Cinnamon Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 I have just read THIS ARTICLE in the paper & worried myself into a right old state I have had a bad,sharp pain at the top of my calf for 3 weeks or so - it is actually a bit better now,but if I sort of tense my muscle it feels a bit like I am going to get a cramp. I thought it was a pulled muscle but have never been able to work out how I injured it. It has been sore enough to make going up stairs uncomfortable. That added to the fact that I have a sitting down job on a checkout,sometimes for 7 hours a day,am overweight & on the Pill,have prompted me to pop to the Docs tomorrow,...................plus we are flying on holiday next week (short haul) What do you all think? Worrying unnecessarily,or right to have concerns? Has anyone else had a similar thing happen to them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Best to get it checked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchanted Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Thank you Cinnamon, that article is a good wake up call. We can do so much to help ourselves prevent illness when we have (and take note of) information like this. I have found that if there have been a couple of days when I have been very sedentary and if I get a bit breathless I take an aspirin (brilliant anti-coagulant) and make sure I drink enough and do more off my bottom.....I am walking around writing this now..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Definitely worth getting it checked out, but be reassured, it is quite rare. Could also be a varicose vein - painful and also caused by inactivity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 Worth getting it checked out. It's something I've been aware of for a while now, thankfully I don't sit still for long so not a worry for me. Don't forget your flight socks on the plane! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 OH worried himself silly too. he went to see the doc, was given the all clear but told he did the right thing and to go back if ever he was worried again. You are being very sensible, hope your doc puts your mind at rest tomorrow x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazard Posted July 5, 2011 Share Posted July 5, 2011 like others said best get it checked i had a dvt 6 years ago the pain is unbeleiveable you cant walk on your leg my clot was the size of a grapefruit in the top of my calf spent 2 weeks with daily visits to hospital for clot busting injection and a year on warfrin with blood tests every week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share Posted July 6, 2011 Have been referred to the local hospitals DVT clinic.....waiting to hear when,but likely to be going in today or tomorrow. Was also told that I have to come off the pill very soon and lose weight. It's horrid not knowing,especially as we are supposed to be flying on Monday morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Oh no Sarah, that is a worry! But thank goodness you went when you did. I just hope they are able to sort you out in time for your holiday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I hope they manage to sort it out for you Cinnamon before your holiday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 It's good that they are taking notice and getting you in there quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share Posted July 6, 2011 Well,still waiting for the phone call to tell me when to go in Its driving me nuts....I just want to find out if we are travelling or not now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Sarah, what a shock. I had a DVT and resulting pulmonary embollism some years ago. People are walking round with DVTs all the time, and usually the body deals with them before they become a problem. The risk of problem occuring is when a number of factors come together. Factors include, being overweight, being on the combined pill, immobility (mine was due to breaking my ankle, but I also flew every week with long haul flights at least once a month), or being predisposed to it. I thought I had cramp, but when I looked at my leg it was enormous - easily twice the size of the other leg. If you DO have one, then it is very treatable. Because I was on the pill (and had other risk factors), and I had an embollism from the DVT floating around, I was admitted to hospital; but some people are sent home and told to stay in bed with legs elevated. In either case you will probably be given Heparin injections(to thin the blood quickly) and then, when the clot has dissolved, you will go onto Warfarin to thin your blood on an ongoing basis until the risk of another clot forming has reduced. I was on Warfarin for 2 years after my clot had gone, because a lot of damage had been done to the main vein in my leg, the main vein was completely clogged with scar tissue so the blood was having to route around the secondary veins. It is still that way today, several years later! I wanted to stay on Warfarin permanently as I used to fly all the time for my job, and I was petrified of getting another clot. My doctor explained the downsides to staying on Warfarin, and so I came off it. I now manage the risk by injecting myself with Heparin if I am going to fly anywhere or if I am going on a long car journey. I also have to stop myself from crossing my legs (even at the ankles) as this restricts blood flow. If you do have a DVT then you will need to come off the combined pill. I you don't have one, but you in an at at-risk group, then you might want to consider it. You will probably be able to go onto a progesterone only pill, which I did for some time (I have forgotten the name of it now, it was new at the time and was the only pill that was safe enough to use for someone with a high risk of DVT). In the end, after discussions with my family planning clinic on two occasions, I had a Marena fitted instead. This has significantly lower dose and targets the dose rather than having it pumping round your body unnecessarily. Having it fitted was really unpleasant (I haven't had children, so that made it more difficult), but it lasts for 5 years. Looking back, I wish I had done it earlier and not bothered with the progesterone only pill. If yours IS a DVT, then ask the doctor what to do about your job. You will probably be told to make sure you move around at intervals, they may advise that you use an exerciser thing for your feet while you are sitting, and you may be advised to wear industrial strength support stockings/tights (I had those for 2 years as well!). Let us know how you get on, PM me if you want to talk about it in any more detail. Hazel x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I hope it is a false alarm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I hope you're OK - well done for being vigilant about your health and taking action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share Posted July 6, 2011 Well,not vigilant to stop me getting so over weight,but yeah,I am glad I went to the Doctors. Appt is for tomorrow morning - I had to chase them up The Doctor (not my usual one) said she was very twitchy about me staying on the combined Pill & alarmed that my regular Doc hadn't said anything to me about it It is annoying,as it has suited me for many years & I like the flexibility of it too. Still,at my age I guess an alternative needs to be found..... Work....well there are standing up 'Pod' tills,but I have already been signed off those as they caused my neck & shoulder spasms,rendering me immobile 2 of my shifts are short - under 3 hous,but my Saturday shift is a nightmare of almost 7 hours with onny a 20 min break. Its not easy to get up & move about when you have a shop full of customers, & the tills are not designed to be used standing up,so are really awkward to work in that position. I have been after swapping my long shift for 2 short ones,or for a day shift with a lunch break,so we shall see. I am slo being trained as a deliver shopper,going around the shop filling the trolley up for delivery,so that would be better. We shall see what tomorrow brings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Loads of luck for tomorrow . I hope it's nothing sinister and you can then enjoy your holiday (and forget about the weight and job till you get back ) I warned my YS about DVTs just before he flew to Kuala Lumpur. He'd never heard of it and asked if anyone would tell them about it. I imagine not so it's lucky I mentioned it. (I assume young, fit teenagers aren't prone to DVT's but I wasn't sure!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 (edited) Hopefully some meds and a few lifestyle changes will work. good luck Sarah I read a while ago that DVT is more common nowadays because of increasingly sedentary lifestyles (not suggesting that yours is, Sarah). I see a lot of folk who don't walk properly too, so aren't exercising their leg muscles properly thus increasing the blood flow. A lot of people walk flat-footed even if they aren't, shuffling along with their feet flat, mostly if they are wearing flipflops (Fitflops are the exception)or Ugg-style boots. I am probably preaching to the converted here but it's important to use the whole foot when you walk, keep your body weight above your feet, not forwards and roll through the foot from the heel through to the toe, lifting the heel off at the end. You'll feel this work your calf muscles and those on the back of your thigh as well as tightening your bum - always a bonus. Try doing it slowly at home at first. Edited to correct appalling spelling - 'tis late Edited July 6, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Good luck for tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 6, 2011 Author Share Posted July 6, 2011 Hopefully some meds and a few lifestyle changes will work. good luck Sarah I read a while ago that DVT is more common nowadays because of increasingly sedentary lifestyles (not suggesting that yours is, Sarah). Oh it is,it is I wear Crocs - have done exclusively for about 6 years now,so I wonder if that may be a problem? Not that I think I do have a DVT,in fact the more I look into it,the more I think I don't,but you never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Glad they are taking it seriously, hope you get the all clear tomorrow x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Hope all goes well tomorrow Sarah, even if you are mostly sedentary at work, I bet you move around more than you think....sending positive vibesx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I hope it's not, but if it is, you have done the right thing. I had a similar concern a couple of years back, went to GP who measured my legs around the calf and ruled it out as they were evenly sized - but I do have deep varicose veins and I wonder if you might have similar. Mine were caused by pregnancy - the weight of two huge babies apparently ! When sore I wear a support sock (like a reinforced pop-sock) that was made to measure. Flight socks are good in winter. The pressure really helps and gets rid of the ache or (on a bad day) sharp 'scratchy' pain up the back of my leg. Whatever you do, wear flight socks on the plane trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 Good luck today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I kept a couple of those DVT socks they give you in hospital - absolutely brilliant, much better than the shop-bought ones for flights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
