My Chronic Illness Journal

My Blood Disorder Journals

2016-03-13T18:50:00.000-04:00

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Life Saving Strategies on Clot Prevention - Featured on Intake.me

2016-03-11T21:25:00.002-05:00

A Patient’s Perspective & Life Saving Strategies on Clot Prevention #DVTAwareness #DVT

I’m Martin Lemieux (@Martin_Lemieux) – I’ve been a #DVT patient all my life. I have a hereditary illness called “Factor V Leiden”, which basically makes me prone to life-threatening DVT’s for the rest of my life. I’ve survived FIVE blood clots within my left leg, ONE clot within my right leg, and a very painful clot in my pelvic area.

VIEW ENTIRE ARTICLE ON: INTAKE.ME >

Source: http://www.intake.me/a-patients-perspective-life-saving-strategies-on-clot-prevention-dvtawareness-dvt/

Blood Clot News: Simple urine test uses nanotechnology to detect dangerous blood clotting

2013-10-17T09:08:00.000-04:00

Soon people with clotting disorders will be able to pee on a stick to find out if they're getting a clot.

"There is no fast and easy way to diagnose these clots, which often remain undetected until they break free and cause a stroke or heart attack. However, new technology from MIT may soon change that: A team of engineers has developed a way to detect blood clots using a simple urine test."

"The noninvasive diagnostic, described in a recent issue of the journal ACS Nano, relies on nanoparticles that detect the presence of thrombin, a key blood-clotting factor."

Read the Full Article Here:

http://phys.org/news/2013-10-simple-urine-nanotechnology-dangerous-blood.html

Stay safe, keep strong!

Martin R. Lemieux

Follow @martin_lemieux • Tweet to @martin_lemieux •

Canada Stroke Awareness Month - Day 4 - Stroke Prevention (2/2):

2013-06-04T10:07:00.003-04:00

As mentioned in Part I - About 1/6 people will be affected by a stroke within their lifetime. I talked about; High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), High Blood Cholesterol, Atrial Fibrillation, and Diabetes.

Within this second part, I will talk about overcoming stroke triggers that a person needs to dig deep within their own heart, ultimately to save their own life, including;

• Being Overweight (Physical Inactivity)
• Excessive Alcohol Consumption
• Smoking
• Stress

Some of you might have sat there and cringed at the thought of overcoming even one of these factors. It's possible that each one of you suffers from at least one of these triggers at this very moment, maybe sometime in your past and possibly in the near future, so I will go about this with a soft tongue.

________________________

Being Overweight:

Losing weight affects all of us differently. For some of you, losing weight might not be as simple as eating better, since you might not feel in control over your weight due to; an eating disorder, or medication you take (i.e. Prednisone). I am here to tell you first off, you're not alone and you have the power to change!

I too have suffered from a little weight gain over the last 4 years. Not being able to use my legs has put me in a position to be very lazy at will. In my earlier years, I used to have an actual 8-pack for a stomach, ripped back muscles and a strong inner core. I miss those days like a plague. Every time I look in the mirror, it's a constant reminder of what I used to look like, compared to what I actually look like now.

So what am I doing to help?

Small baby steps. I got myself a doorjamb chin up bar that has multiple angles on it. With this I don't go do a crazy session daily, no instead I pull myself up 1-3 times every single time I walk by the chin-up bar, no matter what I'm doing. It's like an obsession; I can't go past the chin-up bar without touching it, that's my promise to me.

Something I do which can seem strange at times was taken by the late, great Bruce Lee who mentioned ways to work out using your home as the source. One of those ways includes; every time you pass through a door, you must push on both sides of the door frame outwards like your he-man trying to bring down the house. Sometimes my friends look at me funny, but understand what I’m trying to accomplish once I tell them what I'm doing. For me to go into my kitchen, I have to pass by 2 door frames there and back. That's 4 times in one trip I am strengthening my inner core.

Instead of using a mop to clean my entire place, which is covered with hard floors, I use a sponge which forces me onto my knees to painstakingly scrub the entire place, one small section at a time. Do this and I swear your arms will burn afterwards and you'll feel a little tired, but also energized afterwards.

Every Sunday is garbage day; I am very environment conscious and recycle practically everything I use up during the week. With this I meticulously take out one or two pieces of recycling material to the blue bins outside until all the materials are all sorted out. Remember the door-jam thingy? And the chin-up thingy? I pass through 3 doors and the chin-up bar each time I go outside, not to mention down the stairs and the same training obstacles coming back. So that's; 2 sets of stairs, 6 door-jam pushes, and 2 chin up sessions for every little piece of recycled material that leaves my place.

Sounds crazy? It works big time and when you start doing it over and over, it becomes as familiar as walking, you don't even think about it after a while, in fact, you'll find yourself stopping at every door-jam by habit.

"By achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. A healthy weight can also help control other conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes." Source: HeartandStroke.com

"Another way to determine if your weight falls within a healthy range is to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI)." Source: HeartandStroke.com

Calculate your BMI with this chart:
http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3484281/k.515D/Healthy_living__Assess_your_weight.htm

______________________________

Excessive Alcohol Consumption:

I can see you right now, "I don't have an alcohol problem". Keep telling yourself that, you're right! Well in your own mind anyways. The easiest way to know if you have an alcohol problem is to ask your friends and family members if they think you do or not, they'll tell you the honest truth and yes, the truth might hurt for a while, but accepting will become easier over time.

Many years ago, I too had an alcohol problem, I used to drown my illnesses with booze so that I would feel like a normal person, but what I didn't realize is that it affected all the closest people around me. Knowing that is what helped me to control my urges and to eventually stop from being a non-functional alcoholic. These days I've learned to control my consumption to; sometimes a glass of wine during dinner, or a couple of beers while watching a UFC fight with friends. The point is we each have it within ourselves to stop loosing the fight and start gaining our lives back, one less drink at a time.

There are many groups and organizations out there ready to help, but you have to want it bad enough to change. You would think that a stroke, or death might be a motivator, but sometimes those aren't enough, you need to find what that one thing is that will motivate you to change. For me it was my health and my son, I didn't want to continue on a path to destruction and not be around later on for my son.

What did I do? Easy, just stopped going to bars all together, found another way to socialize and banned alcohol from my home. That's it, that's what broke the camels back so to speak.

Whatever you decide, I can't do it for you. Your "WHY" must be deep and personal and be strong enough to sometimes piss you off to the point that you're almost mad at yourself for being this way. That motivation can drive you in ways you never thought possible.

If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to no more than:

• two drinks a day, to a weekly maximum of 10 for women*
• three drinks a day, to a weekly maximum of 15 for men*

“A drink” means:

• 341 mL / 12 oz (1 bottle) of regular strength beer (5% alcohol).
• 142 mL / 5 oz wine (12% alcohol).
• 43 mL / 1 1/2 oz spirits (40% alcohol).

View the low-risk drinking guideline:
http://www.ccsa.ca/2012%20CCSA%20Documents/2012-Canada-Low-Risk-Alcohol-Drinking-Guidelines-Brochure-en.pdf

______________________________

Smoking:

What can I say about smoking? well 1st of all, I was a smoker for 20 years! I'm 34 now and I smoked for 20 years, you do the math! I recently just quit since I had to in order to be accepted into a rare treatment for Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy, due to the fact that smoking reversed the affects of the treatment.

I'm not too sure what you tell you that you haven't already heard from your own doctor about the risks of smoking. I think that's why I won't spend too much time trying to convince you to stop, I'm sure you've had numerous people who have tried and failed.

I'll leave you with this quote:

"Being smoke-free has enormous benefits for your health and the health of the people around you. Once you become smoke-free and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke, you will immediately reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. The sooner you become smoke-free, the sooner your body can start to recover and it doesn't take long to see the effects." Source: HeartandStroke.com

• Within one year of quitting, the risk of dying from smoking-related heart disease is cut in half.
• Within 10 years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half.
• After 15 years, the risk of dying will be nearly that of a non-smoker.

Enough said.

______________________________

Stress:

This one mental battle can be triggered from anywhere. Stress can be an instant nuisance or a battle raging internally over a period of time. The fact is everyone at one point in their lifetime feels the effects of stress at least once.

I barely get stressed out over anything, and trust me I have a lot in my life to be stressed about, but I've trained my mind to overcome stress and not to let things bother me in ways many people can't imagine. I'll give you a quote my doctor once said to me a little while ago, "Martin, I can't believe with all that you have going on physically with your conditions, I'm amazed at how you can keep your composure like you do!" You know what I told him? "Doc, it's not that things don't bother me, it's that I don't dwell on them when they occur, in one ear and out the other and move on with my life making decisions to better myself, that's it!"

I told my doctor one time, "you could sit there and tell me that I have cancer and I would tell you, ok let's get started on treatment!" See It's not that I don't feel anything, it's that I don't let the thought stew in my mind, the longer you dwell on the things that bother you, the more power you give to them.

The key is to keep in control and be mindful of what you think about. Most stress, depression, and anxiety are self afflicted in our own minds. We do it to ourselves essentially.

Stress is completely manageable by not giving negative thoughts the power to stress you out. There are many triggers in life all around us, the key is not ignore them, but to face them head on and decide right then and there that those triggers no longer have power over you, essentially you are in control of your mental health.

Remember, it's not about being heartless and not caring, in fact the opposite; it's about feeling it and releasing it right away. You must feel the triggers that stress you out in your life, but then release them immediately to prevent those feelings from taking over and sending you into a deep dark cavern of a looping mental battle you can never win.

This doesn't happen overnight, but I affirm to you that the more you become aware of what stresses you out, the more you can release the power it has over you and start to feel at peace with yourself. You must accept that life will throw you curve balls all the time, it's the universe's way of testing your will power, testing your determination and willingness to live happy.

As you can see, I'm very passionate about this subject, that's probably why I'm in the final process of publishing a book about the very thing I just talked about titled: "The Secret Ingredient to your Noodle!"

In Conclusion:

The best way to wrap up this II part series is with these affirmations...

“Self awareness is only powerful when knowledge is understood and applied, only then can it manifest into true wisdom!”
- Martin R. Lemieux

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
- Maya Angelou

“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.”
- Les Brown (lesbrown.com)

"Our tendency is to pray for miracles. But in most situations, it is more appropriate to pray for opportunities.. Visionaries look for an opportunity to do something."
- Andy Stanley, Visioneering

“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”
- Buddha

“Either you change with me, or lose me to change!”
- Martin R. Lemieux

“Yes, you can be a dreamer and a doer too, if you will remove one word from your vocabulary: impossible.”
- Robert H. Schuller, American Reformed Church Minister

==

Sincerely,

Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515

Canada Stroke Awareness Month - Day 3 - Stroke Prevention (1/2):

2013-06-03T12:04:00.001-04:00

About 1 in 6 people will be affected by a stroke within their lifetime. That's a major part of the human race. There are known prevention tips that help increase your odds. Below I've gone through some healthy living ideas to prevent this deadly killer from touching you or your family.

• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
• High Blood Cholesterol
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Diabetes
• Being Overweight
• Excessive Alcohol Consumption
• Physical Inactivity
• Smoking
• Stress

Most of these triggers can be easily prevented, for example; smoking, stress, being overweight, excessive alcohol consumption, and physical activity are things that most of us have control over. Some are easy, some are tough to let go, but ultimately it's within our power to help prevent a stroke.

___________________________________

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension):

"High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease. It’s important to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. If you think you may be at risk or you have already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, here is some step-by-step information on how to manage it successfully." Source: HeartandStroke.com

The key to successfully managing your blood pressure is through self-testing. Home test kits are available, as well as having a regular check-up with your doctor. Hypertension Canada is a great source of information to better educate yourself in the effects of high blood pressure prevention no matter where you live in the world.

For more info, visit: http://www.hypertension.ca/

________________________

High Blood Cholesterol:

"There are 2 types of cholesterol - good and bad. It's so important to keep it at healthy levels because high blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. If you think you may be at risk, are interested in preventing or have already been diagnosed with high blood cholesterol, here is some step-by-step information on how to manage it successfully." Source: HeartandStroke.com

High blood cholesterol can be easily managed through your fat intake through your diet. Many publications online show you how to manage your cholesterol intake, knowing this information can help to prevent a stroke later on in your life. High cholesterol is especially dangerous in men 40 and over, and within women 50 and over.

Here's a link to "Canada's Food Guide":
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/food-guide-aliment/view_eatwell_vue_bienmang-eng.pdf

____________________

Atrial Fibrillation:

"Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a condition involving an irregular heart rhythm, known as an arrhythmia. It is the most common type of arrhythmia, affecting approximately 350,000 Canadians. Generally, the risk of developing AF increases with age and with other risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and underlying heart disease. One of the main complications of atrial fibrillation is stroke. Individuals with atrial fibrillation have a risk of stroke that is 3 to 5 times greater than those without AF." Source: HeartandStroke.com

Most causes of Atrial Fibrillation are unknown. Some include; high blood pressure, congenital heart diseases, pulmonary embolism, alcohol, and some other triggers.

The key is to check with your doctor if you feel something not right with your heart beats, dizziness, vomiting, fatigue, sweating, or any irregular symptoms.

To listen to what AF sounds like, listen to this audio file:
http://www.heartandstroke.com/atf/cf/%7B99452D8B-E7F1-4BD6-A57D-B136CE6C95BF%7D/afib.mp3

_________

Diabetes:

"Diabetes increases the risk of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), coronary artery disease and stroke, particularly if your blood sugar levels are poorly controlled. It can also result in circulation problems caused by damage to the blood vessels." Source: HeartandStroke.com

There are many people who suffer from; Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational diabetes and don't even know it. This condition is not to be taken lightly and MUST be managed at all times. There can be detrimental side-effects if not take seriously, by watching insulin levels and having a proper diabetic lifestyle, including eating properly.

I know a few individuals who test their limits all the time and use insulin as a way to justify their food intake, this method of self-administering is very dangerous. Diabetes must be respected and treated properly using guidelines set out by your doctor, or association.

Because of my blood disorders, I am forced to go into a Hyperbaric Chamber for 2 hours a day to heal my leg ulcers. This is a common factor for people who don't manage their Diabetes properly. You have the ability to prevent this from happening to you.

More info at the Canadian Diabetes Association:
http://www.diabetes.ca/

_______________

In Conclusion:

This concludes part one of this two part series. Tomorrow I will go into triggers that we as humans take for granted when it comes to our health. Living healthy is a lifestyle, but it's a choice we must all choose to make. It's never too late to help yourself by preventing life threatening conditions from manifesting.

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515

Canada Stroke Awareness Month - Day 2 - Stroke Facts:

2013-06-02T15:00:00.000-04:00

Strokes are a serious health risk for millions of people every year. The number of people affected is astonishing. There are things you can do to help prevent strokes, which revolves around a healthy style of living and being active. Below are some staggering facts about strokes around the globe.

________________

United States:

• Yearly Deaths - 130,000
• Number of Strokes - 795,000 / year
• Blood Clot Factors - 87% of strokes
• Strokes - Leading cause of long term disability

________________

United Kingdom:

• Yearly Deaths (2010) - 50,000 / 4th leading cause
• Stroke Survivors - 1.2 Million
• Number of Strokes - 152,000 / year
• 25% of all Strokes - 65 years and younger
• Strokes in Children - 400 Children (0-18) / year

________________

Canada:

• Number of Deaths - 14,000 / year
• Fact - Leading cause of death in Canada
• Number of Strokes - 50,000 / year
• Children - 200-300 are affected yearly
• Affected People - 315,000
• Gender Prodominent - Females
• Types - 80% (Ischemic), 20% (Hemorrhagic)

________________

Australia:

• Number of Deaths - 2nd Biggest Killer
• Fact - 1/6 People suffer from a stroke in their lifetime
• Number of Strokes - 50,000 / year
• 30% of all Strokes - 65 years and younger
• Affected People - 420,000 (709,000 est. in 2032)
• Strokes - Leading cause of long term disabilities

________________

Sources of Data:

UK:
http://www.stroke.org.uk/news/stroke-facts-and-statistics-your-area

US:
http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm

CAN: http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3483991/k.34A8/Statistics.htm#stroke

AUS:
http://strokefoundation.com.au/health-professionals/tools-and-resources/facts-and-figures-about-stroke/

________________

In Conclusion:

Those are just some examples of stroke statistics around the globe. Most people know someone who's had a stroke, but rarely do they become involved and find out if they too are susceptible to this silent killer. There IS hope!!! The key is to stay healthy through; eating, substance prevention, exercise, regular check-ups and much more. We have the ability to help prevent a stroke, now is a good time to start

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

Blood Disorder Network:
http://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

Twitter:
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder | #TheBloodRevolution
@CanadaBloodClot

June - Canada Stoke Awareness Month!

2013-06-01T05:00:00.000-04:00

Please show your support for Canada Stroke Awareness Month. Assess your risks, research online for more knowledge, connect with groups online including:

FACEBOOK:

Blood Disorder Network:
https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

Strokes Suck Canada:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/343613378649/

Running After a Pulmonary Embolism:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/81164797980/

Know Your Risks:

Source: www.HeartandStroke.ca

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515

Vasculitis Awareness Month - 5 Day Countdown - Day 1 - Vasculitis Sample Pack from VasculitisFoundation.org

2013-05-31T10:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks back, even thought I didn't live in the U.S., I wanted to see if I too could get a free information package by mail. To my surprise, it only took a little over a week and presto, a very detailed information package about Vasculitis and also about the wonderful foundation supporting Vasculitis awareness across the globe.

My sincere thanks to the team athttp://www.VasculitisFoundation.org/ ! ! !

Vasculitis Awareness Month - 5 Day Countdown:

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515

Vasculitis Awareness Month - 5 Day Countdown - Day 2 - Treatments for Healing Vasculitis & Vasculopathy

2013-05-31T09:44:00.002-04:00

Vasculitis vs. Vasculopathy: "Vasculitis occurs when inflammation in the blood vessel wall leads to its destruction and Vasculopathy when a thrombus forms in the arterial lumen and compromises blood flow. The difference is subtle but important to distinguish since there are divergent diagnoses and treatments for Vasculitis and Vasculopathy." Source: Cutis.com

_____________________

Vasculitis Treatment:

Steroids: Treated with doses of a corticosteroid drugs including; Prednisone, methylprednisolone (Medrol).

Immune System: If steroids aren't effective, especially in severe cases, they may need treatment with cytotoxic drugs that kill immune system cells responsible for causing inflammation.

Healing Time: 23 months > 21 Years

Cure: Unknown

_______________________

Vasculopathy Treatment:

Since most people have never heard of "Livedoid Vasculitis" aka "Livedoid Vasculopathy", I felt it necessary to dedicate a better part of this article on this rare unknown disease.

Livedoid Vasculopaty, or Livedoid Vasculitis, is a painful ulcerative condition of the lower extremities which characteristic clinical and histopathologic features. The lesions of atrophie blanche, a term once synonymous with the disease, are typically present on the lower extremities and are characterized by smooth, porcelain-white lesions surrounded by punctate telangiectasia and hyperpigmentation. Shallow central ulceration's is often present. The condition is difficult to treat and sometimes immune to therapy.

Let's take a look at these 1st, 2nd, and 3rd line treatments a little closely.

=====================

FIRST LINE THERAPIES:

=====================

• Wound Care (including bed rest and leg elevation)
• Aspirin
• Dipyridamole
• Pentoxifyline

Wound Care: Regular wound care using wraps, compression fittings, keeping the wound warm and moist to allow the healing process to be uninterrupted. Something most people aren't aware of, have you ever heard anyone say "Put some air on that wound to heal faster?"

Bzzzt wrong answer. Air only increases the edges to heal quickly to prevent infection and bacteria from taking over, this is why most people who don't attend to their wounds properly, and let air get to them, are left with a nasty scar tissue. The scar tissue is created from the body correcting itself too quickly.

I will soon spawn an entire multiple-part series on wound care shortly after Vasculitis Awareness Month.

Aspirin: This only helps if you don't have a blood disorder and you aren't already on some form of blood therapy involving anti-coagulants.

Dipyridamole: Prevents blood clots in valves, prevents patelets from sticking together. (Drug interactions: Warfarin / Heparin)

Pentoxifylline: Treats chronic circulation disorders of the arms and legs. Allow futher distance to be walked before leg cramp occurs. (Drug interactions: Warfarin / Heparin)

======================

SECOND LINE THERAPIES:

======================

• Danazol
• Warfarin
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber

Danazol: Treat endometriosis (fibrocystic breast disease)

Warfarin: Anti-coagulant to prevent blood clotting or the act of breaking down clots already lodged within the circulatory system. If you have a blood disorder, chances are you're already on blood thinners which may not have any affect.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Therapy: Increases oxygen count within blood flow for increased healing. Oxygen is what actually heals, not just the blood. 8/10 Patients heals completely from the Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy, some patients relapse afterwards.

=====================

THIRD LINE THERAPIES:

=====================

• Low molecular weight heparin (injections)
• Fluindione (vitamin K antagonist)
• Intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG)
• tPA
• ILoprost
• Sulfapyridine
• Ketanserin
• PUVA

ILProst: Ventavis (iloprost) inhalation solution increases hemodynamics and exercise capacity in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Sulfapyridine: A sulfonamide used as an oral suppressant for dermatitis herpetiformis (Duhring's Disease), a skin problem. (Side Effects: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, lack of G6PD Enzyme)

Ketanserin: Effective in lowering blood pressure in essential hypertension. It also inhibits platelet aggregation.

PUVA: Prevent rapidly multiplying skin cells through an oral drug and ultraviolet light exposure.

Stanozolol: Steriods, same effects as Prednisone.

Nifedipine: Group of drugs (calcium channel blockers) that relaxes the muscles of the heart and blood vessels. (SIDE EFFECTS: Interacts with; Warfarin & Heparin)

In Conclusion:

Vasculitis and/or Vasculopathy has NO known cure. There are therapies which seem to suppress the symptoms, and in some cases, heal external wounds. Patients suffering from Vasculitis have had symptoms from 23 months to 21 years. This rare disease is something that may never go away.

Advances in science and medicine might improve over the years and hopefully for people like me, who still have many years of life to look forward to, a cure might be around the corner.

Do yourself and your; friends, family members and colleagues a favor, SHARE this post on your timeline. Also, click on the "LIKE" button within each Vasculitis group to get notifications and news from each one.

I hope this helps you to better understand what some of us are trying as therapies, even though we understand that in the end, there is no cure.

Vasculitis Awareness Month - 5 Day Countdown:

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515

Vasculitis Awareness Month - 5 Day Countdown - Day 3 - Vasculitis Support Groups Online

2013-05-29T08:32:00.004-04:00

Here is a detailed list of support groups around the globe on the subject of Vasculitis and blood disorders. Many Facebook groups are also listed near the bottom.

I hope you can gain the knowledge necessary to help with your; diagnosis, recovery, and support through this rare but deadly disorder.

=========================================

Vasculitis.ca:

"Vasculitis Foundation Canada mission is to encourage and support research efforts for the cause and cure for all forms of Vasculitis. To establish rapport with all known Vasculitis patients and try to alleviate the isolation of having an uncommon, life-threatening disease. We want to assist Vasculitis patients and their families with clinical information and coping strategies, to help them develop a strong and positive outlook."

http://www.vasculitis.ca/

=========================================

Vasculitis Foundation.org:

"The Vasculitis Foundation is the international organization for patients with Vasculitis, their families, friends and the health care professionals who care for them. The Vasculitis Foundation advocates for early diagnosis and leading edge treatment for all patients, no matter where they live. In addition, the Vasculitis Foundation partners with researchers around the world to determine the cause and discover the cure for Vasculitis."

http://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/

=========================================

Drugs.com Vasculitis Group:

A personalized support group on Vasculitis created by one of the members of Drugs.com. Post your questions and read more information.

http://www.drugs.com/answers/support-group/vasculitis/

=========================================

Inspire.com - Vasculitis Support Groups:

"Inspire was created with the belief that patients and caregivers need a safe and secure place to support and connect with one another. We strive to be ethical and transparent, and we never forget that our community is built upon the trust of our members. We place the utmost value on this trust, and maintaining it is our highest priority."

http://www.inspire.com/conditions/vasculitis/

=========================================

Vasculitis.org.uk - Local Support Groups:

"Everything is to be found here about Vasculitis UK, the charity: our aims, goals and objectives, the history, the people who run it, our finances, how you can join and how you can support and be involved in running Vasculitis UK. There is a section here on fundraising and on setting up a local Vasculitis support group."

http://www.vasculitis.org.uk/about/find-a-local-group

=========================================

American Behcet’s Disease Association:

"The American Behcet's Disease Association works toward the following goals: Providing information and support for patients with Behcet's Disease and for their family members and caretakers. Providing current and pertinent educational information to the medical community. Decreasing isolation and stress from the lives of people with Behcet's Disease and their family members."

http://www.behcets.com/

=========================================

Churg Strauss Syndrome Association:

"The Churg Strauss Syndrome Association is dedicated to the identification, treatment and cure of Churg Strauss Syndrome. The CSSA is operated and supported by volunteer efforts and is a network of patients, friends, and medical professionals."

http://www.cssassociation.org/

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Central Nervous System Vasculitis:

"The Central Nervous System Vasculitis Foundation provides information and support to patients, families and the medical community about the rarity of CNSV; it’s devastating impact on lives; diagnosis and treatment in order to improve overall quality of life, affect more positive patient outcomes, to develop effective medical treatments, and to assist in discovering a cure through scientific research."

http://cnsv.memberlodge.org/

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Giant Cell Arteritis & Polymyalgia Rheumatica:

"Listening - the primary purpose of our group is to listen to how the sufferers and/or carers are coping with these conditions. The Group finds this very helpful. The most common comment we hear at the group is, 'Nobody told me that'. If there is time we then discuss a topic related to our conditions, chosen by the members of the group."

http://www.pmrandgca.org.uk/

=========================================

Kawasaki Disease Canada:

"To promote the awareness of Kawasaki Disease among the medical community, childcare providers, and the general public, that is critical to early diagnosis and treatment"

http://www.kdcanada.ca/

=========================================

Bruce’s WG & Vasculitis Site:

"To assist Vasculitis patients in getting early diagnoses, effective treatments, and to advise of patient, organization, and scientific resources concerning Vasculitis."

http://www.wegenersgranulomatosis.net/

=========================================

Churg Association:

"The Churg Strauss Syndrome Association was founded in June, 2004 by two patients, Jane Dion (right) and Dr. Carol Kavanaugh (left). Its original purpose was to gain representation on the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium which had recently received more than six million dollars in funding for Vasculitis research."

http://www.cssassociation.org/

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Vasculitis Support NZ:

"Our aim is to provide useful information that is easy to follow for patients, family and friends regarding Vasculitis and how it is treated within New Zealand."

http://www.vasculitis.org.nz/

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FACEBOOK - Blood Disorder Network:

"A group created by a patient, Martin R. Lemieux who's years of experience is put to good use to help build awareness and support for members suffering from blood disorders, included but not limited to; Vasculitis."

http://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

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FACEBOOK - Vasculitis: More Common Than You Think. More Serious Than You Know.

"This group is to help spread awareness for vasculitis. This is a place where people can post their ideas about how to help raise awareness and stories that feature vasculitis. Our goal is to help patients help themselves and gain more "buzz" for these diseases which will lead to more research and hopefully, a cure."

https://www.facebook.com/groups/332547823431093/

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FACEBOOK - Vasculitis Foundation Canada / Fondation vasculites Canada

"Our mission is to support research efforts for the cause and cure for all forms of Vasculitis. To provide information and care to patients and families."

http://www.facebook.com/Vasc.Canada

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FACEBOOK - Society for Inherited And Severe Blood Disorders (T'dad & T'go Ltd)

"An awareness group for persons interested and living with inherited blood disorders"

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Society-for-Inherited-And-Severe-Blood-Disorders-Tdad-Tgo-Ltd/227781600567823

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FACEBOOK - The Blood Revolution

"A worldwide organization spreading the word about the affects of Blood Disorders."

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515

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FACEBOOK - Vasculitis Foundation

"Awareness. Support. Research."

http://www.facebook.com/VasculitisFoundation

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FACEBOOK - Violin for Vasculitis

"Visiting 50 states to raise awareness of vascular disease."

http://www.facebook.com/violin4vasculitis

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FACEBOOK - Not all Disabilities are Visible

"Not all disabilities are visible - it doesn't mean they're not real."

http://www.facebook.com/Not.alldisabilities.are.visible.spoons

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FACEBOOK - Foundation for Women & Girls with Blood Disorders

"The Foundation for Women & Girls with Blood Disorders seeks to ensure that all women and adolescent girls with blood disorders are correctly diagnosed and optimally treated and managed at every life stage. The Foundation works to achieve this goal."

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Foundation-for-Women-Girls-with-Blood-Disorders/219812841425285

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FACEBOOK - Vascular Disease Foundation

"The Vascular Disease Foundation is committed to reducing death and disability for the over 40 million Americans affected by vascular disease."

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vascular-Disease-Foundation/133262650017312

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FACEBOOK - A Rabbit Stuck in a Turtles Shell (Book)

"I've written this book in the hopes to educate, or foster if you will, a guide and insights into the world of the health industry from a chronic illness perspective."

http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Rabbit-Stuck-in-a-Turtles-Shell/554268961262924

--

If you are aware of more Vasculitis support groups, please feel free to post a comment below. I hope this helps everyone to gain the answers they are looking for.

Vasculitis Awareness Month - 5 Day Countdown:

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515

Vasculitis Awareness Month - 5 Day Countdown - Day 4 - Vascular Sub-Types:

2013-05-28T10:44:00.003-04:00

There are many sub-types associated with Vasculitis. Unfortunately, Vasculitis is very uncommon and data that supports it is also small in comparison to other disorders known to mankind. Below are some known sub-types that are associated to Vasculitis.

___________________________________

Subtypes of small-vessel vasculitis include:

• Henoch-Schönlein purpura
• Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy
• Urticarial vasculitis
• Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis
• Erythema elevatum diutinum

_____________________

Giant Cell Types include:

• Foreign-body giant cell
• Langhans giant cell
• Touton giant cells
• Giant cell arteritis

________________________________

Diseases characterized by Granulomas:

• Tuberculosis
• Leprosy
• Schistosomiasis
• Histoplasmosis
• Cryptococcosis
• Cat-scratch disease
• Sarcoidosis
• Crohn's disease
• Listeria monocytogenes
• Pneumocystis pneumonia
• Aspiration pneumonia
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Granuloma annulare
• Granuloma faciale

_______________________

Rheumatoid Vasculitis Types:

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Back pain
• Bursitis/Tendinitis
• Capsulitis
• Neck pain
• Osteoarthritis

Other rheumatic diseases which are caused by autoimmunity include:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Juvenile arthritis
• Sjögren syndrome
• Scleroderma
• Polymyositis
• Behçet's disease
• Reiter's syndrome
• Psoriatic arthritis

Vasculitis Awareness Month - 5 Day Countdown:

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
..

Vasculitis Awareness Month - 5 Day Countdown - Day 5 - Vascular Disorders & Diseases:

2013-05-27T07:44:00.001-04:00

Causes:

"There are many causes of vascular problems. They can be classified into 5 groups: traumatic, compressive, occlusive, tumors/malformations and vasospastic (spasm of the artery, which reduces its diameter and thus its blood flow). Vascular problems may occur more commonly in individuals with certain diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or kidney failure, or in dialysis patients. Occupational exposure (vibrating tools, cold) can be a factor, and smoking also can aggravate and cause vascular disease." Source: assh.org

_________

Symptoms:

• Chronic pain
• Color changes in the fingertips
• Ulcers which do not heal
• Cold intolerance
• Numbness or tingling of the fingertips
• Local areas of swelling around the vessels

Source: assh.org

______

Types:

• Aneurysm
• Behcet’s Disease
• Blood Clotting Disorders
• Buerger’s Disease
• Churg–Strauss Syndrome
• Cryoglobulinemia
• Giant Cell Arteritis
• Henoch-Schönlein Purpura
• Histiocytes, eosinophils
• Kawasaki disease
• Renal (Kidney) Artery Disease
• Raynaud's Phenomenon
• Livedoid Vasculitis
• Lymphedema
• Microscopic Polyangiitis
• Neutrophils, fibrinoid necrosis
• Peripheral Venous Disease
• Polyarteritis Nodosa
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica
• Rheumatoid Vasculitis
• Takayasu’s Arteritis
• Varicose Veins
• Wegener’s Granulomatosis

Vasculitis Awareness Month - 5 Day Countdown:

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
..

Miscarriages & Maternal Death - Dangers of Pregnancy on Coumadin, what to do!!!

2013-05-26T16:11:00.003-04:00

At the request of one my members from the Blood Disorder Network, I've decided to write a very important article about the dangers Coumadin poses in pregnancies, especially since blood complications are the #1 leading reasons for miscarriages and deaths to expecting mothers and their unborn babies.

As quoted by the FDA: "COUMADIN may cause birth defects, miscarriage, or death of your unborn baby." This is a serious warning for pregnant women who are on Coumadin while pregnant.

Here's a PDF document posted by the FDA:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/drugs/drugsafety/ucm088578.pdf

____________________

So What Are My Options?

From my research, doctors who are aware of the effects of Coumadin, and who are aware of their patients’ potential blood disorders, usually administer "Lovenox" injections to their patients for the 1st 36 weeks of their pregnancy, then start their patients on Heparin injections for the remainder of the term.

______________

What is Lovenox?

"LOVENOX® must be used with care in patients who have any of the following: problems with clotting, uncontrolled high blood pressure, a recent ulcer, impaired vision due to diabetes, kidney problems, and excessive bleeding. Pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic (artificial) heart valves may be at higher risk for blood clots. These patients who are treated with LOVENOX® must be carefully monitored by their doctor." Source: Lovenox.com

________________________

What are Heparin Injections?

"Heparin is used to prevent blood clots from forming in people who have certain medical conditions or who are undergoing certain medical procedures that increase the chance that clots will form. Heparin is also used to stop the growth of clots that have already formed in the blood vessels, but it cannot be used to decrease the size of clots that have already formed." Source: NLM.NIH.GOV (U.S. National Library of Medicine)

______________________________________________

Why is Heparin Injections Administered after 36 Weeks?

Heparin is administered to help an expecting mother to have a normal recovery process, by preventing any blood clots from forming or causing serious problems after delivery.

Many pregnant mothers, who have a blood disorder (also for some who don't), are intentionally induced and their water is broken after 36 weeks to ensure a safe pregnancy (This is after taking Lovenox within the 1st 36 weeks). The Heparin has been administered to ensure no clots are formed, or blood related complications become a threat during the labor, or postpartum period. These steps are sometimes crucial to help the mother of an expecting child to have a full, healthy recovery.

_____________________________________

What if My Specialists Don't Agree with Me?

This is an all too familiar case when it comes to wanting answers or trying to get doctors to listen. In some cases, when you're faced with dealing with only one team of specialists, sometimes due to your location, the key is to seek out other professionals to help you.

With pregnancies, there are other specialists that can help with your case, and to help fight for you. One of the most important specialist within your arsenal are called an: Obstetrician a.k.a. OB/GYN practitioner!

Obstetricians: "Is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy (prenatal period), childbirth and the postnatal period. Many obstetricians are also gynecologists, meaning they perform in both specialties. In the United States, these physicians are commonly referred to as OB/GYNs." Source: Wikipedia.org

_________________________________________________

What are the Dangers with Pregnancies and Blood Clotting?

For more information about the dangers of pregnancies and blood clotting, please see my previous article here:

https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork/posts/370001399783853

______________________

Maternal Death Statistics:

Remember, blood related issues are the #1 cause of miscarriages and death of expecting mothers and their babies. This is NOT to be taken lightly.

As stated by the WHO in its 2005 World Health Report "Make Every Mother and Child Count", the major causes of maternal deaths are: severe bleeding/hemorrhage (25%), infections (13%), unsafe abortions (13%), eclampsia (12%), obstructed labour (8%), other direct causes (8%), and indirect causes (20%). Indirect causes are malaria, anaemia,[3] HIV/AIDS, and cardiovascular disease, all of which may complicate pregnancy or be aggravated by it." Source: Wikipedia.org

________________________________

Help Support Blood Disorder Network:

I hope you find this article useful and informative! Please don't forget to "LIKE" & "SHARE" this article on your own timeline, you might help a friend or family member from a disastrous pregnancy. Click on the "Share" button at the bottom of this article.

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
..

Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy - Dealing with a Long Weekend:

2013-05-23T07:59:00.001-04:00

Last Tuesday was especially hard to go to my hyperbaric therapy session. I wasn't able to make my session on Friday, so it's been since last Thursday that my system got it's needed oxygen dose.

Due to the long stretch, especially since this weekend was a long weekend, I've definitely noticed some impact on the quality of life.

1) Inflammation:

My legs, not having changed my compression wraps for so long had reverted back to swelling with increased pain. The swelling is hardest to deal with when you consider; socks increase swelling, the edge of wounds are stretched, walking becomes harder, and shoes are a no go.

2) Pain Management:

When dealing with open wounds around your ankles, the swelling and pain are two things you must keep in check. I can tolerate a lot more pain than the average bear, always been able to, but sometimes you just have to put your legs up and chill for a bit. A nice coffee and a movie helps to keep your mind off the pain.

3) Decreased mobility:

When both legs are swelled up, your mobility in compression wraps is drastically decreased. Doesn't mean I'm not mobile, just makes it harder to cope with. It didn't help that we had a rain storm last night and it's supposed to rain all week. Anyone who's had a blood clot or Vasculitis can probably attest to being able to predict the weather, since our circulatory system is more susceptible to changes in atmospheric pressure.

4) Boredom:

This was the 1st time that I was actually bored out of my mind for two hours. Yes, I did have some unique shows on, but it's like taking a vacation and coming back to work, it takes time to get back into the rhythm, especially when it comes to healing; slowly, consistently and with a lot of patience.

Is there an upside?

Yes, since the start of my hyperbaric chamber sessions, they always told me 30 days on, 30 days off. I finally understand why this is the preferred method for therapy. With open wounds, the goal is to increase oxygen to the blood, but also increase blood to the wound.

With having 4 days out of the chamber, my wounds began healing themselves by increasingly showing more signs of blood at the base of the wound. There hasn't been blood (healing mechanism) at the base of my wounds in over 3 years!

This is a good sign.

So I have to keep my mind in check, outweigh the negatives (pain & swelling) vs. the positives (blood to the wound / healing) to ensure happiness

All in all, good outweighs the bad every time!!!

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
..

Women’s Health: Vitamin D Deficiency & Blood Thinners (Heparin), May Equal Hair Loss!

2013-05-21T11:25:00.002-04:00

After speaking with some members of the Blood Disorder Network and some people in other groups, I have read a great deal about; Vitamin D deficiency, Blood Thinners (Heparin) and the potential for hair loss. There seems to be a direct correlation between the three. Only in some cases, hair loss seems to be a symptom for women who are battling a blood condition, but who are also Vitamin D deficient.

_________________
Vitamin D - Defined:

“The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. It is used, alone or in combination with calcium, to increase bone mineral density and decrease fractures. Recently, research also suggests that vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases.” (Source: Mayoclinic.com)

“Researchers at Cairo University found that women who were experiencing hair loss also had lower levels of iron and vitamin D2—and hair loss only got worse as the levels dropped.” (Source: Prevention.com)

__________________________________________
Drug Interactions - Vitamin D Deficiency & Heparin:

Heparin, which is an injection that is administered to patients who experience; blood clots (DVT’s), pulmonary embolisms [PULL-mun-ary EM-bo-lizm] (PE), and strokes or heart attacks may cause a drop in Vitamin D, essential to maintaining healthy bones to prevent illnesses like osteoporosis and hair loss.

For women who are Vitamin D deficient, and who are administered Heparin, may experience some hair loss while in their recovery phase. There isn't sufficient data available to suggest that blood thinners, such as Coumadin to be the culprit in hair loss, but rather a rare interaction (33% of the time) in women who are Vitamin D Deficient, and are given Heparin to decrease coagulation in the blood.

“Findings show a high amount of vitamin D recipients in the hair follicles, but their exact function is not known and proved, yet it is evident that this vitamin helps in the growth and maturation of the hair follicle. Even though a definite conclusion cannot be drawn for hair loss due to vitamin D deficiency, it is observed that this deficiency is one of the contributing factors for hair loss.”

Unfortunately, researchers are only starting to understand the relationship between; Vitamin D and Hair Follicles. It doesn't mean that you shouldn't take preventative measures while taking Heparin or blood thinners. I have noticed some strange affects from blood thinners and wouldn't rule it out.

__________________
Speak to Your Doctor:

If you’re experiencing hair loss while treating a blood disorder, this may be due to the lack of Vitamin D, which is typically caused by a Vitamin D deficiency. Speak to your doctor to have proper blood-work done to determine whether or not you are in fact low on Vitamin D while taking Heparin, this might help prevent hair loss in the near future.

_______
Sources:

WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/diet/vitamin-d-directory

Prevention.com: http://www.prevention.com/beauty/beauty/vitamin-d-deficiency-may-cause-hair-loss

LiveStrong.com: http://www.livestrong.com/article/511082-effects-of-vitamin-d-on-blood-thinners/

Plosone.org: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0001483

*** Some other sources also used, but not mentioned here.

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
..

Blood Disorders, Descriptions and Resources!

2013-05-20T23:59:00.001-04:00

Below is all known blood disorders. Many of these blood disorders create other related conditions from affected areas of the body. Each disorder below has been linked to descriptions, symptoms, and treatments from resources online.

Blood Disorders Affecting Red Blood Cells

Anemia
Anemia occurs when your blood doesn't have enough red blood cells. This can happen if: Your body doesn't make enough red blood cells, bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced, or your body destroys red blood cells.
Iron-deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia — a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's tissues.
Anemia of chronic disease
[See above for details.]
Pernicious anemia (B12 deficiency)
Pernicious anemia (per-NISH-us uh-NEE-me-uh) is a condition in which the body can't make enough healthy red blood cells because it doesn't have enough vitamin B12.
Aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia is a condition that occurs when your body stops producing enough new blood cells. Aplastic anemia leaves you feeling fatigued and at higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a drop in the number of red blood cells due to increased destruction by the body's defense (immune) system.
Thalassemia
Thalassemia (thal-uh-SEE-me-uh) is an inherited blood disorder characterized by less hemoglobin and fewer red blood cells in your body than normal. Several types of thalassemia exist, including alpha-thalassemia, beta-thalassemia, Cooley's anemia and Mediterranean anemia.
Sickle cell anemia
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of anemia — a condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout your body.
Polycythemia vera
Polycythemia vera is a blood disorder in which your bone marrow makes too many red blood cells. Polycythemia vera also may result in production of too many of the other types of blood cells — white blood cells and platelets. But it's the excess red blood cells that thicken your blood and cause most of the concerns associated with polycythemia vera.
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe complications and die. In 2010 an estimated 219 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide and 660,000 people died, most (91%) in the African Region.
Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, also called non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is cancer that originates in your lymphatic system, the disease-fighting network spread throughout your body. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, tumors develop from lymphocytes — a type of white blood cell.
Leukemia
Leukemia is cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. Many types of leukemia exist. Some forms of leukemia are more common in children. Other forms of leukemia occur mostly in adults.
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of your plasma cells, a type of white blood cell present in your bone marrow. Plasma cells normally make proteins called antibodies to help you fight infections.
Myelodysplastic syndrome
Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of disorders caused by poorly formed or dysfunctional blood cells. Myelodysplastic syndromes occur when something goes wrong in your bone marrow — the spongy material inside your bones where blood cells are made.

Blood Disorders Affecting Platelets

Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia is the medical term for a low blood platelet count. Platelets (thrombocytes) are colorless blood cells that play an important role in blood clotting. Platelets stop blood loss by clumping and forming plugs in blood vessel holes.
Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia
If for any reason your blood platelet count falls below normal, the condition is called thrombocytopenia. Normally, you have anywhere from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of circulating blood. Because each platelet lives only about 10 days, your body continually renews your platelet supply by producing new platelets in your bone marrow.
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare blood disorder. In TTP, blood clots form in small blood vessels throughout the body. The clots can limit or block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the body's organs, such as the brain, kidneys, and heart. As a result, serious health problems can develop.
Essential Thrombocytosis (primary thrombocythemia)
Essential thrombocythemia is an uncommon disorder in which your body produces too many blood platelets (thrombocytes). It's also known as primary thrombocythemia (throm-boe-sigh-THEE-me-uh).

Blood Disorders Affecting Blood Plasma

Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection. Sepsis occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight the infection trigger inflammation throughout the body. This inflammation can trigger a cascade of changes that can damage multiple organ systems, causing them to fail.
Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a disorder of your blood-clotting system. Clotting is the process by which your blood changes from a liquid to a solid state. There are several types of hemophilia. All types can cause prolonged bleeding. If you have hemophilia and you have a cut, you'll bleed for a longer time than you would if your blood clotted normally. Small cuts usually aren't much of a problem. The greater health concern, particularly with hemophilia A and B, is deep internal bleeding and bleeding into joints.
von Willebrand Disease
Von Willebrand disease is a condition that involves extended or excessive bleeding. It's the most common inherited bleeding condition. The cause of von Willebrand disease is a deficiency in or impairment of a protein called von Willebrand factor, an important component in your blood clotting process. In general, it takes longer for people with von Willebrand disease to form clots and stop bleeding when they're cut.
Hypercoaguable State (hypercoagulable state)
Patients are considered to have hypercoagulable states if they have laboratory abnormalities or clinical conditions that are associated with an increased risk of thrombosis (prethrombotic states) or if they have recurrent thrombosis without recognizable predisposing factors (thrombosis-prone).
Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain, but often occurs without any symptoms.
Disseminated Intravascular coagulation (DIC)
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (ko-ag-u-LA-shun), or DIC, is a condition in which blood clots form throughout the body's small blood vessels. These blood clots can reduce or block blood flow through the blood vessels, which can damage the body's organs.

If you would like to have revisions made, please add a comment below.

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
..

Canada Blood Clot Awareness changed to Blood Disorder Network!

2013-05-17T16:25:00.001-04:00

Canada Blood Clot Awareness has changed! Please update your bookmarks. I've changed the group to: BLOOD DISORDER NETWORK!

Before we hit 200 LIKES, I had the option to change the name and address only once. I feel this is better suited to this groups needs and will help to open up more conversations about blood disorders, not just blood clots.

Here is the new group address:
https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork

Please spread the word!!!

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork
FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
..

Vitamin K - Reverses the Effects of Blood Thinners:

2013-05-15T11:53:00.003-04:00

For many people, having a Vitamin K rich diet can produce many great results for their health, including but not limited to; healing wounds, strengthening blood vessels, help to strengthen bones, even help to prevent bone fractures.

How is Vitamin K Dangerous?

Vitamin K is used to reverse the effects of blood thinners. So for those of you who are on blood thinners such as; Coumadin, Low-Molecular Weight Heparin, Lovenox or any other type of blood thinner, Vitamin K can have a drastic affect on your treatment therapy.

By thickening the blood, you no longer stay in what doctor’s call "a therapeutic state", which means your body no longer has the ability to prevent clots from forming, nor does it have the ability to pass blood through existing or dormant blood clots.

This can be a very dangerous stage for people who are prone to blood clotting. Without even knowing it, the foods you are eating may be helping to form clots that may lead to the worst case scenario, death.

How Can Vitamin K Help?

In a case where your INR (thickness of your blood) is too high, meaning your blood is way too thin, which can lead to internal hemorrhaging, Vitamin K can be used to help thicken the blood quickly to prevent disaster from happening.

I used to eat Vitamin K rich foods prior to me going to get a new tattoo since blood thinners and blood disorders aren't ideal for healing tattoos. I used the Vitamin K two days prior and during my sessions to suppress the effects of the blood thinners, without causing any damage to my circulatory system due to the clots still lodged within my system.

Which Foods Have Vitamin K?

Vitamin K is typically found in leafy green vegetables, including:

- Asparagus
- Beet greens
- Bread crumbs
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Celery
- Collards or spinach
- Cucumber
- Green or scallion onions
- Grapefruit
- Kale
- Mustard greens
- Okra
- Parsley
- Pie crust
- Plums
- Romaine
- Sauerkraut
- Soybeans
- Turnip greens

Now if you're anything like me, the above foods are part of your daily diet. I used to have problems keeping my INR between 2.1-2.8 which was therapeutic for my conditions. After seeing a few specialists, we realized it was my Vitamin K rich diet which was reversing the effects of the high daily dose of Coumadin I was forced to take.

Be very careful when eating too much of one food group from the above while on blood thinners, prevention is the key to not creating a situation to allow your body to form another blood clot.

SEE ALL COMMENTS ALREADY MADE ON FACEBOOK, CLICK HERE

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork
FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
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Day 7 - Hyperbaric Chamber Oxygenation Therapy:

2013-05-14T18:02:00.006-04:00

Today's therapy has gone as planned. Some slight pain has returned to my lower legs, but that can be due to the fact that I had multiple appointments yesterday, putting a greater strain on my body.

Something to note, on Tuesday, I walked a mile to my nursing clinic without any pain. I haven't been able to do that in the last 3 years, nor would I attempt it in the past.

Here's an image of my progress reports just to show how things have changed in just a short few weeks!

Notice the changes in flexibility, pain, inflammation and also notice how I no longer need to take certain medications to prevent my legs from swelling and/or giving me pain.

CLICK HERE TO KEEP TRACK OF MY HYPERBARIC CHAMBER THERAPY

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork
FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
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Day 4 - Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy: (DVT > Vasculitis > Chronic Ulcers)

2013-05-14T17:57:00.001-04:00

Today was business as usual. My legs are continuing to improve with; swelling, pain and flexibility. Sitting there for 2 hours a day is starting to feel like a job, but the pay is much greater The pay is a life back!

Patients usually don't see healing results until after about 16 sessions so it's a waiting game, but the wounds themselves look healthy.

Wound Care:

When you have an open wound, AIR is NOT the key. There's a major myth and misconception about this fact. Leaving your wound open in the air will cause the edges of the wound to close up too quickly, the result is those nasty scars you see

The key is moisture. Moisture is what keeps the wound healthy by allowing the blood to properly heal the wound in due time. Oxygen within your blood will help to rebuild new skin cells....

Too much moisture is not good either since it's a breeding ground for bacteria. If you notice yellow puss on your wound, it's a sign that the bacteria is winning, the yellow puss is the bacteria secretion (gross huh?).

The key to wound management, is moisture, changing your bandages regularly and use "Saline Solution", which is sterilized water to ensure bacteria prevention when you clean your wound. Remember to wash your hands prior and after you attend to your wound daily.

At the end of this week, I am going to perform an experiment trying on different compression fittings, new wound care products that never worked in the past. This will be a great indication that things are starting to look up.

Hyperbaric Chamber & Vasculitis:

As we know, Vasculitis attacks healthy blood vessel cells, by pumping pure oxygen within the chamber, your body is in full action building new blood cells at an alarming rate, thus by-passing the negative effects of the Vasculitis.

The best way I can explain it is with this: You can't take too much Vitamin C on a daily basis, your body will simply expel anything it doesn't use. The same with the pure oxygen, if your body needs it to heal, then it will take everything it needs, otherwise it will simply expel the excess.

Hyperbaric Chamber & Blood Clots:

With blood clots, they form and stop blood from flowing properly within your circulatory system. Blood brings oxygen to your system, a blood clot is cutting off that vital need. With the hyperbaric chamber, there's no way to stop oxygen into the system since it's being forced in at all angles with up to 280 pounds of pressure.

Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy is a new way to cure many illnesses, I strive to bring people like you a better awareness of what's out there that can help when no one else can.

A great start for the summer!

Remember: You are never alone while dealing with rare conditions, don't keep it all bottled in until it's too late mentally. Ask us questions, inquire about resources, be active in your pursuit to a healthy living!

CLICK HERE TO KEEP TRACK OF MY HYPERBARIC CHAMBER THERAPY >>

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork
FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
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Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy Daily-Log:

2013-05-14T17:52:00.003-04:00

In an effort to keep track of the progress for my therapy, I've created an extensive log to better help health professionals see the effects of the treatment.

CLICK HERE TO KEEP TRACK OF MY HYPERBARIC CHAMBER THERAPY

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/CanadaBloodClotAwareness
FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
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Day 2 - Hyperbaric Oxygenation Chamber Therapy:

2013-05-10T13:55:00.001-04:00

Today was much easier than yesterday since, the nerves weren't there and I had my kit ready to go prior to attending my session.

There was one big difference today, they increased the pressure much faster than yesterday which presented a problem with my left ear. As a child, I used to get major ear infections all the time.

When the pressure was increased, my left ear blocked right up and caused a great deal of pain. Through a specialized "comm-system", I immediately made the doctor in charge aware of my discomfort which is he turned down the dial and everything went back to normal.

The two hours in the chamber went as quickly as yesterday so no biggie.

Here's an unexpected positive result. Due to the fact that the oxygen is helping with my inflammation, I am able to wear my shoes easily without pain and walking seems to be much easier than before. Only two sessions in and already some great side effects.

Also, my right leg ulcer which is the size of a square inch is now showing signs to healthy blood spores. Meaning, it doesn't look ugly yellow ("guano" from bacteria), and instead looks bright red with healthy blood cells at the base of the ulcer. More blood, more healing

That's all for day 2.
(Take a look at the pictures from today).

CLICK HERE TO KEEP TRACK OF MY HYPERBARIC CHAMBER THERAPY

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork
FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
..

Hyperbaric Chamber Oxygenation Therapy (Day 1)

2013-05-03T21:05:00.001-04:00

The entire experience was amazing. The folks at The General Hospital in Hamilton are great, and down to earth.

At first, when the oxygen starts, your ears pop a little, but it goes away in minutes. Afterwards, you are required to breath through a normal oxygen mask half ways through to prevent your brain from getting too much pure oxygen.

Afterwards, when they release the oxygen two hours later, your ears pop a little and to my surprise, the air gets really cold, like I was in some warm bubble.

I'll be posting pictures later on. One thing that I did notice, my legs weren't swelled up what so ever from not having my compression fittings on and my shoes felt good as well!

All in a all a good experience with the potential for more energy just after one session. Can't wait to go back tomorrow.

I will be posting these and much more each day after having my therapy sessions so one can understand what to expect and also to see my progression (if any).

Location: The General Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada

CLICK HERE TO KEEP TRACK OF MY HYPERBARIC CHAMBER THERAPY

Sincerely,
Martin R. Lemieux

@CanadaBloodClot
@Martin_Lemieux
@Blood_Disorder (#TheBloodRevolution)

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/BloodDisorderNetwork
FB Cause: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blood-Revolution/444146745678515
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Blood Clots - Patient Story: Jeanette Mcfarland-Rodgers

2013-05-03T21:01:00.001-04:00

Patient Story: Jeanette Mcfarland-Rodgers

Hi! I am from Pennsylvania and I have struggled for the last 5 years clotting. My original one was when I was 22. They believed it was due to all the knee surgeries (9) in 6 months. I was on Coumadin for 3 months did fine so they took me off of it.

I was good never clotted lm Had first pregnancy at 25 was healthy baby had ni problems got pregnant at 26 started having blood clots in legs had to be put on Lovenox can't be on Coumadin when pregnant.

READ THE ENTIRE STORY ON "CANADA BLOOD CLOT AWARENESS

Sincerely,

Martin R. Lemieux
@CanadaBloodClot

Prone to Clotting? Compression Fittings is the Key!

2013-05-01T11:39:00.001-04:00

Those of you who are prone to clotting and have had 1 or more DVT's in either leg, may need to keep your legs compressed with compression stockings in order to maintain a balanced level of blood flow up and down your circulatory system.

Damage Done to Veins & Arteries:

Overtime, a blood clot will damage your veins & arteries by creating a bubble effect, stretching your life-line system due to the pressure of the blood trying to pass by the clot repeatedly. Have you ever seen a bubble on your watering hose? The same thing happens to your precious circulatory system, causing your legs to swell from the forces over time and prevents the blood from flowing back up your vein system to be purified by your heart.

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE >>

BY: Martin R. Lemieux
Tweet: @CanadaBloodClot
FB: Canada Blood Clot Awareness