? DVT

[Marylou62]

About 4 days ago I started getting cramp in my calf (never normally suffer from cramp)...it is not swollen or red and doesn't hurt when I am sitting down...but when I get up it is very painful...when I walk for a while it eases up...now lying here typing it is aching...?DVT

I'm not at all offended! I know I'm not over it... I am my husband's carer (he's visually impaired) and at the time my son was just starting 6th form college and we had invited a friend of his with no home (long story, no fault of her own) to stay with us as well. Everyone else was so upset that I was saying 'I'm fine, no big deal, I just need to rest for a couple of weeks' from day one. Like most of the women here, I have always been the one who copes and fixes things.

You say about your DM being surprised how clam you are- I was as well. I think it takes a while for it to actually sink in. I burst into tears over nothing about 10 days later and that tendency lasted for a couple of weeks, so if you do find yourself going to pieces a bit, just go with it. Cry and let people support you.

Re the heparin, are you getting injections into your stomach fat? If so, the pain is caused by pushing it all in at once. It should take around 10 seconds for all the fluid to be injected. I only found this out when I mentioned to the warfarin nurse how painful it was, when I was on my second round of injections (not everyone has two periods, they just found it hard to adjust my warfarin dosage properly). No one had told me before and the two doctors who had done it before I took over had just shoved the plunger down. As soon as I started doing it slowly, it made a huge impact on the pain.

3littlefrogs I think I will. I can kind of believe you'd have some stories... I think my issues were largely caused by the way medical staff came across. They had worked with loads of people with my condition, knew that once I was getting treatment the risks of further problems were negligible, and forgot along the way that I didn't have their knowledge and experience and would be very frightened and shocked. I felt that I must be expecting too much and being precious in wanting emotional support and clear explanations of current and future implications.

The doctor in A&E who made the diagnosis said that my husband had probably saved my life by making me come in- literally used those words- and then everyone else was just 'oh, your INR is X today, take this much medicine per day and see you in two weeks.' Massive disconnect.

Silver...I am calm because I just have a sore calf and a bit of ache...I didn't go through what you did!....I will ask lot of questions tomorrow....can I ask whether you've flown since...I was hoping to go Cuba in Nov for DHs 60th...something we have been planning for years....was the insurance horrendous?

I've never flown, sorry! I hope it won't be though. If it is a DVT you will possibly still be on warfarin in November, in which case you'll be at a lower risk than someone with no history of problems!

I don't think the insurance is that horrific if you take active preventative measures. I always have a heparin (clexane) shot before I fly home from Australia to the UK, and take a spare one for when I come back (in fact I have 2 spares, in case one doesn't work - last time I flew I managed to get one of them on the plane in my handbag because I'd forgotten to give it to DH before going through! ).
Even though I've not had a DVT or clot, I can't afford to get one because they tend to get a bit arsey with you flying for more than 3 hours after that, and my FVL thrombophilia puts my risk of making a clot about 40 x higher of the risk of someone without thrombophilia making one. I've even flown when pg! But of course clexane'd up.

Dad's had 3 DVTs - he has been told he really shouldn't fly for more than 3h at a stretch. I doubt he would ever have flown out to visit us here anyway, but it's almost impossible with that time restriction. :(
ALthough having said that, MIL flew to the UK for our wedding after she'd had the multiple PEs in her lungs, they just clexane'd her up as well.
Age is a factor as well, of course.

I do hope things went well today marylou.

Thanks Silver...yes a DVT...in fact a cluster of them!! Just behind my knee so probably 3 mths of Warferin.... Feel well imformed now..thanks to you lot!...A big discussion went on about my eye bleeds and I was told to dial 999 if I have a migraine, to be treated as a bleed unless proved not to be...was there hours....have stopped HRT for 3 days now and tho I slept badly last night, the night sweats haven't been too bad..and had my last cigarette just before my appt....I have to give up...I am humbled by your concern Thankyou x

Oh and they reassured me that flying then shouldn't be problem...an injection before, one just before flying home, flight stockings and regular walks on plane....and I am going to inject myself!

That is good news- not as good as no DVT of course, but way better than a rogue clot roaming about. Injecting yourself is very easy, remember to take your time with the plunger and it's not painful- uncomfortable at worst. Do you have to do a course now, or will it just be for flying?

I can imagine the eye bleeds being a concern. Hopefully there won't be any problems though. And the best of luck with giving up smoking- typical that it would be just at the time stress makes you want them!

Take care and keep us updated :)

Try MIA for insurance and other specialist companies - you probably won't get cover immediately with less specialised but it isn't worth going without it.

Also, should have said sorry to hear it's a clot but so glad you got it checked and found! Injections aren't too bad, I found my thigh was better than tummy (I had them for 9 months), just go quick and don't think about it too much!

I'm going to disagree with itscathy, because I had heparin throughout both my pgs and the first one was in my thighs, because I didn't have much spare flab on my belly - hurt like blazes a lot of the time.
Second pg I chose to try my belly instead and it was a lot easier - there are more places that don't seem to have any nerves . Plus I was doing it myself rather than DH, and if it started to hurt, I'd just move to a different spot.
I guess it depends on how much flab you have on your belly though!

Sorry to hear it's a bunch of clots, btw, but faaaar better that you know and are being treated for it :)

Altho I'm not obese, I have plenty of belly fat...6ft curvy lady here! Yes I have a course of injections for about 4 days until a blood test on wed tells me if the warfarin dose is correct...took my first tablets yesterday...I must get DH to tape some towels to our new bed as I keep hitting my knees on the frame.....,exactly the same place everytime and even with out blood thinners,,,the bruises!...Thanks ladies...

How is everything going, Marylou? I've been thinking of you!

Glad to hear all well MaryLou - you did very well getting it all sorted so quickly. I've been waiting for over 6 weeks for a referral for an ultrasound to determine whether I have a thrombosis (GP doesn't suspect DVT). Symptoms are aching lower leg, calf much larger than other one. Hoping this week I'll get an appointment!