Concerned about my dad - possible thrombosis?

[sassy]

My dad is a barrister so spends long hours on his feet and has done for years. He called me last night to ask for NHS Direct number (he lives alone) so I took him to local primary care centre where he was seen. Dr told him to see GP urgently this morning and gave him an anti-coagulent jab - said he couldn't rule out a DVT. He's seeing GP later.

His symptoms are : painful, swollen calf (ok when walking but sitting/standing hurts)- apparently it was bad on tue evening, then ok weds m,orning then swelled up again weds evening (hence visit to PC centre).

Anyone got experience of this sort of thing?

Tbh I'd tell him to go or take him to A&E it does sound like it could be a DVT and they will be able to X ray/scan his leg in A&E to find out.

Yes, I'm hoping GPs will send him straight there.

bumping for any other ideas/help

you can normally tell if her has dvt - if he bends his ancle upwards so his toes are heading towards his lower front leg. if he has pain in his calf then, then yes he probably has it.

hopr that hepls and makes sense

Back from GP. He told Dad he is sure it is NOT a DVT, thinks it is prob phlebitus (sp?) and says it is getting better on its own so to keep an eye, be sensible, come back if concerned etc.

My dad reported this to me standing on pltaform waiting for train to take him back to court. Won't even take half a day off grrr.

(Am v relieved though. Thanks to you both for kind messages.)

How swollen is the calf? Seriously - it is worth measuring both to compare. Also, if you press your fingers against the skin at the front of the calf, is there an indentation? Try this from the level of the ankle up to the knee - if there is, it is pitting oedema which can be symptomatic of DVT. Is there any family history of thrombosis? Is your dad a smoker? Has he recently done any travelling (by car, bus or plane?)

Has he had a doppler scan or a blood test?

I would be very cautious about this. It is the policy in my Trust to treat with anticoagulation therapy until DVT is definitely excluded.

Even if it is just thrombophlebitis, he should not be standing for long periods until it is better.

What treatment has the GP given him?

I have to go out in a minute, but will check back to see how he is.

Hi, I've had 2 DVTs.
My calf was very swollen, if you pressed my leg it left an indentation, it felt really 'tight' and if I knealt down I got a shooting pain through my knee.
Definately measure it around the largest part, and do it every day, my leg was 4 inches bigger than my other.
Also if you think it is a DVT please keep on at the doctors, it took 4 doctors 4 days to figure out I had DVT and by that time it was really bad, the clot was from my ankle to my groin and my leg has never recovered. (it happened when I was 18 and I'm 31 now)
If I can be of any more help, then please ask xx