Hi kiki2 - I also suffer with high anxiety levels. I was diagnosed in April with a DVT in my left thigh. It took 4 and 1/2 months before they could level out my INR. I believe that my anxiety was started and fed by my lack of knowledge regarding DVTs. I have never had a medical issue to deal with like this before. I spent a lot of time and energy being angry with my body. It wasn't until after my children mentioned how miserable I was to live with, I realized that I needed to:

A) I needed to catch my breath (although I still feel as though I can not get enough air, I think this feeling also contributes to my heart pounding).

B)I need to trust in my doctors.

C) and I need to realize that being on Warfarin has probably saved my life.

I still worry about every twitch, every heart palpitation, every ache. But I try not to dwell on it. I try not to complain about how tired I am or about how my body aches more now than ever before, I think that I was causing my family distress by complaining. All in all I need to remember that every day is a gift; thats why it's called the present. I try to be more positive, it's not always easy, and for those days a good hard cry never hurts. I hope your day gets better knowing you are not alone.

I used to be there, but with another medical condition. I would have sever panic attacks, we're talking uncontrolable shaking, heart palpitations, unable to breathe, couldn't focus on a single thought...eventually I went and sought help. A lot of my anxiety came from not really understanding my medical situation, so I'm with Lynne, you need to really study up DVTs. With learning about my medical condition my anxiety has greatly reduced in severity and consistency. I'm not completely cured, but at least now I feel like Im in control.

Yes, yes and yes. Can totally relate. Everything feels very heightened. My anxiety kicked in full force about a month after my PE/DVT. Got some counseling and that really helped me.

I feel like I wrote your post! I am constantly monitoring my body and am on high alert for every twitch.

I also worry about MS and Cancer. However, of all the things I worried about before the DVT I never expected this. So rationally, I realize worry is a waste of time. You can spend all your time worrying about the conventional diseases only to get something like a DVT.
Pam

Oh my gosh! It seems as though I wrote your comments. I have everything you've explianed but just hearing from others that this is what we are all going through is a relief in its self (as wierd as that sounds). This site and support has helped me more then any doctors or friends could have...really. I believe that if someone hasn't expierenced a dvt , they can't possibly know the fear that that brings.When i was first diagnosed on July 31sr/08 I had a doc in the emerg tell me that within 2 weeks I would be up and walking and fine......ya right....it didn't uite work out that way...AT ALL...This has been a physical and an emotionslly rollercoaster for me and my family. I find I am on this site everyday just to find snipits of courage or someone elses strength I might benifit from for the day, and it always works. Along with my faith in God and HIS plans for me, which I know are not to suffer from this! so I pray and get all the support I can from people like you!....we will get through this :) I know it!

Hi everyone - This site is awesome - thanks everyone, although I didn't start this thread reading all of the comments have really helped. I've been on Warfarin for 6 months now and my doctor has talked about taking me off around the second week of October. 3 months ago I couldn't wait to get off of it - but now I'm scared (again).

Oh Kiki. We all know what you mean. My DVT\PE was almost 2 years ago. Afterwards I thought I was handling things rather well. I got back to work and I thought I got back to my life, but in reality I was spiraling down. I was losing weight like crazy and thought I had cancer, then my BP skyrocketed and I had to have my BP meds upped. Then about a year afterwards I completely broke and had a mental breakdown....wellll not bad enough that I was hospitalized, but bad enough that I didn't sleep for 8 days and ended up seeing a shrink and being put on Effexxor, klonopin, seroquel, trazadone, ativan, and valium. It was one hell of a ride, but I'm happy to say I'm pretty much back to my oldself these days. I've come to accept I'll be on warfarin the rest of my life and that another DVT or PE may be in my future and it may kill me but I don't dwell on it or anything else like I used too. I'm off all the pysch meds except the effexor which is now at a low dose, I work out regulary and try to eat healthy and just LIVE. NONE of us, not even those who haven't suffered a DVT or PE knows exactly how many days we have left on this Earth. As my therapist said to me, "Why do you want to spend the time you do have worrying about what MAY or may NOT happen?" Live each day to the fullest and be happy with what is.

Hello,

Am there sometimes.

Check my journal entry.

take care.