Saints star Wood reveals true extent of his health scare

Saints star Tom Wood has revealed the full extent of his recent health scare.
Tom Wood is on his way backTom Wood is on his way back
Tom Wood is on his way back

Last month, the 33-year-old had to make a hasty trip to Northampton General Hospital after waking up at 5am and struggling to breathe.

He was in severe pain and was later diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism (blood clot) in his lung.

"It was hard chest pains," Wood told the Daily Mail.

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"I couldn't stand up straight. It was folding me in half. I was hunched over and panting, like I had been winded. I couldn't sit up straight and open my chest."

It turned out that the blood clot had started in his calf and moved to his lung and had he been less fortunate, Wood's life could have been in real danger.

And after initially being discharged, Wood returned to the hospital and spent a night there.

He had feared the morphine dose he had been given was not strong enough.

And his wife, Sarah, was also understandably worried.

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"I couldn't lie on my back to sleep, I was in too much pain," Wood said.

"I had to work unbelievably hard to get control of my breathing. I couldn't take a deep breath. I was panting and I had to really work to get control of it, so I could relax.

"I couldn't get off the sofa without having an episode.

"I didn't sleep in my own bed for four or five days because I couldn't lie down. I had to sleep upright.

"But I don't get too worked up about those things - it is more about my mum and my missus who have been a bit beside themselves.

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"The missus checked the life insurance and the will! Everything was in order pretty quick.

"I don't want to play down the severity of it, as it can be life-threatening in different circumstances."

But Wood, who has three children, is never one to shirk a challenge.

And he is remaining upbeat in his bid to return to rugby action soon.

"Within a week, I was back on a Watt bike," Wood said.

"We had a week in Newquay once I had the all-clear.

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"I was in the sea for hours, knocking out sandcastles with the kids and doing structured running on sand dunes.

"I am running, I am training, I am able to push myself."

Wood is currently on blood-thinning medicine, which makes any sort of rugby injury more risky.

However, once he is off those tablets in six weeks, he will be trying to get back to normal.

"It would be nice to get back and play a part this season," Wood said.

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"If I did what the specialist laid out to the day, I would be available for the semi-final (in October).

"I just need the boys to do a job, then I will come and do a John Terry at the last minute!"

Wood has been supported by his Saints team-mates, although he doesn't think much to their offers of cookies.

"I've had the least sedentary lifestyle you could imagine," he said.

"I was annoyed because I was in the shape of my life - the boys came round with cookies and I really didn't need it.

"I had a week of sitting on that sofa doing nothing. It felt so alien."

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