Blood clot or health anxiety?

[Evizza]

I have had terrible health anxiety for the past few months and am not sure if this is just another episode of that anxiety or a reason to worry....

I am overweight and been having issues with tendonitis in my left foot for a few weeks now. Last night I started getting pains in my calf and up my leg and when I had a look at my leg, the left calf is visibly bigger than the right calf. I have no idea if its swelled up or if there was always a difference but now I've got myself worried that the swelling and pain is due to a blood clot

I don't have any redness or heat in the area and I'm sure they're also symptoms, so don't know what to do. Do I just leave it and see if it gets better, or do I start panicking?

I hate health anxiety...never know what's real or when to genuinely worry

It could well be a VTE, a small blood clot, which is best sorted out sooner rather than later so yes go and see your GP and get a referal.

It could also be vasculitis, inflammation of the blood vessels, the fact that you are overweight and currently have issues with tendonitis means you could be more prone to these issues.

I have health anxiety too. It varies in intensity and at the moment it’s low. For me, it manifests itself around minor or imaginary symptoms and my over-active mind blows things out of proportion. When I have real symptoms, things are rather different and I forget all about health anxiety and go into practical mode.

You have a real symptom- your leg is swollen. Don’t waste any time in getting this checked out. Hopefully it will be nothing but you need your mind putting at rest. If it is something, it can be dealt with. Leaving it isn’t an option. Best wishes, OP

Thanks for the replies. I think I might see the GP Monday if it's still giving me issues. I just don't know if my legs are always different sizes or if it's swollen- I've never paid attention before this stupid health anxiety started

If it helps, I have one leg bigger than the other and always have done. No one except me can tell and it’s apparently very common. No harm in going to see your GP about it, though, especially if you have pain.

Have you ever looked at the website No More Panic? It’s an utter godsend for those of us who have Health Anxiety. The forums have really helped me over the years xx

I've had hundreds of blood clots (literally) and never had a hot leg, just swelling and extreme pain deep within the leg. It's therfore possible that it's a clot, but equally as pp have said it may be nothing of the kind... but yes,get it checked.

You know your body better than anyone else so if you think one leg is swollen then see your GP.

Good luck and I'm sure whatever it is will get sorted out for you one way or another

If its any consolation I have a terrible cough and sore throat and am convincing myself I have mild pneumonia and a UTI which I will look into on Monday.

Thanks for the replies. To be perfectly honest, the pain seems to have calmed down a bit now. It's not constant so I'm thinking it may be related to my tendonitis I have in the door on that side?

As for the swelling...its still the same size. Maybe I'm just not that symmetrical

That's foot not door

Imo the thing to help with health anxiety is objective facts - you can’t doubt yourself then. Find out the facts and then assess them, objectively, against what is normal or not.
So, measure your calves and write down the measurements. Make sure you note at what point you measured them (mark with pen if needs be).
See if objectively there is a big difference.
Measure again in an hour - see if it’s the same or worse.
Write down any other symptoms you have.
Phone 111 if objectively there is a big difference between your leg sizes or you get any other symptoms such as pain or dizziness

Inflammation does cause swelling so it could all be related to your existing foot problems