Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Support Group
Deep-vein thrombosis, also known as deep-venous thrombosis or DVT, is the formation of a blood clot ("thrombus") in a deep vein. It can be caused by something preventing blood from circulating or clotting normally. Join the support group if you are coping with DVT and find others who are going through the same challenges.
I am writing this because the news on the internet about post-thrombotic syndrome/DVT is pretty grim.
I had brain surgery in Jan. 2011, which led to a severe DVT + mild PE.
There was no hope for my leg healing, and I was very despondent--plus freaked out by having to take warfarin, etc.
I am going to make this short and sweet: Once I got off warfarin, I turned toward food, exercise and herbs for healing.
I now eat a diet that is mainly vitamin K-rich greens, lots of other veg, meat, nuts, fruit. I have basically shunned all packaged foods. In addition, I work out nearly daily.
My DVT was from my groin to my calf. It occurred in Jan. 2011 after I had brain surgery for a baseball-sized benign brain tumor that was threatening my life.
In any case, I went to a vein specialist back in 2011 because it is so horrible to have a limb compromised. She told me it would not heal and would never be the same.
I have to say she was wrong on one count: It is healing--just taking a while.
Initially, I could not stand on it for even a minute without it ballooning and being painful. Now I can go most of the day without compression (in a non-standing position), and can actually venture out into my neighborhood on two legs for a while (1 hr. max.) without compression. This is major progress.
I am just now 4 years out. I have worn a toe-less, knee-high compression stocking all of these years. Elevate it slightly on a wedge pillow as I sleep, etc.
My leg is NEARLY healed!! If I keep along the trajectory I have been on, it should be almost as good as new in about 1 1/2 years.
The other things I am doing:
I work out a lot, and I eat a whole foods diet that does not include any pasta or grains. Your body is designed to heal. You need to create the circumstances for it to do so.
Also--something for those of you who think it will never heal:
It's made to heal--doing strength training and cardio can create a situation in which your body "re-vascularizes." Your body will generate by-pass vein to make up for the insufficiency in your main artery. Your job is to create the circumstances in which it can do that.
I am not a doctor, so do not take my words as medical advice--I just know that exercise and a diet rich in veggies--which are known to regenerate cells--has damn nearly healed a hopeless case! :-)
Wanted to write about this because I see so much doom and gloom about DVT and PTS on the net.
:-)
Chrissie
I had brain surgery in Jan. 2011, which led to a severe DVT + mild PE.
There was no hope for my leg healing, and I was very despondent--plus freaked out by having to take warfarin, etc.
I am going to make this short and sweet: Once I got off warfarin, I turned toward food, exercise and herbs for healing.
I now eat a diet that is mainly vitamin K-rich greens, lots of other veg, meat, nuts, fruit. I have basically shunned all packaged foods. In addition, I work out nearly daily.
My DVT was from my groin to my calf. It occurred in Jan. 2011 after I had brain surgery for a baseball-sized benign brain tumor that was threatening my life.
In any case, I went to a vein specialist back in 2011 because it is so horrible to have a limb compromised. She told me it would not heal and would never be the same.
I have to say she was wrong on one count: It is healing--just taking a while.
Initially, I could not stand on it for even a minute without it ballooning and being painful. Now I can go most of the day without compression (in a non-standing position), and can actually venture out into my neighborhood on two legs for a while (1 hr. max.) without compression. This is major progress.
I am just now 4 years out. I have worn a toe-less, knee-high compression stocking all of these years. Elevate it slightly on a wedge pillow as I sleep, etc.
My leg is NEARLY healed!! If I keep along the trajectory I have been on, it should be almost as good as new in about 1 1/2 years.
The other things I am doing:
I work out a lot, and I eat a whole foods diet that does not include any pasta or grains. Your body is designed to heal. You need to create the circumstances for it to do so.
Also--something for those of you who think it will never heal:
It's made to heal--doing strength training and cardio can create a situation in which your body "re-vascularizes." Your body will generate by-pass vein to make up for the insufficiency in your main artery. Your job is to create the circumstances in which it can do that.
I am not a doctor, so do not take my words as medical advice--I just know that exercise and a diet rich in veggies--which are known to regenerate cells--has damn nearly healed a hopeless case! :-)
Wanted to write about this because I see so much doom and gloom about DVT and PTS on the net.
:-)
Chrissie
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Look at what my best friend did with my picture!
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We all have 24 hours in a day. How we spend these hours is important. Watching a little bit of a video about how sitting affects us made me aware of how much sitting and laying down I do. Gonna have to work on that.Your turn. Tell me another truth.
PTS does not just affect the limb in question. I have to sleep with my left leg elevated, which throws my pelvic bones out of whack. I see a chiropractor regularly. It affects your entire body.
I take all kinds of precautions to make sure I do not develop severe PTS symptoms, such as ulcers. One of the precautions I take is wearing a compression stocking every day. I am now 4 years into dealing with PTS.
In the beginning, I could stand on my leg for less than 5 minutes without a compression stocking before it became severely swollen and painful. I am now to the point where I can manage to walk around for about 4 hrs. without a stocking, but if I want to sit at a table with a date for 4 hrs. without stocking--my leg will swell a lot.
This may seem vain or petty, but if you, as a woman, would like to wear a cute summer dress--you'll have the look ruined by a compression stocking. This is not easy in terms of chronic pain or in terms of lesser things like feeling sexy in a dress.
Oh, by the way, I am a woman and I rock the hell out of my ugly leg and yes, I still feel attractive. That stuff has to come from within. Ladies, trust me on this one.
Let your freak flag fly.
My recommendations for you are: whole foods, consistent exercise and positive thinking. People will make fun of you for this, but in my opinion, it works!