18th June 2008
So a week ago I went to see my doctor because of pain in my calf and was diagnosed with DVT (they did a dopplar ultrasound) in three veins of my calf. Each clot completely blocks the vein and I'm only in pain when I stand up and can feel the blood pooling. I was put on Lovenox twice a day for five days and now I am on Coumadin, most likely for the next six months. Not all of my bloodwork is back but so far it looks like I do not have a clotting disorder. I switched from low-ogestrel to Yaz in January, and I'm pretty sure Yaz is the culprit. I am 27, don't smoke, but I am overweight. Now that I'm just on Coumadin, I have some questions I'm hoping others who have been through this can answer:
1. On monday my INR was 2.43 (perfect) but today, wednesday, it shot up to 3.97. I was spaced out and tired today, and had to leave work because I just couldn't be sure I wasn't too spaced out. Has anyone else noticed this with a high INR?
2. I haven't really gotten a straight answer on how high risk I am for a PE at this point. I know it doesn't really matter because I'm on the treatment necessary, but I'm still anxious and don't know if it's justified. I know that Coumadin won't dissolve the clot, and my doctor mentioned that even if I throw clots at this point it's not as dangerous. Is this true? When can I relax about this? Right now I don't want to be alone in the house and always have my cell phone open with speed dial ready.
3. Did anyone else expirience headaches, body aches, diarhea with Coumadin? I am told I will adjust and this will go away, but how long can that take? It makes work difficult.
4. The pain in my leg is slightly less than it was, but I still can't stand up for more than a minute at a time or else it becomes very painful. This is because the veins are totally blocked. How long until I can expect this pain and inconvenience to get better? And I know the question of how long it takes clots to dissolve depends on size etc. but how long did it take you? How big was your clot?
Thanks in advance for the help! It's been pretty stressful, but I think knowing what to expect will help.
1. On monday my INR was 2.43 (perfect) but today, wednesday, it shot up to 3.97. I was spaced out and tired today, and had to leave work because I just couldn't be sure I wasn't too spaced out. Has anyone else noticed this with a high INR?
2. I haven't really gotten a straight answer on how high risk I am for a PE at this point. I know it doesn't really matter because I'm on the treatment necessary, but I'm still anxious and don't know if it's justified. I know that Coumadin won't dissolve the clot, and my doctor mentioned that even if I throw clots at this point it's not as dangerous. Is this true? When can I relax about this? Right now I don't want to be alone in the house and always have my cell phone open with speed dial ready.
3. Did anyone else expirience headaches, body aches, diarhea with Coumadin? I am told I will adjust and this will go away, but how long can that take? It makes work difficult.
4. The pain in my leg is slightly less than it was, but I still can't stand up for more than a minute at a time or else it becomes very painful. This is because the veins are totally blocked. How long until I can expect this pain and inconvenience to get better? And I know the question of how long it takes clots to dissolve depends on size etc. but how long did it take you? How big was your clot?
Thanks in advance for the help! It's been pretty stressful, but I think knowing what to expect will help.