Recovering from blood clot

**chadder5000** · 07-29-2013, 03:56 AM

Hello, this is my first post. Im 31, 5'10" and 155lbs. I have been working out since i was 18 on and off because of blood clots. My last blood clot didnt require surgery but a shunt to re-route my blood around the clot. Before i clotted up i was about 8-10% body fat and 190lbs. I basically have been on bed rest since april from pain and have not worked out in over 2 years. I am on my second week back at the gym. I have lost a considerable amount of strength. I used to be able to do 50 push ups no problem. Now i struggle to do 10. At the gym I lift about 1/4-1/3 of what i was lifting before my blood clot. I have had 4 of these over the past 8 years and this is the hardest it has been coming back. I have never lost this much strength before. Any tips for re-gaining my strength and muscle back? I dont want to do a cycle because i need to strengthen my joints and tendons, not to mention roids can cause clots, so thats out. I'm doing a semi-clean diet of about 4500-5000 calories a day. I know how to work out but, it is frustrating as hell picking up a weight that I think would be ok and not being able to even do 1 rep. I have noticed my chest, arms and shoulders are the weakest. My back seems to be coming along ok as do my legs.

**bass** · 07-29-2013, 12:54 PM

sorry to hear about your struggle. 4500-5000 cals a day for a 155 pound guy you'll get fat pretty quick especially in your conditions. you don't need steroids to put on muscle unless your T levels are low. do you have blood work? if so post it all with ranges so we can see what's going on.

**Forest** · 07-29-2013, 08:03 PM

46M. I am one month out from a super large clot that ran from my shoulder down to my bicep. It took three Thrombectomy's over the course of 3 weeks to remove. Fortunately, I was diagnosed with TOS and just had my 1st rib resected to correct the situation. Unfortunately though, my steroid use in combination with TRT contributed to the clot formation.

Hang in there. Your strength and muscle will return. Are you on blood thinners and if so for how long? Also, I recognize your name from the TRT forum....are you still on TRT?

Best of luck to you

**MajorPectorial** · 07-30-2013, 07:00 PM

I was just going to suggest thinners. As long as ur not prone to hemorrhage of course

**Giggle** · 07-30-2013, 07:20 PM

Good luck to you Chadder - it sure must be frustrating, but I bet you'll come back fine because it sounds like you have a lot of drive and determination.
Don't ever give up, and just make progress each week.

**chadder5000** · 07-31-2013, 11:46 PM

Yeah, I'm on thinners for life. Lovenox is an injectable thinner that I'm on. Good news though, I have gained 10 lbs in 3 weeks. So I'm up to 161...My leg strength is coming back. Upper body is taking longer tho. I think my posture has something to do w/ my upper body strength being weak. I have a physical therapy appt. coming up so it can get fixed. The last time I had my testosterone labs drawn they were pretty low but that was before I was going to the gym and on bed rest. Also, the same time I had my last clot I had an inguinal hernia which was repaired. I think the hernia falling into my sack and crowding the boys had a little to do with the low test. Morphine pills I heard lower your testosterone also which I am on. I'll see if my Doctor will order another lab for my testosterone. Also, because of the clot, which was in my portal vein, I have chronic ascites and an enlarged liver. The doctor put a shunt in to help w/ the ascites but, my liver is still pretty big. More reasons for my bad posture. I'll keep you guys updated on my gains and other info. Thanks for the support. Oh, as far as the high calorie intake, I work out with high intensity and my metabolism is pretty good. I have not put on any noticeable fat yet so if I do start getting a spare tire I will definitely lower the amount of calories. Its painfully tough to get that many in with all the clots and scar tissue from surgeries in my abdomen. So that 5000 mark is what I shoot for. I don't always make it.