One more question

[Hollylewis]

Does something usually trigger clotting events? Situations or underlying medical issues?

[Jade]

I honestly don't know the answer to this question.

You really need to talk to a specialist who understands APS.

However have you actually been confirmed as having APS and started on treatment for it. I think when / if you get a diagnosis that we be a good point to start asking these questions and researching the condition.

[jessielou]

Hi Holly

My clots were unprovoked, so not triggered by anything. As ive said in previous posts though we're all different hon, APS still holds its mysteries for us and the medical profession!

Hope you're feeling ok today.

Take care gentle hugs love Sheena xxxxx

[lucky1]

not many of the triggers are known but one for the ladies to be aware of is HRT treatment is known as a trigger

[lucky1 in reply to lucky1]

By HRT I mean taking the 'pill'

[InSpain]

Ditto that APsnotFab. Also if you have a diagnosis of Lupus as well you need to be especially careful when taking oestrogen as it is well documented that it can cause flares.

[Sal0712]

My initial clotting problem was caused by the combined pill because of the hormones in the pill. Being too dehydrated doesn't help with clotting as the blood is already sticky, and not having enough fluids on board will make it worse. These I only know about from personal experience, so as others have suggested, it is worth speaking to a medical expert who should be able to tell you more!!

[Annslack]

A few things are known to be triggers such as long haul flights long periods of immobility and after surgery so precautions should be routine. also for people with APS sudden withdrawal of anticoagulation can be a trigger. Severe stress can trigger lots of illnesses. Good lucand happy new year.Ann

[GinaD]

In many cases people who do not have APS develop clots, and though docs can usually point to this or that, ( such as a long, cramped plane ride or dehydration,) in many instances the proximal cause is never identified.

But whether one has APS or not, triggering events or situations are diverse, and not always identifiable. For the general younger population, the common offenders are venous obstructions. (sitting too much,) or dehydration. But as mentioned earlier in this thread If you have a diagnosed autoimmune illness then there are additional common repeat offenders, such as HRT, exposure to cigarette smoke or other chemicals or allergens, or food allergies or sensitivities. But again, we're all different and what antagonizes one person's immune system has no effect on another's.

One benefit of research is that one can profit from other's experience. I wondered for some time why certain geographical spots in my time line were associated with malar rashes and fatigue. Sunlight exposure? No. Other stressers? No. Then I read that alfalfa sprouts can , in some, trigger lupus flairs and -- it clicked! Those times in my younger life when those symptoms were occurring were when I shopped at healthy grocery stores which featured sprouts for salads.

Who'd have thought? Sprouts! Aren't we supposed to be eating more veggies?

But--the reason behind my sprouts digression: sprouts is certainly not a risk factor for clots in the general, non autoimmune effected population. But it MAY be for some of us. ( please note emphasis on " may be."

It can be exasperating to not know exactly what your immune system hates, and what it ignores. Unfortunately, medical knowledge is where it is.

But much of Life is riddled with such uncertainties. When you get behind the wheel of your car you can not know which bus and car drivers headed your way are a bit drunk and which aren't. So you drive defensively as your drivers ed teachers and parents taught you, stay alert and hope for the best. And indeed, most passing drivers are as sober as you. You take extra care on Friday and Saturday nights, but even then, your trip is usually safe. But if you see a red "muscle" car come weaving back and forth over the center line, you go out of your way to avoid him, sometimes even to the point of pulling into someone's drive way to avoid him!

Well, it's always Friday or Saturday night for our immune systems. Drive defensively, stay alert and carry on! And remember, not every passing car is driven by a drunk. Don't veer off into smeone's drive way to avoid each one. You'll never get anywhere, and the obsessive avoidance maneuvers may actually cause an accident.

Hope my metaphor helps, and I hope our collective experiences with those medical autoimmune " drunks" helps you learn to spot them.