blood clot

[Lisa-H_1]

hi, I think I’ve read here that it is quite common for cirrhosis patients to get a blood clot? My husband now has one in his portal vein - does anyone have any experience with this and treatment please? The consultant has said they don’t tend to do anything about them ? Thanks

[Ewife]

Hello,

My husband had this. He was put on blood thinners and it eventually dispersed. He had to remain on blood thinners though, but now since transplant he doesnt need them. He was already on the transplant list when they found it so it didnt change anything for him really.

Take care

Ewife

[Lisa-H_1 in reply to Ewife]

Hi, thank you. Did he have fluid retention with it?

Thanks

[Ewife in reply to Lisa-H_1]

Yes, but not specific to the clot, he was already diagnosed with ascites and fluid on his legs.Best wishes

Ewife

[Lisa-H_1 in reply to Ewife]

Thank you, that’s what I thought unfortunately. Best wishes to you

[Ewife in reply to Lisa-H_1]

Thanks. What stage are you at with medical care? Are you under a specialist hospital or been assessed for transplant? These symptoms are more common with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Have they discussed this kind of thing?

[Lisa-H_1 in reply to Ewife]

Hi, being referred back to a specialist we saw early doors, good in his field. We are waiting for a scan which I’m sure will show asities. Don’t think they will give thinners as blood white count not good and he has had varices so I guess he will need to be drained. Life seems to have stopped until we have seen the consultant very depressing isn’t it ? Hope your husband’s transplant recovery is going well. Thanks L

[Ewife in reply to Lisa-H_1]

It was the same with my husband - and I did question them - how come he has a clot and needs thinners when his platlet count is so deranged but they just said good question!- But v common! He'd also had burst varices and was in the middle of treatment banding those. I think if the scarring of the liver is around the area of the portal vein, it creates poor blood flow, resulting in clots and oesophagael varices. Kind of makes sense apart from the low platelet bit.Recovery is going well, lots of bumps in the road. Had to be treated for an infection this week and he continues to be very tired but determined. Probably a more difficult stage mentally that we're currently in, but always thankful.

Take care

[Lisa-H_1 in reply to Ewife]

Thanks for your information and may he continue speedily. L

[Yellowsydney]

Hi, I had a clot in my portal vein, PVT, had to inject blood thinners, deltaparin to allow blood to flow past the clot to my liver. I had a very low platelet level and had had 2 massive bleeds so it was a risk, had to have frequent endoscopy to band varicies. A month before my transplant I had a CT scan which showed that my portal vein was completely blocked by the clot, on the day I got THE call I had to have a CT scan and the surgeon had to decide whether he would operate, he said yes but in a couple of weeks I would become inoperable and only have a few months to live. During surgery they removed 95% of the clot, I've been told not to worry about the restHilary xx

[Lisa-H_1 in reply to Yellowsydney]

Thank you for your response. Just want to get this scan and we can then go forward. Best wishes to you

[Pie-eater]

I had a clot for years, blood thinners were mentioned a few times but nothing was ever done about them. It finally got sorted out when I had a transplant.

[Lisa-H_1 in reply to Pie-eater]

Thank you, hope you are doing well

[Pie-eater]

Yes, I’m doing great now, thanks. I hope your husband goes on ok.