Well, looks like I have another DVT. This one is entirely unprovoked. Good thing I went to the doctor for a checkup and she noticed the swelling in my leg/ankle.
I told her I was a pro at injecting myself with Lovenox. Will start that and Warfarin tonight.
Looks like I'm going to be a lifer now too.
Not a happy camper but as long as I am alive I can keep on fighting.

Glad your doc was paying attention!

Welcome to the lifer club, Brooklin!

I am also a lifer-newb, but it stinks you have to go through all this!! So sorry! I am glad your dr was so on top of things for you!

Thanks. After the second clot the hematologist told me that I should become a lifer but I flat out refused. This third clot came out of the blue. In the past I was tested twice for blood disorders and everything came back negative. Yesterday's diagnosis was devastating. I got the diagnosis after the tech showed the results to the radiologist who called my doctor. I knew it was bad when they told me that I needed to speak to the doctor's nurse and held out the phone to me. She said the doctor might want me to go to the ER but I told her I was going home! I am an old pro now at giving myself the Lovenox injections and there was no need for me to hang around an ER with all those sick people! I told her I had to go home and walk my dog. Thank goodness for my sense of humor.
Anyway, ordered the Coumadin cookbook last night because now I will be a lifer. No if ands or buts and I need to do a lot of research because doctors don't tell you very much of anything. I seem to know more then they do.

After my second DVT, my doc wanted to admit me due to my PE history. She scheduled the doppler at the hospital same day I saw her in the office for my DVT symptoms. After the scan, the radiologist called her and she talked to me while I was still in the radiology lab and she talked about admitting me. I said it's not necessary, just give me the lovenox because I know what I'm doing and she agreed as long as I followed up with her on Monday (this was a Friday night). So yeah, it feels good to be able to take control where you can. While I felt confused about getting another clot out of the blue, I think feeling that kind of control, that "I've got this," made it easier to just accept being on warfarin long term.

Thanks. I feel exactly the same. I am an intelligent person and the last time I left things entirely up to the doctor 2 1/2 years ago, I ended up in the hospital with internal bleeding that went on for 3 long days.
My new doc wants to do blood testing. Thankfully I have the results of the blood testing that was done in 2003 and 2013 which showed that I was negative for a blood disorder.
I was the kind of person who wouldn't get a flu shot because I was so terrified of needles.
I took my shot of Lovenox last night and this morning. No problem!
Yes, it's good to be in control and we do have to be our own advocates.
Now that I am retired I realize that keeping myself alive is a full time job!

Bummer about that third clot! I was just like you in that I didn't want to stay on the thinners after my second clot... we thought we knew the cause (birth control pills) and I'd be safe. Wrong!

Glad it was caught and you're on the meds. Don't blame you for wanting to avoid a night in the hospital ... if you can do the shots, why bother?

You might check with your insurance to see if they will cover a home INR checker now that you're a lifer. I've got one and its has made things SO much easier in terms of maintenance while traveling, sick, etc.

I checked my insurance and I have coverage for home checking of the INR. I will be able to check once a week. There are three companies that participate and they rent out the equipment.
I will have to wait three months before I start the process.