with an “s.” Scary stuff. Not casual at all. Unbeknownst to me, I had been living with DVT for up to possibly 10 years, maybe even longer. We’ll never know for sure their age! But it was so long, in fact, that after the original clot sat comfortably for a while, a second vein joined the party and formed its own. I was diagnosed with an extremely rare blood clotting condition in my upper left arm called phlegmasia cerulea dolens. In less technical terms, DVT of my left axillary vein and thrombosis of my left subclavian vein. To my fortune, though, my veins, left arm, and life were saved by an incredible team of physicians, technicians, and surgeons. My appreciation is infinite. This was a sudden happening for me, and has put everything into perspective. ¡Órale, mi vida loca! By all means, take care of yourselves out there in Podcastia!
Stay tuned for Part II…
Opening theme:
“We’re Finally Landing” by HOME
http://soundcloud.com/home-2001
Promoted by @RoyaltyFreePlanet • https://royaltyfreeplanet.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
Technical Medical Info:
From the American Heart Association website:
Phlegmasia cerulea dolens is a rare syndrome caused by diffuse venous thrombosis that is characterized by sudden pain, swelling, purple ecchymosis, and arterial ischemia with loss of distal pulses. The so-called blue phlebitis is an often fatal form of venous thrombosis and frequently results in shock, venous gangrene, pulmonary embolism, and death.
Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens | Circulation
From the Cleveland Clinic website:
Phlegmasia cerulea dolens is a severe blockage from deep vein thrombosis or DVT (blood clot) in multiple veins. This usually happens in one or both legs, but can happen in your arms.
When a blockage affects your larger and smaller veins as this condition does, your leg can’t get the blood flow it needs. Because the blockages keep blood from leaving your veins, blood backs up. The swelling this causes increases the back pressure on your arteries as well, keeping them from bringing in oxygen-rich blood. This is like a sponge that can’t absorb any more liquid because no one’s wringing it out.
This is an emergency. You need immediate diagnosis and treatment to save your leg and your life.
How common is phlegmasia cerulea dolens?
Phlegmasia cerulea dolens is so rare, there’s little data on the number of cases. Healthcare providers may only see it once or twice in their careers.
Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens (PCD)
From Wikipedia:
Upper extremity PCD is less common, occurring in under 10% of all cases. PCD results from extensive thrombotic occlusion (blockage by a thrombus) of extremity veins, most commonly an iliofemoral DVT, of the iliac vein and/or common femoral vein. It is a medical emergency requiring immediate evaluation and treatment.