DVT, anxiety or something else? Please help. In Pain.
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hello everyone,
Quick history, I've had a swollen leg for months now. My left leg. About 3 months ago I got cellulitis there. About 2 months ago, maybe 1 1/2 I got it again, or thought I did. Since then the skin has been blotchy and covered in red patches and discoloration. I keep thinking it's cellulitis again but my dcctor has said 3 times that it isn't.
It burns, though. It is burning so badly right now, but when I touch it, my skin is cool to the touch. Yet it feels like it is on fire. Sometimes when I touch it it's warm, but these tend to be times that it's not burning, weirdly. It's never outright hot.
I told my doctor this about 2/3 weeks ago & got a steroid cream to use for 7-10 days. That stopped the burning until a few days ago.
I began to get worried about having a DVT. There's a red patch upon the back of my leg, below my calf that never seems to go away. It does get dark red sometimes and barely noticable other times but won't go away. My doctor seems convinced this is all just cellulitis healing & going away slowly/leaving behind marks. I'm sure I've asked about DVT but she says no.
Despite the fact I have a spongey area of localized edema that's a few inches wide on that same leg.
I've had a blood test about a month or two ago. It was a general blood test. Would a DVT show on that? I don't think they tested blood clotting speed, though. I had another after that for anaemia because i was showing as anaemic.
I do take Levothyroxine so I do take hormone meds.
I've also heard that burning skin (that isn't hot) could be a sign of anxiety? But there's so many other symptoms that I am freaking out. Especially thinking at any sudden second I might become seriously ill or die? Is that what'll happen?
Please someone help me. I'm terrified, and the burning hurts.
0 likes, 2 replies
JayKingston Pandacake
Posted
Hi,
Here's the deal, I went through a similar situation as you are going through right now and I kept itching my leg until the red rash stayed and never went away. I too had have/had cellulitis then a blood clot which broke apart and spread to my lungs. From what your describing it sounds like the discolouration on your skin is being caused by the poor blood and fluid flow through your veins. Basically everytime your blood and fluid attempts to travel back up your leg it struggles and leaks which is what's causing the discolouration. If you smoke then quit asap and reduce fatty foods as potentially all you would need to do is fall asleep on the sofa with your legs down and you could easily get a DVT due to the poor circulation. My DVT turned into an ulcer and it's the size of my shin and 2 nights ago I fell asleep on the sofa and now my left leg and foot is swollen and it won't go down (probably got another DVT) You might just have fluid retention in your leg but generally with fluid retention both legs swell up :-)
Hope this helps you out.
christine232 Pandacake
Posted
Hello Pandacake
?Firstly, we can all have suspicions regarding our health but we do need a proper diagnosis. I have multiple medical conditions including a history now of pulmonary embolisms & dvt.
?One of the best tests to establish was is going on is a D-Dimer blood test, which can indicate if you have tiny blood clots floating around that could eventually cause a dvt or pulmonary embolism.
?If you had an ultrasound on the suspect leg & they said it was ok, then it usually is.
?The burning sensation you describe mimics one of my conditions, which is vasculitis. Inflammation of the veins. Partly due to Steroid use over a number of years to control severe asthma, copd & Addison's.
?So, please check back with you GP/ Nurse & request investigation of the issues before they drive you nuts.
?Don't be terrified. You can make yourself worse by contemplating about your leg too much.
?A GP usually refers you if you go to them a few times with the same issue.
Hope this helps
Regards
Christine