I know how she feels. I was diagnosed with a DVT in late November & hospitalized for 4 days. It was the worst pain I ever experienced. There were many nights I went to bed not caring if I woke up the next morning. I was on Coumadin for just a little over 3 months. My DVT occurred after leg surgery, so the course of Coumadin was relatively short. As far as how long the pain & problems walking will last, I think it is different for everyone, but after diagnosis, I was off work for 6 weeks, though I was also recovering from some surgery complications at the same time. It was probably about 3 weeks before I could walk without leaning on someone or something. It is nearly 5 months since my diagnosis and honestly, there is rarely a day that goes by that I do not feel some pain. It is MUCH better, but still not right. I honestly wonder if I will ever feel "normal" again. I don't mean to sound like a downer, but I am trying to be honest. I learned that having a DVT is a condition that requires PATIENCE for healing! I don't know if her doctor has her wearing compression stockings, but they have helped relieve some pain & swelling for me. I know how hard it is, but in time, things should get better. For me, getting over a big hurdle was accepting that recovery was not going to happen in a week or even a month, and life does change because of a DVT, but life does go on! I hope she feels better soon.

They may have taken her off the coumadin for a few days because her INR was too high. Make sure that she is getting her INR checked at least once a week, maybe twice a week. If she's not back on coumadin in a couple of days, ask to speak with her doctor and ask why. She should also be medicated for pain. The recovery may be very long, and you two are going to have to be very strong, particularly with the little one to take care of. You tell her that lots of us have beaten this or are learning to live with it. God bless, and let us know what happens. The fear is normal, but you cannot let it overwhelm you. When it gets too bad, have a cry, come here to talk to us, let the fear wash over you... and then try to keep your life going somehow. I know it's not easy!

Hey there! I DEFINITELY know how she feels. Three weeks after I had a baby (by c-section), I was diagnosed with DVT in my left thigh. I am almost 7 months post-diagnosis and still dealing with the clot. My left leg is still larger than the right, but there is little pain..maybe intermittent pain...and it is still darker than my right leg and might possibly always be. It is REALLY tough, especially with a baby. I cried A LOT, and quite frequently. My baby was a preemie and we brought her home...on oxygen, monitors, caffeine, etc...only 2 weeks or so after my DVT was diagnosed. My family lives several hours away, and my mom takes care of my dad, who is dying of ALS, so I didn't have much help other than that of my husband (who works full-time and is in school in the evenings). Try to be encouraging for her and realize it does take time to heal...it may even take up to a year to feel close to normal again. Any help you can give with the baby will help her too. Honestly, she will probably need the emotional support just as much, if not more, than the physical support. Hang in there, PRAY A LOT and ask questions! This is a great site! She will be in my prayers.

Try not to panic firstly. I have a massive clot in the thigh of my left leg and behind my knee. I have a 3 week old baby. I got the clot 2 months before giving birth. I also lost the use of my leg and spent over two weeks in hospital on bed rest. It is horrible and scary but the docs know its there and im sure they will treat her accordingly. When I found out I was so frightened of getting pulmonary embolism I used to cry all the time too, especially being pregnant and fearing for my baby. However im still here, the leg swelling is better and my son is fine. My doctor gave me very strong painkillers called tramadol which are amazing for the pain. She should ask for something stronger if its unbearable. Tell her to try and be positive and keep her leg raised when its really painful, or put books under the foot of her bed so her leg is raised at night at least. I hope this helps. If she needs to ask any questions or just have a chat to get rid of some of the fear she can contact me anytime. We know exactly how she feels and it helped me immensely talking to people on this site. Take care.