Had DVT and Still swelling about half inch just above the ankle

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Hi, I had calf DVT diagnosed 3 month before, was put on Xarelto. 49 years. About two month after the diagnosis my ankle was swelling increasing aout half inch circle of the leg area as compared to other leg with no DVT. My doctor wants me to come off the Xarelto but I am worried about this swellling. I have a very mild pain which can be ignored. I keep reading about DVT and I am worried if this is going to remain as Post throbotic syndrome.  Doctor also dont thing I need compression stockings. I am worried i may develop ulcer if not used stockings. Any one can please suggest. 

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6 Replies

  • Posted

    Hello John

    Your Doctor needs to send you for  a D-Dimer Blood Test. This indicates if you have a perpensity of clotting in your blood.  Within 2 weeks of coming off Fragmin injections I developed a larger pulmonary embolism in left lung & smaller ones in the right lung, after initially being diagnosed with a dvt in my right lower calf.

    We are all different in the respect of dvt & pe's but the main thing is not to worry and get your GP to refer you to your local Ambulatory Emergency Care unit where they perform all the necessary checks & diagnosis by the time you go home.

    The only thing is you may spend several hours there,as it deals with extreme emergencies as well as us walking wounded. 

    I am on the 4th anticoagulant at this time.  I have had great difficulty with side effects.  One of these was extreme ankle & leg swelling with all over bruising, breathlessness & numerous other things.  The AEC are trying to stabalise my treatment. Now on Dabigatran.  If this doesn't work well for me I have been told I will need to see a Haematologist.  

    So keep your chin up & get the D-Dimer blood test & tell them about excessive swelling. In fact keep a list of your symptoms.  I found that I developed different symptoms over a two week period.  The medicine is supposed to make us better not make us ill.

    Hope this helps John?

    Regards

    Christine

    • Posted

      Hi Christine, 

      Many thanks for your time to respond to me. Yes I have not discussed with the doctor and they have organsied Ddimer test. I will be seeing doctor again this week hope there will not be any further complication. 

      Since my last post, I as you indicated, experienced varying symptoms. I now have noticed the veins are relatively more visible than before two weeks. Swelling is almost same, not less not more but experiencing little more pain than before two week in the calf. The spot of pain has changed. At the time of DVT dignosis, pain was on the lower end of the calf. Now it has shifted to one side of the leg that starts at the ankle and moves upwards to the middle of the calf.

      I will keep updating here in coming weeks. 

      You take care.

  • Posted

    Hi John, I am surprised your doctor does not think you need compression stockings, particularly if you have swelling.  So far as I am aware, everyone should wear a stocking after a DVT to help against post thrombotic syndrome and reduce swelling.  Are you under a hospital consultant? If so, perhaps you could contact him otherwise I would ask for a second opinion on the stocking. It just does not make sense to me as wearing one will certainly not do any harm.
    • Posted

      Thank you Vivienne for your time to respond me. 

      Yes I went to the doctor again, this time a specialist haematologist. He also thinks that stockings are not necessary. I have a feeling he did not looked properly, he just looked my leg from distance and said the swelling is not too big. I felt very helpless. I insisted doctor to consider to put me on stockings. He told me I can go and buy from chemist/pharmacy if I am worried.

      Over the last two weeks my symptoms have gone worse in regards to the swelling and pain and I will be seeing doctor again this week. I will keep posting here.

      Thank you once again.

  • Posted

    Morning John. I had my first DVT in groin at the age of 17 (46 years ago) and have always had swelling since especially in ankle if hot and sitting for a long period. I was not on medication or  compression stockings (don't think they were around then!).  Three months ago at the age of 64 I took another clot in the same leg from groin to ankle and both lungs, now on Eliquis for life. This was despite being very fit and healthy. My leg is about 1" -2" larger than the other.

    I suggest you walk daily and if possible also use a treadmill this will keep your blood circulating, When sitting elevate your legs - check out Amazon they do a special cushion - (aidapt contour bed leg rest for £24) - this or something similar might help.

    Delighted to hear you are coming off your medication.

    • Posted

      Hi Grace, 

      Sorry to hear that you developed new clot. Since you are on medication, lets hope the clots will dissolve soon. 

      Yes I have tried to keep myself active by walking, swimming, elevating leg and so on. However, I always feel more pain after each of these activities. Not sure if this the pain would remain same for not being active physically or would have gone even worst if i was not active. I am yet to look for special cushion. I will keep posting here. 

      You take care.

       

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