Looking for help again

[bearbait]

Almost 4 weeks ago I had major surgery, 11 days in the hospital. Well without going into details last Friday I developed a blood clot in my leg which is way more painful than I thought one could be, kind of like a real bad charley horse down the entire leg. So has anyone one got some good advice on how to ease the pain and any idea how long this is going to last. I'm just not having any luck here getting an answer, seems like they're scared of telling me something and being wrong. At this point I wish I was a tractor and you guys would have me cured by now.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The lighter side of me says;
Drink lots of alcohol, it thins the blood and last time I drank too much I didn't feel no pain!!!, Well at least not till the next day!

The serious side of me says;
And I'm sure it's not the answer you want!
The body naturally absorbs a blood clot over the course of several weeks to months and the symptoms which accompanied the blood clot gradually improve and often eventually disappear.

 

[imnukensc]

Not trying to be a smart ass, but if I were looking for medical advice, a tractor forum wouldn't be on my list of places to search for it.

 

[BAP]

Not trying to be a smart ass, but if I were looking for medical advice, a tractor forum wouldn't be on my list of places to search for it.

He is in Canada, probably still waiting for an appointment.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Maybe we are short on medical expertise, but I think we do have some docs that log on from time to time. In the meantime, we are good with moral support. Bearbait I hope that the days to take it to dissolve go fast, and I hope you are getting good care. It is a potentially serious complication of surgery, so now would not be the time to ignore the docs directions and go off into the wilderness on your 3560

Take care of yourself and keep us posted!

 

[bearbait]

The lighter side of me says;
Drink lots of alcohol, it thins the blood and last time I drank too much I didn't feel no pain!!!, Well at least not till the next day!

The serious side of me says;
And I'm sure it's not the answer you want!
The body naturally absorbs a blood clot over the course of several weeks to months and the symptoms which accompanied the blood clot gradually improve and often eventually disappear.

Great advice Wolf but as sick as I am right now I don't think I'd be able to hold enough down to get drunk but your second bit of advice sounds bang on, I'm just hoping it doesn't take months.

 

[bearbait]

Not trying to be a smart ass, but if I were looking for medical advice, a tractor forum wouldn't be on my list of places to search for it.

Never, ever under estimate the advice you'll receive on this forum but thanks for the reply any who.

 

[bearbait]

He is in Canada, probably still waiting for an appointment.

Boy you don't know how close to the truth that is!

 

[Tooljunkie]

Boy you don't know how close to the truth that is!

I agree, thinking back to Wildfire's episode. Hope you find a solution.

My cholesterol meds arent the greatest thing,legs dont work as well as they used to. Lipitor years ago started it and i still have trouble after switching. Sucks as im on my feet all day.

 

[bearbait]

Maybe we are short on medical expertise, but I think we do have some docs that log on from time to time. In the meantime, we are good with moral support. Bearbait I hope that the days to take it to dissolve go fast, and I hope you are getting good care. It is a potentially serious complication of surgery, so now would not be the time to ignore the docs directions and go off into the wilderness on your 3560

Take care of yourself and keep us posted!

Thanks Sheepfarmer, will do. On 2 blood thinners a day right now and in too much pain to go anywhere. As for entertainment I get from these forums, priceless. Thank you all for your reply's.

 

[mattwithcats]

First, make sure your getting blood to the leg.
Does it feel cold? Excessively warm?
Pinch the toenail, see how fast the nailbed returns to pink...

325 milligram acetaminophen is my usual go to, Advil and Ibuprofen eat my stomach, aspirin is a no go on blood thinners, and 500 milligrams makes my kidneys hurt...

No more than 4-5 doses a day...

Most of my patients are on all fours, meow, and you can guess where I put the thermometer....

 

[bearbait]

I agree, thinking back to Wildfire's episode. Hope you find a solution.

My cholesterol meds arent the greatest thing,legs dont work as well as they used to. Lipitor years ago started it and i still have trouble after switching. Sucks as im on my feet all day.

I hear ya Tooljunkie, just plain sucks doesn't it. After countless years putting up with colitis I finally told them to cut it out, supposed to make me feel like a new person, now I can only get out of bed for short spells, yup way better.

 

[bearbait]

First, make sure your getting blood to the leg.
Does it feel cold? Excessively warm?
Pinch the toenail, see how fast the nailbed returns to pink...

One 81 milligram aspirin, the baby kind, every four to eight hours, unless your already taking an anticoagulant, (Warfarin, etc)...

Most of my patients are on all fours, meow, and you can guess where I put the thermometer....

Thanks but all good it that department just the pain and the leg swelling to double it's size if I try and walk on it. And with that it' time for this old cat to go lay back down, thanks for trying to help.

 

[bucktail]

If you have Mattwithcats come over and take your temperature, it will probably take your mind off your leg for a while.

If it's bad enough, you can get a thrombectomy. They shoot a heparin/saline solution in to break up the clot and suck out some of the blood/clot/solution into a waste bag. Heparin is a blood thinner.

 

[William1]

I had blood clots in my calf, it felt like I was punched with a knuckle. I ignored them. They migrated to my lungs and nearly killed me (pulmonary embolisims). When I had a CAT scan, they said my chest looked like a Christmas tree (each clot appeared as a 'light' on the scan. Had they broken free of my lungs and gone to my brain, I'd be dead. I was told that a man in my condition had at best, four hours left until death unless treated.
The 'cure' was many, many shots pf Lovenox, followed by six months of Warafin and now every day, a 325 mg tablet of aspirin. I now have a blood filter implanted into my chest as well.

My own experience with pain is if any medication does not eliminate it, more will not help. Solve the problem. If you must take pain meds, take the bare minimum and stop taking ASAP.

Get the clots removed or resolved NOW. Not tomorrow.

 

[bearbait]

If you have Mattwithcats come over and take your temperature, it will probably take your mind off your leg for a while.

If it's bad enough, you can get a thrombectomy. They shoot a heparin/saline solution in to break up the clot and suck out some of the blood/clot/solution into a waste bag. Heparin is a blood thinner.

Lol, I'm sure Mattwithcats is a great guy but I'll have to give that a pass but the second part sign me up. Trouble is here they told me that the they don't do that anymore, they just let the body take care of it. Thanks for the help.

 

[bearbait]

I had blood clots in my calf, it felt like I was punched with a knuckle. I ignored them. They migrated to my lungs and nearly killed me (pulmonary embolisims). When I had a CAT scan, they said my chest looked like a Christmas tree (each clot appeared as a 'light' on the scan. Had they broken free of my lungs and gone to my brain, I'd be dead. I was told that a man in my condition had at best, four hours left until death unless treated.
The 'cure' was many, many shots pf Lovenox, followed by six months of Warafin and now every day, a 325 mg tablet of aspirin. I now have a blood filter implanted into my chest as well.

My own experience with pain is if any medication does not eliminate it, more will not help. Solve the problem. If you must take pain meds, take the bare minimum and stop taking ASAP.

Get the clots removed or resolved NOW. Not tomorrow.

Sorry you had to go through all that, sucks big time.I actually have a doctors appointment after a bit so I'll try and press for them removing it asap, I have way too much to do to be laying around.

 

[William1]

Sorry you had to go through all that, sucks big time.I actually have a doctors appointment after a bit so I'll try and press for them removing it asap, I have way too much to do to be laying around.

I find it incredulous the Dr.'s are not worried.
Lovenox is not a big deal (cheap too). You just need a bunch of injections in to the 'love handles'. My wife used to do it for me. After a shot, you feel a little ill but that passes after half an hour. Then you need to know why you got the clots and resolve it. Also somewhat simple and cheap to do. Warafin sucks because it limits your diet and it is tightly regimented and requires regular 'PT' tests to ensure you are in the right range.

Best of luck and keep us posed.

 

[bearbait]

Just came back from my doc and she says it's gonna take time. I am on blood thinners now called xarelto. She said if there is no improvement after a certain time she will try and get them to go in and get it....sooner the better I say.

 

[William1]

Just came back from my doc and she says it's gonna take time. I am on blood thinners now called xarelto. She said if there is no improvement after a certain time she will try and get them to go in and get it....sooner the better I say.

Xarelto is a maintenance drug (ie, to prevent clot formation), it is not for removing existing clots.
Contact her and ask why you are not on Lovenox and why they are not taking the clots seriously.
I'm no Dr. but after what I went through, I got schooled.