Anyone experience deep vein thrombosis?

[Quickstatus]

The heart valves do not inhibit travel of blood or blood clots or any other material. They just stop back flow. Very rare for blood clots from legs to only stop at the heart level. Actually good if it can stop at the heart - the heart can still function. There are conditions like atrial fibrillation where stagnant blood in one of the left heart chambers causes blood to clot but the clot does not cause any problem unless it dislodges and travels further to the brain.

Blood flow: veins - right atrium - valve- right ventricle-valve- pulmonary artery - lung - pulmonary vein- left atrium- valve- left ventricle- arteries to the rest of the body.

So the lung with its very tiny vessels can filter the blood of clots before the blood travels to the left side of the heart and to the brain. Rather get a blood clot in the lungs than in the brain. Although a blood clot from the leg big enough can cause complete cessation of blood flow and instant death due to complete blockage of the pulmonary arteries = Saddle Embolus.

 

[Major]

I now take a daily Cartia pill, which is a low dose aspirin 100mg available over the counter. This was recommended by my GP to assist with hypertension issues. I am also hoping it will help with any DVT possibilities

 

[Pushka]

I was told it was a pretty much a clear pathway from neck to lungs. They didn't do a CT scan on my neck as they didn't want to dislodge it. Can still feel the bugger. They first assessed me for stroke last week. Given its more than 2.5 cms I'm just realising how lucky I am it didn't form in the brain - which has thankfully been cleared by CT.

My mothers stroke 18 months ago was from atrial fibrillation. On wafarin but still managed another clot on the other side of the brain in December which led to her death. My clot? Still undergoing tests to work out why.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I now take a daily Cartia pill, which is a low dose aspirin 100mg available over the counter. This was recommended by my GP to assist with hypertension issues. I am also hoping it will help with any DVT possibilities

It's a bit more complex than that and no it won't prevent DVT.

 

[Quickstatus]

I was told it was a pretty much a clear pathway from neck to lungs. They didn't do a CT scan on my neck as they didn't want to dislodge it. Can still feel the bugger. They first assessed me for stroke last week. Given its more than 2.5 cms I'm just realising how lucky I am it didn't form in the brain - which has thankfully been cleared by CT.

My mothers stroke 18 months ago was from atrial fibrillation. On wafarin but still managed another clot on the other side of the brain in December which led to her death. My clot? Still undergoing tests to work out why.

Yep clear path from neck into lungs.
Did you get a recent infection around the nose, sinuses, ears or dental?

Warfarin = rat poison. Large amounts of green foods make warfarin effect go down. alcohol can make the effect go up. watch out for herbal supplements, Gut upset.

 

[Quickstatus]

I now take a daily Cartia pill, which is a low dose aspirin 100mg available over the counter. This was recommended by my GP to assist with hypertension issues. I am also hoping it will help with any DVT possibilities

No it wont.

 

[Pushka]

Yep clear path from neck into lungs.
Did you get a recent infection around the nose, sinuses, ears or dental?

Warfarin = rat poison. Large amounts of green foods make warfarin effect go down. alcohol can make the effect go up. watch out for herbal supplements, Gut upset.

I have had nothing. No infections. Nada.

My SIL said maybe I slept on it funny. Or I was hit there. I know nothing.

I'm on rivaroxaban 20mg after three days of clexane. Mum was on the rat poison. Didnt stop a clot forming but her INR was in the right range and had been for a year.

And such a rare presentation the Consultant from RAH is writing a paper on it. Have given permission.

 

[Quickstatus]

I have had nothing. No infections. Nada.

My SIL said maybe I slept on it funny. Or I was hit there. I know nothing.

I'm on rivaroxaban 20mg after three days of clexane. Mum was on the rat poison. Didnt stop a clot forming but her INR was in the right range and had been for a year.

And such a rare presentation the Consultant from RAH is writing a paper on it. Have given permission.

Good drug these new anticoagulants - no blood tests, eat whatever you want, but there is no antidote to reverse it if unwanted bleeding occurs though easy enough to stop and the effect goes away in a day.

 

[drron]

And sorry but even on rivaroxaban after having a stroke secondary to AF you can have another clot.There is no such thing as a perfect drug.Or perfect body.

 

[Quickstatus]

The best solution is to get a new body. Any benevolent donors?

 

[JohnK]

My clot? Still undergoing tests to work out why.

That's not good to hear. Hope you have an answer soon and get back on your feet.

 

[wandering_fred]

After a full hip replacement, I anticipated that I wouldn't be flying anywhere for 4 to 6 months just to ensure that all the various veins were "cleared". Post-op clexane was used (though at one-third the level used for Mrs WF as DVT prevention when flying) Post discharge 150mg aspirin daily was specified.

On the topic of AF and thinners, so far the cardiologist, the GP and the ER doctor (topic unrelated to AF) have presented three different opinions. Given that I still am active and therefore subject to scraps and cuts (and bleed profusely with the aspirin) it will take some convincing to get me on the prescription thinners. So far the GP has been low key.

Fly healthy while wandering

Fred

 

[Pushka]

Rather be on DVT anti-coags than a clot in lungs or brain.

 

[drron]

And studies show that aspirin is useless in preventing strokes in AF and has at least the same risk of bleeding as the newer anticoagulants-
Why Aspirin Should Not Be Used for Atrial Fibrillation Stroke Prevention — Video Interview with Dr. Albert Waldo

 

[kpc]

My neighbour is currently in hospital with a large DVT....

 

[Pushka]

My neighbour is currently in hospital with a large DVT....

In the leg or elsewhere? Makes a significant difference.

 

[cove]

Just how big can a large DVT get and what does a hospital do to to safely dissolve it. My stockbroker seemed to get more than 3 weeks of injections at his work office from a mobile nurse to get rid of it when it was in his lower leg.
I have compression stockings for long haul flights and I do drink plenty of water.

 

[Pushka]

Once the clexane injections have been given, that prevents future clots forming. Once the hospital has checked there are no clots in the lungs/brain there's nothing more they can do for that clot. Anti-coags don't dissolve the original clot - that occurs naturally with time over the next few weeks.
The new anti-coags do not get monitored by blood tests - there is no test to see if they are working as that isn't the way they work.
Clots in the legs can get quite long. In a sense they are 'normal' and form generally because of the usual inactivity causes. So there usually isnt medical followup to find out why they happened. Clots forming elsewhere - eg neck like mine, create a series of medical testing because they are not 'normal'.

 

[cove]

Thank you drron for your recent post with the informative study. I knew that my coated mini aspirin didn't really help so that has made me very curious especially when I have had two business associates experience DVT in a single year.

 

[Quickstatus]

Just how big can a large DVT get and what does a hospital do to to safely dissolve it. My stockbroker seemed to get more than 3 weeks of injections at his work office from a mobile nurse to get rid of it when it was in his lower leg.
I have compression stockings for long haul flights and I do drink plenty of water.

Most people can give themselves the injection. People sometimes worry that the needle will go through the abdominal wall into their bowel or they are just needle phobic