DVT - anyone had this?

[dropkickpa]

I've had what I thought was a muscle strain of some sort in my calf for 5 days, decided to call the nurseline from my insurance, and she recommended going into the ER. So I go, and the doc seems unconcerned (as I am), feels that it may be achilles tendonitis. But he orders bloodwork to be on the safe side. I'm thinking it'll come back normal, but apparently there was enough not right to move me to suspected DVT, so I got a shot of blood thinners and am to report back first thing in the morning for a doppler study. Hopefully it's nothing.

If it is DVT, can anyone share their experiences with treatment (isn't it usually a course of blood thinners)? NOT asking for medical advice, just wondering what to expect. I'm a bit leery of being on blood thinners because I'm a HUGE klutz, I'm always smashing into everything!

[Warpy]

1. If it's a DVT, it depends on where it is

A DVT in a major, deep vessel is much more serious than one in a relatively superficial vessel. The danger is that part or all can break off and become an embolus, lodging in a heart valve or your lungs, a complication that is potentially fatal.

The treatment is bedrest and blood thinners. The clot will be broken down in a week or so by your own body system. The blood thinners keep it from getting bigger in the meantime. The bedrest keeps pieces of it from being knocked off and into places you never want pieces of clot to be. You can get up and go to the bathroom. Going for a run is a very bad idea right now.

People with a history of DVT are generally given blood thinners for at least 6 months afterward, to prevent the regrowth of a clot in the same place.

[dropkickpa]

5. Ugh, bedrest would make me insane!

Especially with a 7 year old kid and 9 month old dog! Maybe I can get my insurance to pay for a dog walker :crazy:

My mom had issues with clots in her legs and is on permenant blood thinner therapy, but I think hers were due to diabetes complications (took 4 years after the initial episode for her to actually follow the doctors diet orders, and I still have to get on her about her eating at times).

They were skeptical of it being DVT bacause my leg looks normal, just hurts like a mother. I'll be royally pissed if I have to spend a long time on limited activity, I was really looking forward to spring to get out and about a lot more!

[CherokeeDem]

2. I Had DVT Many Years Ago

When I was 16, I also thought I had a calf muscle strain, had swelling and pain; was going out with a football player who suggested I go to the team doctor. I did and he thought it was a muscle strain as well. A few days later, after having chills, my mother took me to our family doctor who diagnosed a blood clot immediately. I had to rest, keep my leg elevated and then after a few days he let me go back to school. It wasn't too long until I had even worse pain, now in my upper thigh. Suspecting the clot had moved, my doctor put me in the hospital on Heparin therapy. I was released many days later after the doctors, family and now surgeon, felt I could safely go home. I was home schooled for the rest of the semester and not released from the doctor until late summer when after taking coumadin for several months they felt they had broken up the clot. I had residual pain for years but no further problems. Very painful, very scary. Since I was only 16, I don't think at the time I realized how serious it was. They never determined how the clot formed but think it was from the car door hitting me in the calf when I got out of the car one day. The good news, it's been 40 years, and medicine is certainly more advanced now but I think blood thinners are the medicine of choice. Please be careful, a young girl who came in to take blood at 4 am while I was in the hospital didn't heed the warning above my bed about being on Heparin and left before my blood clotted. I was awakened at 6:30am by the scream of the head nurse who found me with a blood soaked bed and a puddle of blood on the floor. Fortunately, it looked worse than it was but be careful.

Hopefully, when they do the Doppler they will discover it is just a strain!! Good luck and keep us posted.

Edited for spelling.

[nashville_brook]

3. i've had DVT and a friend just died (unexpectedly) of one

she had a fracture that caused the clot. mine was associated with a MRSA infection.

the pain in my leg was nuts -- couldn't put any pressure on it. the treatment was blood thinners -- we went with shots of Lovenox instead of warfarin (coumadin) b/c my ob/gyn insisted (I was trying to conceive).

Basically, you do the blood thinners and go in weekly for a blood test to make sure you're thin enough but not too thin.

Ongoing I've had quite a bit of pain and swelling in the same place, which always makes me crazy. When I have it checked, I'm always clear. They say that the pain and swelling is to be expected afterward. You'll be prescribed to wear a compression stocking which helps with the pain.

The treatment really wasn't *that* scary or annoying. What's scary is missing the clot and having it travel, which can kill you.

I hope this helps. Hang in there and be glad you've got this thing identified. :hug:

[dropkickpa]

6. Me, who knows what it could be from

I'm such a klutz (seriously, I've shut my own head in car doors too many times to count) that I don't remember every bump and bruise. I usually just look down and go "Hey, must have whacked something, I've got another bruise!".

I'm hoping it's nothing, but, thankfully, if it is a DVT, I have the sick time and such that missing work won't be too bad. Although, the NIH is coming through on Wednesday and Thursday for their grant renewal site visit (millions of dollars for both the clinical and research areas of where I work). Figures.

[cornermouse]

4. Pretty comprehensive article about DVTs.

http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic122.htm

Basically, they'll put you on blood thinner and if they think it could dislodge and work it's way upward toward your lung, brain, or heart, they'll put in a filter. The filter isn't permanent.

[dropkickpa]

7. Thanks!

:hi:

[ConcernedCanuk]

8. Gawd, sometimes I hate acronyms. Everyone so lazy with the keyboard?

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Yeah, I did a search and learned what DVT is (I think)

But couldn't at least ONE of the posters put in brackets, SOMEWHERE for us ignorant/curious folks what they were talking about?

Acronyms for DVT include the following.

DVT Driving Van Trailer (railway)
DVT Deep Venous (Vein) Thrombosis
DVT Digital Video Technology
DVT Digital Video Transport (Way of transporting video data over a secure network)
DVT Design Verification Test
DVT Data Visualization Tool
DVT Digital Video Terminal
DVT Design Verification and Testing
DVT Digital Television Technology

I'm guessing you're referring to "DVT Deep Venous (Vein) Thrombosis"

A clue/link woulda been nice.

[dropkickpa]

9. Well, this is health

chances are, I'm not talking about a Digital Video Terminal :rofl:

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. Thanks for the help, and the ROFL thingie, - sorta

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I'd never heard of DVT before, and being 57, health interests are more important to me than before.

By using acronyms/slang - never-mind snarky remarks,

You may be leaving out an audience that could do well to share experiences and resources/links.

Fortunately, I will not suffer loss for other's rudeness or resistance to provide information as I do know how to use search engines, and ignore rudeness in most cases.

And despite the length of my time on DU,

I have, and have never put anyone on the DU "ignore" thing - and am not contemplating it now.

However, I will ignore some people just by not responding.

I can do that.

I think forums are for sharing information,

and should not be used to denigrate people that do not know what you are talking about.

But I's just a Canuk

Whadda I know?

[dropkickpa]

12. Not denigrate people?

What, like calling them lazy?

[ConcernedCanuk]

15. I'm beginning to understand why the USA is losing it's Global respect.

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They have no shame for the Genocide they have unleashed in the Middle East in the last decade.

There is no defensible argument.

[cosmik debris]

16. That's absolutely priceless!

dropkickpa declined to define her abbreviation and you compare her actions to genocide.

That's not an over reaction is it?

:rofl:

[ConcernedCanuk]

17. Actually - your response is an overreaction , and an abomination.

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stop with the ROLF image already - it doesn't impress me

And as far as your claim that I was comparing dropkickpa's actions/statements to genocide

Read again

That's not what I said, or implied.

Gawd . . .

USA seems to be getting dumber by the day

That's for you, and anyone that thinks like you

"debris"

isn't that another word for GARBAGE?

"SHOE FITS"

[cosmik debris]

18. Just the mention of genocide in a DVT thread is hilarious

And certainly worthy of
:rofl:

[xchrom]

21. let me get mine in here

:rofl:

[ConcernedCanuk]

25. noted

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[dropkickpa]

19. Yes

the possibility that I may have had a clot in my leg and you responding by being insulting is EXACTLY the reason why the US has no global respect. With my super fabulous clotting factors, I traveled back in time to cause middle eastern genocide and I REFUSE, refuse I tell you, to feel shame for that.

You should see what I can do when I get my period!

[nashville_brook]

14. it's unlikely that a Digital Video Terminal would be causing pain in anyone's leg

but... i'd like to see it if that were the case.

[dropkickpa]

10. Update

Not clot seen - woohooo!!!!:woohoo: Now to figure out what the hell IS going on and to speak to my doc about my weird test results. Thanks everyone!

[nashville_brook]

13. yay! congratulations!

i'm glad to hear it!

[dropkickpa]

20. Thank you!

It was a relief!

[xchrom]

22. i'm so happy for you -- i didn't see the thread

when you first put it up -- and here i read down and you have no clot!!!

:woohoo:

[dropkickpa]

23. Thanks!

It was surreal, totally didn't think anything of it, but went to the ER on the nurse's advice, doc didn't seem to think much of it, then the bloodwork came back and his demeanor went from "stupid tattooed idiot wasting my time" to "Huh, maybe not", which was more than a bit concerning. I still have to make an appointment with my doc, but I've been so nutso busy at work that I haven't even had time to call, and the doc's office is literally next door :crazy:

[xchrom]

24. well take of yourself -- do what you're supposed to and BE OK!