FABIO CAPUANO
Docs told me the pain in my chest and shortness of breath was just indigestion but when I went to the hospital they found three blood clots in my lung. I thought I was going to die...
A few months ago Fabio Capuano thought he was going to die.
The East Kilbride defender has been through a real ordeal after doctors diagnosed him with indigestion – only for them to discover he, in fact, had three blood clots in his lung.
In October, Capuano spent several days in agony as doctors at the New Victoria Hospital in Glasgow sent him home with acid reflux medication and paracetamol after he complained of severe chest pains and difficulty breathing.
Only after seeking a second opinion at the Royal Infirmary and undergoing days of tests, a CT scan revealed the 21-yearold had a pulmonary embolism.
The fittest player in the K-Park squad, the right-back was in shock. Not long after the high of leading Kilby to the Lowland League title, his world had been turned upside down.
“As soon as the doctor told me I had three blood clots, I felt like I was dying,” said Capuano.
“It was scary to wake up and find that out. I thought I was going to get some tablets for an infection or something.
“If I hadn’t gone to hospital about it, I would have just kept playing football and that could have killed me. The doctors said it could have been fatal.
“I was quite emotional because I’d been waiting for six days to find out what it was but, thankfully, they had caught it early enough that they could treat it.”
Normally a picture of health, the diagnosis came as somewhat of a relief to the personal trainer after an anxious week, which began with him being prescribed an indigestion remedy.
And he revealed how he defied crippling pain to drive himself to the Royal because he knew his situation was far more serious.
He explained: “That first morning I felt terrible. I was sweating, struggling to breath.
“When I went to the first hospital I was crouched over in agony, giving them my symptoms. I felt like I was having a heart attack or something.
“It felt like I was getting pains in my heart but they told me I was fine, I was just suffering from a bit of acid reflux. “But the tablets never worked. “The next day I went to the Royal Infirmary because I was not going back to the Victoria after what they told me.
“I drove up there in agony – I probably shouldn’t have been driving – and I ended up fainting when I got to see a doctor.
“The doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong at first because I’m a young boy. I’m 21 and I don’t smoke, I don’t drink.
“They thought it might be a kidney infection and I lay in a room for five days, getting morphine every night as they tried to figure it out.
“It was only when I got the CT scan they found the blood clots.”
Months of recuperation have followed and Capuano admits it has been a frustrating spell trying to get back to the levels he hit during 27 appearances for Kilby last season. “I was put on blood thinning tablets for three months and it was terrible,” he said. “It made me really moody and anytime I’d bang myself on a drawer or something it was agony and I’d come out in these big bruises. “It wasn’t like me because, and the boys will tell you, I’m in the gym before and after training. But I didn’t want to go, I didn’t want to do anything.
“After a few weeks I started going back but I couldn’t do any contact training.
“It was really hard and frustrating. I couldn’t run. I was usually first in the running drills at training but I was finishing last behind the goalkeepers so that was a bit demoralising.
“The gaffer [Billy Stark] took me aside and told me not to get too down about things and focus on getting better, but I was kicking bottles about the place and getting really angry about it because it wasn’t like me.
“I just stayed positive and, now I’m off the medication, I feel much better.
“I’ve to go back in a few weeks time to check my blood isn’t sticky or anything. But I’ve pretty much got the all clear now.”
Capuano had been sidelined by a groin injury three months before his illness, so he was thrilled earlier this month when he pulled on a Kilby jersey for the first time since May. His last outing came in the first leg of the League Two play-off final when Kilby drew 0-0 with Cowdenbeath before going on to lose the tie on penalties.
But after starting his first game in seven months during a 2-0 win over Dalbeattie Star, Capuano insists he is fighting fit and ready to boost East Kilbride’s charge for promotion this season.
He said: “I feel so much better and I feel ready to play. I hadn’t played many games and I hadn’t trained a lot but the gaffer really