WIBU to attend A&E?

[GotSomeChipsAhoyIfYoureHungry]

Hi everyone.

posting here for traffic.
my nan had DVTs and clots so it's in the family history.
I've been having a niggling pain in the back of my right calf. It's not overly painful and doesn't stop me doing anything. Can bear weight fine, I can stretch it. Stretching doesn't hurt but feels a bit uncomfortable / tight.
it actually hurts more when I'm sat still but I don't know if that's because if I'm sat not doing anything I'm noticing it more. Pain comes and goes, it's not there all the time.

pain is like a crampy dull ache pain, it moves slightly around my whole bottom of my leg towards my foot and up to my thigh. No swelling, no redness, no hot skin to touch.
I saw the GP this morning who essentially said because I don't have any of the classic signs that they don't think it's a DVT.

I have had high d-dimers before but never found a cause. I know they're non specific.

it's just bugging me because everyone says DVTs can be a silent killer and particularly women don't often get the classic pains, so I guess AIBU to attend A&E essentially for a mild - at times moderate achy calf?

I have a heart condition (LONG QT syndrome) I don't think that makes my risk any higher IFAIK, I'm slim, don't smoke, not event surgery and haven't had chemo since 2017. I'm 31 years old. Also haven't given birth in 5 years.
it doesn't stop me doing usual activities.

if anyone has any experience I'd be ever so grateful if you could share. Thank you!

If you’ve already been assessed by a medical professional, your calf isn’t hot, swollen or red, then I wouldn’t think A&E is needed.
However, if you are overly concerned then by all means go, but take a charger, snacks, drink and a good book with you because after being triaged I imagine you will be in for a very long wait with it being weekend.

You can go if you want but you'll be in for the long haul, a mildly aching calf is going to be dead bottom of the triage list on a rainy, stormy weekend.

Don't have urgent care treatment centre unfortunately

however it has suddenly come up like this..

do muscle strains look like that at all? Pain is no worse thankfully!

Go go go.

I personally wouldn't call what you have described an accident or an emergency.
Try a walk in centre or second opinion on monday from gp

Get to a&e now!

Omg I posted just b4 your photo uploaded, def get it seen

A potential blood clot is a potential emergency and in someone who has underlying health issues

Yes get it seen- the picture you have uploaded warrants it being checked definitely.

Based on photo update go now

I was skeptical until the photo. I'd go and get it seen.

Thanks all, grabbing a bag and will be on my merry way! Will update along the way as I think I'm in for a very long wait.

Mae sure you have chargers etc

Based on photo - yes! Do make sure that triage is aware of the redness. The description alone sounded more like a muscle thing but this combined with the redness needs checking out

One last question! There's an urgent treatment centre near me (haslemere urgent treatment centre)

the wait times are significantly less there, is it worth going there or just head to A&E? I'm ready to go, just waiting on DDs dad to collect her he will be here any minute.

I can see a bit of red on your other leg too, are they both like this?

When DH presented at A&E with pain in both calves he was sent on his merry way as he had no redness, swelling or heat. It "couldn't possibly" be a DVT except it was.

I'd go and get checked. I have since been told by an expert that it is unusual but not impossible for a clot to be present without redness, swelling and heat.

Urgent care wouldnt be able to do the scan you need, so it would be A&E

I can see what you mean in the pic but there doesn't seem to me much IRL maybe a touch of redness on the other leg but I'd been sat on my left leg (not the painful one)

I've been triaged now, there's absolutely nowhere to sit down, there's families here with 2-3 people with them and it always pisses me off as there's injured or sick people sat on the floor but hey ho, better safe than sorry!

Good luck in the wait. Hope you've got a comfy sitting spot

I’ve had 2 blood clots, in separate episodes. The only symptom was pain, I had NO redness, swelling or heat in the leg with either of them.When I had the first one, a GP compared my calf measurements and as the painful leg wasn’t swollen, he said it couldn’t be a DVT. A week later, I was diagnosed. with my first DVT. Another GP (same practice) said you cannot tell whether someone has a DVT by looking. I’m glad you’re getting it checked @GotSomeChipsAhoyIfYoureHungry

I'm a nurse and it definitely doesn't look like a dvt from the picture or from your description. Possibly cellulitis though which does need seen.

Im exactly the same had 2 neither was red or swollen just hurt. But dvt are weird the symptoms can be so varied. If its not then great you've lost nothing and you will be reassured if it is then you can get treatment before it gets serious

its worth being seen. Even if not dvt, it could be an infection of some kind