Doc
12-16-2014, 08:06 AM
As some my recall back in 2007, when on a trip out west I developed a blood clot in my leg and threw some clots to my lungs and ended up in the hospital for a week. My wife has refused to take any long flights because of this since these clots are associated with long flights, as was the case in 2007 (we had a 3 hour delay on the runway prior to a 4 hour flight). So over the last 7 years we have not taken any flights where we are in the air no more than 3.5 hrs.
Fast forward to 2014. We decide since I've had no problems, we scheduled a trip to Paris for Christmas. Last Thursday I get up and notice a swelling in my left leg at the same location I had my clot back in 2007. I had a Dr appt scheduled anyway (a routine recheck followup with my nephrologist) and she looks at it and sends me for a stat ultrasound to rule out a DVT (clot) which is NEGATIVE. Well this weekend the damn thing turns all red and painful so I go see my regular general practitioner yesterday. Seems I've got a roaring case of superficial phlebitis (which I suspected) This can lead to DVTs and embolisms so I'm back on anticoagulants so I don't get clots.....again. So what are the odds that after 7 years of being fine, having no problems, then 1 week before getting on a plane for an 9 hrs flight, I develop something that would be a precursor to a thrombosis and embolism? Now my wife is making noise about cancelling our trip (won't happen) plus I got to give myself shot in my big fat belly with I absolutely hate (with a passion), heating pads and asparin out the wazoo (note the normal treatment is non-steroidal anti-inflammatories however I can't take those due to my liver and kideny values, - I took them like candy for years due to headaches and am paying the price now).
Fast forward to 2014. We decide since I've had no problems, we scheduled a trip to Paris for Christmas. Last Thursday I get up and notice a swelling in my left leg at the same location I had my clot back in 2007. I had a Dr appt scheduled anyway (a routine recheck followup with my nephrologist) and she looks at it and sends me for a stat ultrasound to rule out a DVT (clot) which is NEGATIVE. Well this weekend the damn thing turns all red and painful so I go see my regular general practitioner yesterday. Seems I've got a roaring case of superficial phlebitis (which I suspected) This can lead to DVTs and embolisms so I'm back on anticoagulants so I don't get clots.....again. So what are the odds that after 7 years of being fine, having no problems, then 1 week before getting on a plane for an 9 hrs flight, I develop something that would be a precursor to a thrombosis and embolism? Now my wife is making noise about cancelling our trip (won't happen) plus I got to give myself shot in my big fat belly with I absolutely hate (with a passion), heating pads and asparin out the wazoo (note the normal treatment is non-steroidal anti-inflammatories however I can't take those due to my liver and kideny values, - I took them like candy for years due to headaches and am paying the price now).