Could this be a blood clot?

[Worriedaboutnothingmaybe]

I maybe worrying about nothing, that is not unheard of!
however, I had had a productive cough for around 8 weeks, was given an inhaler by GP and told I’d need a chest X-ray if it didn’t go away in 2 weeks, it seemed to get better, then it came back, I then tested positive for covid, been testing negative for a few days now.
I have some swelling on my upper shin, under the knee, today while just sat on a chair at work I got an intense sharp pain in the area but thought nothing of it, noticed that a bruise has appeared in the area with swelling and where I felt the pain.
move had some minor cramping, and there’s some mild pain in my foot, but that seems muscular more than anything, and it is very minor. I also broke my foot in august so very well may be related to that. Also it’s not in the same place as the swelling.
mild breathlessness on and off for the past couple of months. But again, very mild.
I can’t even decide if it is actual swelling in my leg or if i’m just imaging it due to anxiety! so im going to add a photo.
my heart rate is high too, consistently between 110 and 125 at rest. It’s been high for a few weeks now though.
I feel like i should speak to the out of hours GP, but then in the back of my mind, I wonder whether this is just anxiety.
I will definitely speak to them, but just wanted opinions on the swelling that I am “perceiving”
It’s the left leg, below the knee. No pain in my calf.

Hope you are okay, I had a blood clot many years ago after a long flight and being on the pill - I was only 26 and totally healthy - but I dont remember any symptoms of the clot itself, only the pulmonary embolism that it turned into a week later (sharp pain in chest behind one boob basically and in hindsight bit short of breath) If you have symptons definitely get them checked and explain what you think it is and why to the Dr. Hopefully it's nothing but its not worth leaving it, once they suspected it it was easy to test for. Good luck and take care

Should have said I had a pulmonary Embolism for 6 weeks (7 weeks after the flight) before it was diagnosed correctly, it can be tricky to diagnose these things I think. And I cant really tell from the photo sorry but I think if you can see its swollen then this is a symptom so a definate reason to check it out.

Does the leg feel hot/warm to touch? Call 111 for some advice.

Very mild warmth. That’s the thing, everything is very mild!
111 says to see out of hours today, so I’m going to book a call and explain things to the doctor, and if she or he thinks it’s nothing serious, then great, and if I have to go in to be seen, then it’s not the end of the world.
I’ll be so embarrassed if it’s absolutely nothing at all though.

It’s 111 online that says to see the out of hours GP, I haven’t rang.

My Mum died from a pulmonary embolism at 52, which may be making me a bit anxious about it I suppose. She was extremely obese though and bed bound at the end.

Your photos are not v good but It looks like there is some redness and swelling around the kneecap which is quite localized.
might be prepatella bursitis - inflamed fluid pocket in front of the patella. Rest ice elevation and consider ibuprofen in the first instance.
a GP appointment would be advisable

My Dad also had a heart attack at 40 caused by a blood clot, which he survived.
mom going to book the call now!

Hmm, just looked up bursitis, it very well could be that. Thank you

Oh my goodness no wonder you are worried, Im so sorry for you, that's so sad.❤ As for being embarrassed- simply state the family history you have here and they will see you have good reason to be careful. I wish I had known about PEs when I had mine as I wouldnt have believed it was a pulled muscle for 6 weeks otherwise. Afterwards I went back to A and E maybe 5 or 6 times over the years with what I thought might be blood clots - they never were thankfully but I will now take feeling a bit sheepish over taking a risk on it being nothing any day. Your aim is to get a potential blood clot ruled out based on your family history and symptoms - this is pretty sensible and far as I can see. Big hugs xx

Don't be embarrassed if there's nothing wrong. That's what your GP is there for. Probably unlikely to be a blood clot but better safe than sorry. Hope you get some answers soon!

I'm sorry about your parents - it isn't surprising you're worried.

DVTs in the leg are usually in the calf rather than the shin (they do occur in the anterior femoral vein in your shin but these are very rare) - and if your swelling is bruised it sounds like you've knocked it. The appearance of symptoms is the wrong way around - you get the symptoms of the DVT before the pulmonary symptoms rather than the other way around, in fact, the appearance of PE symptoms would most likely coincide with a reduction of the DVT symptoms if anything as some or all of the clot has moved away from its original position (e.g. the calf).

But there's clearly something going on with your ongoing respiratory symptoms and elevated heart rate that you need to get checked out. I would mention your parents to the Dr. as there are some hereditary conditions that can predispose you to clots (e.g. factor V leiden). And you don't have to notice DVT symptoms to have a PE.

They can run a variety of checks for a PE, initially an ECG (which can show changes if a clot is present), a blood test called a d-dimer, and if they don't rule one out then a CT scan or VQ scan.

Best of luck and hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

@inigomontoyahwillcox that sounds very reassuring! Thank you.
move booked a call with out of hours, it can take up to 6 hours for them to call back. Which is fine, as it probably is nothing.
I definitely didn’t knock my leg today though, I was literally sat there and suddenly got an intense sharp pain in my leg, then the redness/bruise appeared.
it could be covid related maybe?

This is the bruise close up, or what I think is a bruise anyway.

I feel like my foot is also quite a bluish colour?
Oh anxiety is awful!

OP do you have any dispersible aspirin or plain aspirin around? If you do then as a precaution take a couple with a large glass of water. Despite what some people may think aspirin is still a good preventative medicine for any worries or concerns for blood clots, and associated heart disease and stroke.
I take one dispersible aspirin every day, as there is history of heart disease in my family.

I don’t have any aspirin. But I can get some. My dad took that daily after his heart attack; his father also died from hardening of the arteries (I realise there is a more technical term for this, but it’s escaped me) so I really should take some preventative steps, I’m 38 now.
I could take aspirin as a precaution if it won’t cause any harm.

He died young (my grandad).
I never met him.

Do you have a temperature? Could be infected shaving rash. If not, don’t dick around. Just go to a&e. You don’t want to risk that one.

Worried I just had another read through of your symptoms, background information and closer look at your photographs, have you rung 111? and are you waiting for a call back within the 6 hours. If you notice any escalation in symptoms please ring 999 immediately?
i know this is a strange one but if you don’t have any aspirin indoors, any tinned pineapple?! Believe it or not it has natural aspirin in it.

No temperature. And my leg is much colder the lower down you go. I’m hoping the Doctor calls soon.
I think if I go to a&e I’d be waiting even longer to be seen with the state of my local a&e lately, it’s a 15 hour wait.

Also, maybe unrelated, but I’ve put on a stone in the last month, and that’s with a reduced appetite.

@Icepinkeskimo no tinned pineapple unfortunately!

I’ve got one of those contactless thermometers. My temp is 36.5, which is normal, but if I point it at my foot, it won’t even read the temp because it’s too low. Just flashes up “lo” 😕

PS - forget the tinned pineapple pls. Waste of time. Aspirin might help a bit, but honestly, just go to A&E. This could save your life.