Worried about a blood clot

[Sellingsunsets]

I've been having weird pain in my lower leg since yesterday, like a dull ache, the pain is in the back of my calf but nearer the bottom of my leg if that makes sense. No swelling or redness or heat. It doesn't seem to I be worse when walking I standing, it's just "there" if that makes sense. I do have had health anxiety but I've convinced myself I have a blood clot in my leg and it's going to travel. My son's dad won't look after him so I can't go to a and e tonight and I'm worried they will think I'm wasting their time anyway. I don't know what to do but I'm freaking out.

It’s far more likely to be a bit of calf strain than a DVT unless you’re at high risk like you’ve just flown or had surgery. Have you done anything that might have hurt it (exercising, wearing heels, been on your feet a lot)?

Keep an eye on it. Take some ibuprofen if you can, and alternate heat/ice on it. If you start to get swelling or redness or have any difficulty breathing get checked out straight away but in all likelihood it’s probably something and nothing.

I went to A&E recently with the same symptom as I was also convinced was a blood clot. They said it couldn't be if there was no redness and swelling. I do know someone who has had DVT in the calf and he said it was much much worse than a 'dull ache' - it was excruciating!

it could be a pulled ligament and you can wait til tomorrow to see how it is.

I've been telling myself it's a strain or something but it's a pain I can't describe other than just aching and "there" it's weird. There is some swelling in my knee but I can't remember whether it's swelling that's been there previously (from an old knee injury) I've convinced bed myself it's a blood clot and it's gonna break off and travel.

I wouldn't say I'm.high risk but I am extremely overweight and my grandmother and sister both had previous DVT.

This could have been me writing this exact post in March of this year. I had pain in my calf that was persistent for a couple of weeks. Despite having no other signs of it being a DVT, I was convinced it was a clot. I had several risk factors though.

I am also a great worrier, and have a tend to read stories online. Some people said they had a DVT and their only symptom was mild pain (I know you can’t assume everything you read online as fact though).

I did go to A&E one day when the pain was much worse. I knew the required blood test couldn’t be done at my local minor injuries, and it was a Sunday, so GP surgery not open.

Thankfully, I didn’t have a DVT, but I was told it was worth going to be checked.

I forgot to mention, it was ruled out with a simple blood test.

Update

I went the gp, she liked and prodded it and said it's not anything, as it's not red or hot to touch. She said the swelling is fatty tissue??? Anyway still really bad today but the pain feels further up my leg now. Don't know what to do now.

If it feels like it's spreading, I would go to a walk in. I had 3 in my thigh, but it swelled and was agony. Even if yours isn't, the moment feels off to me, better safe than sorry.

They just make me feel like I'm wasting their time and I they make me feel embarrassed. It's not agonising pain but it is sore and enough for my to notice when sat in certain positions. Like a throbbing pain.

Well the only way of knowing for sure is going to hospital and getting a d dimer blood test done and take it from there. You can have a clot without redness or swelling, some people have totally asymptomatic clots. My daughter didn’t have any symptoms until it reached her lungs and then she had significant chest pain. She had no risk factors at all.

Sounds like you’re fixated on it now.

You either brave it out or take yourself to A&E and get yourself a d-dimmer test.

I can't go A and E anyway as I can't take my toddler along and his dad won't look after him. Maybe I'll try and get in at the GP again in the morning and ask for another appointment and demand a form to take yoto the hospital for a blood test. I am a bit fixated on it now and I'm very scared. I do have health anxiety very badly but this is a real pain and I'm day 5 now with no improvement. It just doesn't feel like a muscular pain if that makes sense

Get an old fashioned tape measure and measure each calf in exactly the same place. Is the sore one bigger? Look at the veins in your foot. Are the ones on the sore side more prominent?
Check your temperature.
Have you been less mobile recently?
You are overweight and have family history.
Call 111 and they will ask you all the above questions and advise you.

I mean this kindly, but if you genuinely believe you have a DVT then you’ll just have to go to A&E and take your little one with you. No, it’s not an ideal environment but if your life is at risk you’d just have to take them.

My son is autistic and noe verbal and it would be too much for him and I'd feel terrible especially if they say nothing is wrong

No the veins iny feet look okay. There is swelling below my knee but the ho said yesterday its fluid and used a fancy name but she said it's not the kind of swelling you get with a DVT. She checked my blood pressure and everything else etc. no temperature.

Update

Pain still horrific. Got back in at the GP this morning, it was a nurse that saw me. Measured my leg, 4 cm bigger than the other one, so so painful. Sent me off to the hospital for urgent bloods, I've had them and they said I can go home and they will call me with the results and scan my leg tomorrow if needed. So now I'm just waiting to hear

Good luck, that does sound worrying and more like a dvt. Take care

If you get any chest pain, a cough, or any breathlessness you must go to A and E, by ambulance if necessary. Get a plan in place just in case.

I've had two DVTs. The last I had I was sent home with crutches and strong anticoagulants. It was a small one and cleared within a few days.

The first time I also had a PE which hospitalised me for a couple of weeks. If you're ever short of breath and/or chest pain go straight back.

Oddly I also had a PE but with no chest pain. It had wandered off from my big leg and came to light in the ct scan. I was in hospital for 3 days and am now on blood thinners for life but it's no problem. And given it happened in the first summer of covid, I do have to praise everyone from the gp to the hospital in acting super fast when I finally cracked and called the GP.

Well the nurse just called and said the d dimer is raised but this isn't a diagnosis. She offered me the blood thinner which I've declined because I just can't make it back up there to the hospital plus I'm terrified of side effects. I'm such an anxious mess. They are going to scan my leg tomorrow. But she said her gut is telling her it's not a blood clot but they will do the scan to make sure. I'm a mess. I suffer with health anxiety at the best of times.

Can you take an aspirin OP? I would take low dose aspirin until you have had the scan. I don’t think it is a clot but it will slightly thin your blood and you may feel less panicked.

Oh goodness I was going to suggest deep heat, I had the j urial pain you described a few weeks ago and deep heat really helped - I saw my rheumatologist the next day funnily enough and she said sounded like a bit of cramping / muscle pain. It sounds like they’re on top of it through so good luck with the scan

I'm regretting not going back for the blood thinner now though, I'm so anxious it is a clot and what if it moves overnight.