Scared of DVT: I have health anxiety really... - Anxiety Support

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Scared of DVT

Imogen1993 profile image
24 Replies

I have health anxiety really bad, and for the past month I’d say I’ve been having a dull ache in my left leg. There is no swelling or redness or anything, I’ve been to the GP, who said it doesn’t look like DVT. But obviously I’ve googled it and it came up with DVT so I’ve constantly been thinking “what If it’s that” And been so scared.

I’m not on any Contraceptive Pill, I’ve not had any long journeys or anything.

Just so worried, someone reassure me me? Anything ☹️

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Imogen1993 profile image
Imogen1993
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24 Replies
masa2333 profile image
masa2333

Hello, have you had your D-dimer levels test? It is the easiest way to be reassured of any blood clotting in the body. I also was soooo afraid of DVT or pulmonary embolism because my D-dimer level was slightly elevated and I have a family history of both these conditions. Turns out my D-dimer was elevated due to having been in a panic attack state when they took my blood, and when you’re under panic attack blood shrinks so that was why it was false positive.

The day later, I measured it again and it came back normal. Two times after that too. And I also thought my leg hurts and that I couldn’t breathe... but everything came back okay! I’m on meds now for my panic disorder and doing better. Don’t worry. You are going to be better. 😊

Imogen1993 profile image
Imogen1993 in reply to masa2333

I had my bloods done maybe 2 weeks ago and the D-Dimer was normal.

But I’m just so scared. If it carries on like this I’ll have to go get my bloods done again tomorrow I’ll go to the hospital. It’s awful.

So a d-Dimer can rule out blood clots?

masa2333 profile image
masa2333 in reply to Imogen1993

Then you have nothing to worry about! I went through this. I know you are scared but please try not to be. D-dimer is the most painless way to rule out blood clots. It’s the first step any doctor takes when suspicious of blood clotting.

Imogen1993 profile image
Imogen1993 in reply to masa2333

It’s awful isn’t it, causing me huge anxiety because it’s all I think of soon as I wake up, does my leg still ache, is it still there and then booom puts me in a shit mood all day!!

I know people say “oh so you’d rather listen to someone online than a doctor” but it’s nice to hear that someone else has also been through it, so I don’t feel alone.

masa2333 profile image
masa2333 in reply to Imogen1993

People who don’t have or didn’t have anxiety issues will hardly ever understand someone who does. I’m on medications and my mom is so angry about it telling me I don’t need it but honestly they helped me sooooo much. So, please dont think anything is wrong with you. All of us in the group is struggling with same/similar symptoms and worries.

A thing to think about (my psychologist taught me this when I had chest pain that wouldn’t go away from the moment I wake up till the moment I went to sleep):

Thoughts trigger worries. Worries trigger stress. Body reaction is response to that stress. The moment you start thinking wheter the pain is still there, you will feel it. And it goes in your unconcious mind to, meaning that if you worry about it sooo much it has gotten into you (unconciously) you could feel the pain even tho that wasn’t what you were thinking about at that moment. The moment you accept your body and your anxiety is the first step to healing. The longer you try to run away from it the stronger it will be

in reply to masa2333

Somatoform

Imogen1993 profile image
Imogen1993 in reply to

Excuse me?

in reply to Imogen1993

I had that with my leg last month.. thankfully it went away

Imogen1993 profile image
Imogen1993 in reply to

What was yours? What was your symptoms?

I’m terrified it’s a blood clot, even tho my doctor said it wasn’t but I still think it is :-(

in reply to Imogen1993

Sore calf.. then like a dense feeling it was weird .. also felt like it was kind of weak

Imogen1993 profile image
Imogen1993 in reply to

How did you do it or don’t you know? How did you get the awful thought out of your mind?

Imogen1993 profile image
Imogen1993 in reply to masa2333

Thank you for that :)

in reply to Imogen1993

Yes D dimer can rule out blood clots

Naturallad profile image
Naturallad in reply to masa2333

So does anxiety cause a high d dimer? Mine was 5146 and they couldn't locate a clot but still treated me for one. What do you take for anxiety?

Brumchick profile image
Brumchick

hi , I have had 2 dvt in my upper leg. when i had them i had extreme discomfort .even walking a hundred yards had me in tears. its not a mild pain it felt both times as if my vein s in my leg were onfire. i had no heat at the point of the clots but i did have swelling. my leg was at least an inch bigger from topof me thigh to my ankle both times. ialso had blueish red discoloration in the skinofthe leg with lots of tiny spider pinprick bruising. The pain was such that walking was incredibly unpleasant. and the ache was deep ache not really dull because it was too much pain to be considered dull.The only ease i got was lying flat in bed with my leg elevated. also it ached deep continuosly.Not intermittant. Having been through it 3 times now i think it would be hard for a doctor to miss all of thesigns . its probably more likely that you have either a varicose vein startingor maybe inflammation in your veins.As you have been already told the D dimer is used in high suspicion of a clot but even then i still had to have ultrasound and ct to confirm . I wasnt on the pill but i do have other long term illneses that vontributed to my clots. If you experence any shortness of breath for no reason and if you find othersigns as described popping up its alwaŷs safest to go to your gp first. If nothing else it prevents a verylong wait in a and e .Good luck

Imogen1993 profile image
Imogen1993 in reply to Brumchick

Thank you for replying. I’m sorry you went through that,

Yes my symptoms are nothing like you are describing, just a dull ache that is all.

Thanks again x

I’ve had a DVT and trust me you will know when you get one. Your leg will go blotchy and the pain will be really bad.

Imogen1993 profile image
Imogen1993 in reply to

Thank you for replying x

SpaLadyLisa profile image
SpaLadyLisa

I had a DVT last week. Like you I don't take contraceptives and I had not flown anywhere or did anything to hurt the left calf. I woke up last Sunday with it hurting. You will definitely see swelling. My left calf was 3 inches bigger than my right calf. The left calf also was warmer than the left. There was pain like a Charley horse, felt like someone was squeezing it tight. My Dr did say it might be a Bakers cyst but the doppler (like a sonogram) showed it was DVT. Dr prescribed Xarelto. It took about 5 days before the pain, which did not feel like an ache, definitely painful) subsided. I'll have a follow up in 3 months.

I don't struggle with anxiety *unless I'm in a machine being scanned. I do take an antidepressant. Maybe you could contact your GP about getting on medication for the anxiety. And maybe ask GP if you may have a Bakers cyst since there is jo swelling or warmth where it aches. I hope my experience will help you.

Imogen1993 profile image
Imogen1993 in reply to SpaLadyLisa

Thank you for replying, I saw my GP today who measured my legs and they was both the same, she also felt my legs and they didn’t hurt or they wasn’t red or anything she just said it’s muscular and since 3 weeks have passed if it was a blood clot then I would know about it by now.

X

Imogen1993 profile image
Imogen1993

I’ve had this dull ache since Christmas, so if it was a blood clot surely I would know about it by now wouldn’t I?

Since Christmas I’ve had 3 blood tests which all came back normal

Just so worried it’s somethjng serious :-/

Hi Imogen. I kinda have the same thing but in the buttom or my ribs aswel as my lower back sometimes in my chest feels like a tight band. I recently quit smoking and my anxiety is really bad got strange new symptoms also. I need to get to the doctors. You should'nt worry, worrying will make anxiety bad. Good luck tho :)

deannav97 profile image
deannav97

Wow I’m here looking to see if anyone has felt the same way. I have dealt with left leg pain before, but this time it feels worse. It always starts with Knee pain and swelling at the top of my knee. It leads to hip pain but this time it’s also cramping pain on my calf and thigh. When I had this pain before my doctors gave me an X-Ray and found nothing alarming. But now when I’m laying down it still hurts. I have muscle spasms in my leg. I have health anxiety too and I’m freaking out to be honest.

socratesanne profile image
socratesanne

Why the left leg? Is this common in panic attacks? I had not heard of this as a symptom and wish I could offer some advice. I do know raising you leg above you heart was told to me years ago and every time I have leg swelling it seesm to help minimally. I found using those large balls I put on the bed or in a chair that has a high leg rest and put the ball and it works better than pillow that seem to slip.

And for the writer Masa2333, what is a D dimer test? I have never had that done and I did have a stroke 10 years ago, so perhaps it is new but no doc recently took that test and I am always to alert them to any troubles. Just questioning as I have had a groin pain but you are speaking of you leg clotting and that is not my issue. I hope all is well and what I do know it the more I worry, the worse it can be, so anyway to regulate your blood pressure, i.e. meditation or wonderful soothing music besides lifting leg above the heart but that was only told to me and I am not doc, just some one who had a stroke and then broke the same leg 4 months later, so I, too, am cautious and try not to worry. Easier than done. I think just sitting at a computer on these systems aggravate my anxiety, but then you all calm it down as well.

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