I started having random bruising on my legs. Then, my veins started to become thick and buldging out of my leg. I emailed my doctor & sent him pictures of my legs. He told me to come in.
He looks at my legs, touches them, burning the heck out of my legs. Very painful to the touch. He made an appointment for an ultrasound for both legs. He said that I may have blood clots. I am terrified. Blood pressure went up. It has been up since the pain started. I was told to rest. So, I have been home since.
The pain is horrific enough. If I have blood clots, I would probably flip out. What are your experiences with your first blood clots, & how did you deal with it mentally?
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Cecethat
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Your first priority is to reduce your BP. You say your BP is up. How high is it? Go to your GP and ask for advice because if it’s constantly high, you may need medication to reduce it.
Everyone has a different way of dealing with stress. Talking to your doctor or a therapist are examples. Taking a long bath with aromatherapy is very soothing. Currently, you are in between diagnosis. Even if you have blood clots this is very treatable.
There are many techniques to try and calm yourself. Meditation is an example. Doing something you enjoy. But if you are in a “catastrophic” state of mind ie suffering from anxiety, your GP may help you more. They can explain blood clots & treatment and give you something to deal with severe anxiety
I am sure people here will share their experiences.
You are awesome! Thank you so much! This process can be stressful. My blood pressure is usually normal, unless I am in a lot of pain. APS and Fibromyalgia flareups are normal for me. But, this is a different type of painz & just in my lower legs.
I’m sorry ur going through this. I hope it is resolved quickly.
I was taken ill in Turkey on holiday. A dr was called to the hotel
And I had an ambulance to the nearest hospital. Following an MRI with contrast I was diagnosed with a blood clot on my brain. I was given injections of heparin. After an overnight stay I received a fit to fly note and was flown home. A flight I wouldn’t want to repeat.
I then spent 2 weeks in our local hospital I then had an appointment with Prof D’Cruz at St Thomas’ and started on Warfarin. That was 2015
I get a lot of pains un my head that I think are MicroClots. I do get scared because you just don’t know what is going on inside you.
I’ve had no further clots and during the pandemic changed from Warfarin to Apixaban as my INR was too Erratic.
I wish u well. My advice - follow drs advice and don’t panic x
Just excepted it, consultant said blood thinners for the rest of your life but you could get a bleed somewhere else and die or don't have blood thinners and get more clots and die so I'm gambling with rivaroxaban blood thinners 🙏👍
I think that we tend to take the meds requested simply because doctors say so. But, that is their job. But, I feel like there are other ways to help manage symptoms. If I find out that I do have blood clots, blood thinners is not my first thought. It is my last one.
I hope the ultrasound is soon. I’ve had a few In my neck to arm and in my leg. I did not know I had APS until a few years later. It’s uncomfortable but with Warfarin it got better. I go about my life as usual with the clots and diagnosis.
I had leg blood clots back in the 1980s. They were not as bad as your description, but, as my physician Father had suffered from leg clots, (he had lupus, ) I had been told that at first sign of clots I should: 1, sleep with my feet raised above the level of my heart; 2, enjoy a trip to a hot tub or just take a hot bath,;3, use a heating pad; 4, do not sit for long periods of time; and 5, take some asperin. . Although these measures helped me control the leg issues, my then-undiagnosed APS moved on to strokes! I finally got a diagnosis after several strokes and was put on warfarin. I too was cautioned about the risks of warfarin, but for me, 22 years after starting warfarin, I must say that warfarin changed my life! No more strokes! No more swollen legs! Clear thinking! Yes, I do worry that ahould I be in a car accident my thinned blood might be my end, but... had I not started warfarin would I be alive and totally functional today? Probably not. Warfarin and blood tests, monitoring my diet, worrying about accidents and falls versus having strokes? I'll stay with warfarin!
we are told no Asprin ! contraindicated . With blood thinners . Not allowed , must be paracetamol . I have the medical alert silicon bracelets with RIVAROXABAN so Ambulanance patam diva do not give asprin, which is first kind medication by patamedics . .
High your consultant will want to help you with your blood pressure which will not be making you feel well. Do say how stressed you feel, as reducing your stress will be beneficial. Most of us on here know how it feels to have a medical worry or two. I use meditation for stress and also exercise and keep my routines good around diet and sleep as much as possible. Perhaps your GP could urgently refer you. I hope they find any clots, if there are any around as better that they are detected than not. Keep us posted. MaryF
you will be ok. TRUST. I have never had leg clots. Only in my vessels of my eye- (I have a defect and the clots get caught there). I also had a soft ball size aneurysm 1/2 full of clots by my left kidney. I am a bit odd. Ha ha. My other diagnosis is hemophiliac B. I am on warfarin and hardly bleed when cut. I eat super healthy, take many supplements and the only drug I take is warfarin.
Think healthy. Trust you will be ok. Get this taken care of. Be aware of anything you put in your incredible body
As Lupus Support1 said you must lower your high blood pressure!
Also if you have got a diagnose of APS you need a blood thinner and I am not sure I have heard what blood thinner you have got. Warfarin has been my lifesaver. Read also "Sticky blood explained" by Kay Thackray. That is a very good book to understand this illness. Also good for relatives to better understand what is happening in in your body.
Hi Cece-Your symptoms sound like you "may" have a blood clot. Are you taking blood thinners of any kind? The uktrasound on your legs can be painful because sometimes they have tonpress hard locate your deppest veins (hence the word. Deep Vein Thrombosis).
Don't flip out if you are diagnosed with a blood clot. The lucky partvof what you arebgoing theough is that your body is signaling there is a prpblem, allowing you time to treat it. Not all blood clots present with symptoms and they go untreated which can lead to extremely serious situations such a stroke, or embolism.
If you are prescribed medication, incljding injections such as Lovenox, you will be amazed at how ell you can handle the medication and how much better you will likely feel. A warning: APS patients should not take Eloquis. It is contraindicated in patients that have APS.
I have had APS for 16 years now. It was discovered after I lost 3 pregnancies. I took Lovenox shots on my 4th pregnancy and had a near perfect pregnancy. After giving birth I went backbto just 1 81mg aspirin per day.
I never had a DVT until I got COVID. I had such severe pain in both legs when I was sick. It felt like my bones were breaking, the pain was so bad. They found the DVT in just one leg in my inner lower leg. You can have pain in both legs even of you onlybhave a clot on one side. My clot was small and resolved through blood thinners. It cam be that simple sometimes.
About 2 weeks ago, I just had major abdominal surgery to remove a tumor in my kidney and was put back on Lovenox again for 30 days post operatively. I hate having to inject myself, butnitnis better than having a stroke, right? Be sure that you walk frequently while you are home resting. This is crucial so that blood does not collect and pool in your body.
Think positively and be grateful that your body is providing symptoms to alarm you that something isn't right. It can save your life. I hope all turns out well. Please keep us updated. You are in my prayers for the best possible outcome.
Thank you so much! This all makes so much sense. It turns out that I did not have a blood clots. I just bruise easily now. The ultrasound, like you said, was painful. I almost cried. But, it was needed. I was told to be very careful, move around more for circulation, & rest when my body is telling me.
warfarin is a fiff faff , testing and monthly clinics . Foods etc etc Rivaroxaban etc are new generation blood thinners . Only 6 month testing Renal Kidney to see no damage from the Rivaroxaban. 6 monthly APS Testing , no food restriction except large amounts of grapefruit spinach alcohol . It’s easy no big deal . Better than clots .
I really like that you point out that having a signal from one's body points to a condition that should be recognized and treated SOON! My late physician father hated the rise of private health insurance back in the late 40s in the US. as Insurance limits the amount of time a doctor can spend with a patient. There was (is.) no time for what he called the "oh by the way moments."
An 'oh by the way' ... moment, happens as I shift the conversation away from health to other, friendly topics such as asking 'how that new car is working out,' or 'I see your daughter is ready to graduate. You must be so proud.' The patient might take that chat moment to say ' Oh, by the way.' Thats when you sit up and pay attention because the patient is about to tell you some minor symptom that is the first symptom of a serious condition that is treatable if found early. The patient's unconscious know everything about the body. But some of that info is too scary to share with our conscious selves. The unconscious is looking for a relaxed, unstressed time to speak to the doctor. Oh, by the way..."
This site does not replace" oh by the way moments," but it certainly helps communication with each other as well as from our unconscious bodies to our consciousness as we read and respond to each others' posts.
Sure .I don’t think I am triple positive APS . What does it mean In test terms? Yes Rivaroxaban is not compatible for all conditions . They tried to warn me off it a couple of years back for no clear reason .I refused . Cost I suspect .Do not want faff of Wardarin . Due to 2 x yearly AOS tests , 20 mg reduced to 10 mg by Haematologist .2 x yearly Renal Kidney blood count tests to see no damage to a kidneys. One size does not fit all . RIVAROX Is next generation drug . No major changes to diet , lifestyle etc. I feel more energised than before diagnosed APS.more oxygen circulation to brain .
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