DVT 29 weeks

darby17

Hi everyone, I hope it's okay to post over here. I'm just looking for advice/support from anyone with experience with a blooodclot. I was diagnosed this weekend with a DVT in my left upper thigh. I spent three days in the hospital. Luckily, baby is fine. But it's pretty scary. I'll be on Lovenox until closer to delivery, when I'll switch to heparin. I have been reading about other people with clots that never fully went away. I'm just scared that my leg will never be the same again! It's still really swollen and painful. I can really just walk as far as the bathroom and back, but that has to get better, right?

itsmevkb

The clot itself will go away, but often times leaves sort of scar tissue behind which, unfortunately, puts you at a greater risk for another clot in the same place.  It can also make that part of your leg more sensitive.  When I had mine it lodged behind my knee and I had to walk with crutches for a few days until the pain and swelling subsided and things went back to normal.

The lovenox isn't horrible and I actually find it almost easier than taking Coumadin, which is a blood thinner in pill form but it's not used during pregnancy.  Just make sure you stay on your Lovenox even after delivery when you're still at a higher risk for another clot.  Also, have they talked to you about getting tested for clotting disorders?  Some of those tests will give incorrect results if done while pregnant so if you do pursue testing make sure it's far enough out from your delivery to give accurate results.

Good luck and I'm glad they caught it and that the baby is okay.

darby17

Thanks for your reply. It makes me feel better. Did your deliveries have any added complications due to the blood thinners? I have a follow up appointment wth a hematologist next week. So I will ask about testing after I have the baby.

itsmevkb

I actually never switched to straight heparin before my deliveries.  I have always done the shots of Lovenox plus I take a daily baby aspiring.  I've stopped the aspirin at 35 weeks and continued with the Lovenox until labor.  I was not on a therapeutic dose though and you might be so that changes things.  You cannot have an epidural if you have recently used Lovenox which was one of many reasons I was induced with my third baby.  My fourth came early and so quickly there was no pre-planning on when to stop the Lovenox and no time to even discuss and epidural so I guess it all worked out.  I haven't had any issues with excessive bleeding during my deliveries. 

Switching to heparin I hear is a pain because the dose has to be based on your weight, which will be fluctuating and it's not nice pre-filled syringes like Lovenox, however, it is reversible which is a good thing if you go into labor and end up needing a c-section or are bleeding too much. 

Good luck with the hematologist.  I just saw mine yesterday.

singingmua

My first time posting in this board...

I had a DVT and PE back in 2007 and was hospitalized for a week. I had no real risk factors for it at the time so a bunch of testing was done and as a result, I was diagnosed with lupus and have been on Coumadin from then until late last year when I started TTC.

I'm currently 17+4 and can't wait to be done with Lovenox and go back to Coumadin, though honestly it's definitely not the most difficult thing in the world.

My MFM/OB and hematologist have both talked about the switch from Lovenox to heparin, and from what I've heard, in not looking forward to that either. But it's all worth it!

I know how it feels to be scared while dealing with a DVT (and PE, in my case), but know that the pain subsides, and the fear dissipates. There's a small chance that you may have some continuing pain/light swelling in your leg (I still do), but, again, it is bearable.

I wish you a speedy recovery and peace of mind!