Blood clot in leg

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #1 04-29-2008, 11:31 AM

How serious is it? My MIL apparently has one. She's had vascular problems before and has a vascular doctor. Recently she complained her toe was hurting her. After a week of various treatments, her doc today said she has no pulse below the knee and sent her to the vascular doc, who is doing a doppler in his office to find the clot and suck it out as an in-office procedure. Which sort of makes me go

because I thought clots were a Big Hairy Deal that needed to be addressed in a hospital with all sorts of stuff, but I could be wrong.

**mtomm**[$] · #2 04-29-2008, 11:56 AM

I have no idea and I hope your MIL gets good treatment! Hugs to her.

(Still carrying that cloud over your head, eh?)

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #3 04-29-2008, 12:03 PM

So t'would seem...

Magick1 · #4 04-29-2008, 12:25 PM

I am not sure either, but I will send her good, healing wishes for a quick recovery.

**theworm**[$] · #5 04-29-2008, 07:52 PM

My mom had one in her leg decades ago.
From what I understand and remember, it's a potential big deal because if it travels up to the heart or lungs it could be deadly. If they can treat it while it's in the leg, it may be painful, but it's not a big hairy deal. It should be treated as quickly as possible though to avoid becoming a big hairy deal. I'm sure that our nurses and doctor could shed more light on it.

**jgibson2**[$] · #6 04-29-2008, 10:55 PM

If she has no pulse, the clot isn't in a vein, it's in an artery. Where's Dr. MNM?

We don't have to worry too much about clots in the NICU. Occasionally, but it's totally different than with adults, so I have no clue about treatment.

**MrsNormanMaine**[$] · #7 04-29-2008, 11:58 PM

It sounds like this is an arterial clot. If it is, it needs to be removed for better circulation and will not spread. Clots in the vein require hospitalization and blood thinning as they can potentially break loose and travel up through the heart and to the lungs (pulmonary embolism) which can be serious and possibly fatal.

Keeping MIL in my thoughts.

Dr. MNM

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #8 04-30-2008, 06:40 AM

Thanks! now it (sort of) makes sense that they sent her home and told her to come back for blood tests next Monday. Although they think she's going to lose a toe.

**mtomm**[$] · #9 04-30-2008, 09:09 AM

Seems like the no circulation is something a person would FEEL. But apparently not! Too weird.

I hope she keeps her toe!

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #10 04-30-2008, 09:31 AM

Oh, apparently you feel it, but the feeling is PAIN.

**mtomm**[$] · #11 04-30-2008, 09:40 AM

But diagnosing it is hard?

**jgibson2**[$] · #12 04-30-2008, 10:59 AM

I don't think diagnosing lack of circulation is the hard part. I think the tricky part is finding out what's causing the blockage and where it is.

**mtomm**[$] · #13 04-30-2008, 11:38 AM

No matter, it just sounds awful.

**Prepoia**[$] · #14 04-30-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

MrsNormanMaine said

It sounds like this is an arterial clot. If it is, it needs to be removed for better circulation and will not spread. Clots in the vein require hospitalization and blood thinning as they can potentially break loose and travel up through the heart and to the lungs (pulmonary embolism) which can be serious and possibly fatal.

Keeping MIL in my thoughts.

Dr. MNM

That's what I had when I was about 27 years old. The new clot in my brain has now caused doctors to keep me on coumadin for life. I was in the hospital for a week last summer when this all began on heparin to start and then switched to coumadin (and blood tests now every other week). My oncologist/hemotoligist has this week declared that a Protein S deficiency (a heredity factor) is probably the cause and justifies me staying on the coumadin. Bah, humbug!!!!

mtbat · #15 05-01-2008, 07:24 AM

I hope your MIL is doing okay-that's really scary.

I have a friend who's daughter is on Coumadin for life because of a hereditary heart issue-starts with an "M"-she nearly died a few years ago, her aorta(sp?) was peeling like an onion-after this happened, and by the grace of God she survived, the rest of the family was tested for the same disorder-the sister has it(just had surgery for it a few months ago) and the grandson has the markers that indicate he will likely have the same issues his aunt and mother have as he gets older-right now he's 20 and healthy and in great shape-so he's having trouble taking it seriously.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #16 05-08-2008, 06:44 PM

OK, so they went to do an angioplasty (I think) and discovered it's a real big-ass clot, and so now they're going to admit her to the hospital next Wednesday, do something next Thursday, and she'll be in a couple days before they send her home, and then she'll need a home health aide, and Hubby/SIL will have to go stay with Dad the nights Mom's not home, and I'll be upstate on business. Hubby can't remember what it's called, but said they're going in behind her knee and then "doing something."

*emeleel* · #17 05-08-2008, 07:56 PM

Helpful.

Hope she heals fast and feels better soon!

**jgibson2**[$] · #18 05-08-2008, 08:19 PM

Quote:

mjfrombuffalo said

OK, so they went to do an angioplasty (I think) and discovered it's a real big-ass clot, and so now they're going to admit her to the hospital next Wednesday, do something next Thursday, and she'll be in a couple days before they send her home, and then she'll need a home health aide, and Hubby/SIL will have to go stay with Dad the nights Mom's not home, and I'll be upstate on business. Hubby can't remember what it's called, but said they're going in behind her knee and then "doing something."

He's just keeping you from googling the "something" and scaring yourself.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #19 05-08-2008, 09:44 PM

Um, no, he really doesn't remember what it's called. He's like that. He is like that with his OWN medical stuff, even surgery. I'm the "tell me exactly what it's called and what it means" person in the household, and when I find out the details, I calm HIM down. (Besides, it's his mother, I'm not going to be all that scared.) So generally the doctor says something, it never sticks in his head, then he asks me to google it and tell him what it means.

mtbat · #20 05-15-2008, 07:25 AM

how is she doing?

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #21 05-15-2008, 07:32 AM

Surgery delayed, something about her not having a stress test lately. I thought they were all worried that her leg was getting gangrenous, but I guess it's not that big a deal either.

**jgibson2**[$] · #22 05-15-2008, 06:04 PM

I'm sure they're worried about the leg, just more concerned that she'll wake up after the surgery.

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #23 05-16-2008, 12:21 AM

Oh I get that part, but she was supposed to go in for surgery yesterday, now it's pushed off until next Friday. That seems a bit long to wait for a stress test and surgery IMO if she's risking losing a leg.