Is this how a blood clot on the brain would be treated?

[healthstress]

Apologies for posting twice, just trying to get answers as concerned and hoping someone may know.

I have a relative who has a clotting disorder, has apparently been in a&e yesterday where they said they found a small clot on her brain, she lives alone, yet they have discharged her. Is this right?

I just think given the risks and concerns of what it could cause, it seems really odd to me that they would discharge someone with a blood clot on the brain. They told her to take meds she already has (warfarin which she takes daily and clexain which she has for when needed).

It just seems so strange to me given the medical risks, to tell her to go home and wait for an appointment with no idea if the meds are going to help and given that she lives alone so if this caused issues like a stroke, she would have no one with her.

She was told they couldnt tell if it was a clot, one minute it was, then it wasnt, then it was but was a minor one (didnt realise you could get a minor clot!) and I am a few hours away and so wasnt with her but cant help but feel like she has been left when she perhaps should be being monitored.

Does anyone know if this is correct?

I'm not a doc, but warfarin and clexain are both anticoagulants. It sounds like they feel the medicines are sufficient to dissolve the clot (if there is one, which doesn't seem certain from your description) so it doesn't occlude a blood vessel.

Why was she seen in A&E? Were there stroke symptoms?

She spoke to her haematologist as she had been having headaches and blurry vision and was told to go a&e.

The whole uncertainty of a blood clot comes from the fact that she had a scan, they said they needed more detail, so a second scan was done.
Then she was told it was clear. However then she was pulled aside and told that it was too small to be classed as a clot but was a clot.

Honestly it doesnt make a whole lot of sense to me because surely its either a clot or not, so the whole thing is baffling, but I think she struggles to understand the doctors at times so im trying to understand if this is right to have her go home under the circumstances.

It sounds as if they have ruled out a stroke and they feel that the anticoagulation regimen she is on will prevent one.

The worry of a clot is that it will occlude a blood vessel and cause a stroke (or a heart attack). But if they can dissolve the clot, they can prevent that from happening.

Are you confident that she knows what the symptoms of a stoke are?

Honestly no, I can send her info but my concern is she lives alone and I suspect struggles with everything medical. Ive had to step in a couple times to help and feel like she could honestly use another adult with her.

Yes, it is very worrying when someone who is unwell lives alone.
There are simple charts of stroke symptoms - if you found one for her she could post it on the fridge.
But if she spoke to the haematologist about the vision and the headaches, it sounds as if she is able to participate in self-care to some degree, which is good.

It's very good of you to be stepping in like this!

I dont live nearby and I worry with some of the things im told about her health care. She has had some shocking issues prior to diagnosis and I think because of that, I just want to make sure she is getting the right treatment but this isnt something I have knowledge on.

I will find something simple for her to print out so she is aware.

Do you have formal permission to speak to her GP?

No but im wondering if it is worth setting something up

Definitely. She would have to sign a paper saying that you have authority to speak to the GP about her. You could ask questions about her conditions and her treatment. I think that would be tremendously helpful in this situation.

If you don't mind my asking, who is her next-of-kin?

It would technically be my parents but one she hasnt seen in years and the other is completely useless.
I think its something I should look into

there's really not enough info in your post for anyone here to give much advice - the people with access to her medical history and the imaging are the only ones who can really advise sensibly. Hopefully the follow-up appointment will be more reassuring.

Does it depending more on size, placement etc? This is the only info I have been given but she has asked for notes on her care so I can look it over for her.

Honestly the reason I am a little more concerned is they almost missed a major issue before and if it wasnt for a nurse that caught it and called her back to the hospital, she very well could have died, so I am just trying to make sure she has the right treatment this time.

I mentioned it because I think that when patients are hospitalised, their next of kin can request to speak to their doctors whether or not the patient has signed authorisation with the GP.
Will be good when you get permission to speak to her GP and/or her haematologist.
Sending good wishes, OP.

@healthstress yes, it makes all the difference to know where the clot is, whether something may have precipitated it, what the patient's clotting was like at the time, what symptoms they have, what other medical history they have, etc. No one on here can advise sensibly.

I@healthstress i think the difficulty is she is self reporting what they said… very hard to know what the situation is and if her understanding is or isn’t correct. She may very well have had a TIA for eg.(would make sense according to what you’ve said she said), not uncommon for someone to be discharged home after a TIA especially if they are already on treatment and have a recognised condition.

I think this is half the problem, I dont feel she is super reliable at relaying all the information which is why I wanted to find out if there is a general treatment plan which it sounds like there isnt. Its also why I feel she could do with someone with her at these appointments.

That makes sense, I didnt know if there was a standard practice but of course all the information matters, its hard to get her side from her and the medical side is even tougher to get. I just want to make sure she is getting the right treatment as we had a prior issue where she was discharged and shouldnt have been, luckily a nurse caught it and called her and got her to get back to hospital asap.