Today’s doctor visit was to Vascular Specialists of East Texas and included another ultrasound of the right leg with lots of waiting in between things. First the doctor told me that the DVT found in last week’s scan wasn’t in the foot at all, it was in the thigh. Oh. Wondering how last week’s doctor decided that it was. Doing the scan involves needing help to take off my pants, shoe, and compression socks as well as help getting my legs up on the table. Then it hurts when they push the probe deep into the leg – but that I expected.
Today’s ultrasound showed what’s called a non-occluded chronic thrombus in the thigh, on both sides of the femoral vein. The passage is narrowed and, although blood can pass through, some is pooling in the calf, making it swell up. No wonder diuretics were not helping; water retention wasn’t the problem.
I’ve been on Xarelto for a week but today learned that they were taking me off of it and putting me on Lovenox, which is an anti-coagulent that is injected into the stomach. In my case, twice a day, because of my size. Lovenox can be dosed based on weight for maximum effectiveness. I had daily shots of it for two months while in rehab. I don’t like giving myself the shots but understand why I have to do them. I just wish I could get a refund on the $356 I spent on Xarelto last week.
I go back in a month for another ultrasound to see what’s happening with the clot. Or DVT. I’m not completely sure if what I have still is a DVT or if it’s something else. But whatever it is, it’s serious and I’m paying attention.
Random Thoughts of a Disordered Mind 