Hi,

I can tell you that my DVT didn't look like a bruise. It was a red streak, swollen and extremely painful, like charlie horse painful.

I'm no doctor of course and this is merely my opinion, but it sounds like a bruise. You're on warfarin, so that would make sense. I have small, dime size bruises all over my body and have no idea where they're from or how I got them. I could have just bumped myself lightly and gotten a bruise. Keep an eye on to see if it gets bigger, more painful or if starts moving up your calf. And quit poking it :)

PEs don't have to necessarily come from a DVT. They can start right in the lungs.

And I DO get how it is having one of those days. I know it's so hard to do, but try to relax, take some deep breaths, and get out of your head a bit if you can.

I agree with RMB.... when we take coumedin then our INR levels are usually between 2-3.
Part of the way an anticoagulant works....
it thins our blood in laymans terms- which in turn can mean more bruising, nosebleeds, etc. The higher your INR- you will probably see more bruising from simple things as bumping into things, etc. Of course, if you are ever in doubt.... remember that your doctor's office should have someone on-call for the weekend OR if you start having shortness of breath, pain in your leg, chest or lungs, dizziness.... then go to the ER.

Maybe you should call your doctor for his or her opinion. In my history of dealing with doctor's is that part of their job to rotate weekends to be "on-call". Try to take a deep breathe and relax (sometimes easier said than done).... I have experienced tons of anxiety and aches/pains since I had my PE four months ago. I'm with you regarding days that I have more fear about what is going on with my body and now I'm finally having a few days when I don't think about it

The physical and emotional healing process after a PE takes many people longer than you or even the doctor's tell us. My theory is they are used to dealing with the elderly and PE's, but they don't know what to tell patients who are younger and lead active lives.... that's why the surgeon's general report is so important for all of us. I thought I would get out of the hospital and be ready to go within a week.... that didn't happen with me and I was a very active person. My hemotologist gently reminded me yesterday that even though it's only been four months- my body went through severe trauma. It's equivalent to a heart attack, but an attack on our lungs. He told me to be as patient with my healing process and slow down when I have any pains.

May peace be with you this weekend... never feel sorry for telling your story- that's how we all support each other! hugs....

Hi there,

Ditto what the other ladies said. I just wanted to add I had literally the exact same thing - same size and location right after a ten hour flight about two months ago (which was two months post PE). And I freaked too - it just didn't look like a normal bruise (it almost appeared to be along the lines of one of my veins) and I couldn't remember bumping it or anything. Turned out to be just a bruise ... it faded and went away. And I've gotten them since then too (we just bruise more easily on the coumadin) but they always go away.

I actually banged myself up pretty good while riding in a bumper car (oops!) when my knee kept hitting the steering wheel. The bruise turned out to be colassal - but it too went away. That doesn't mean that I didn't freak out about it though!

Same thing that rmb said - a clot will hurt like hell. It really does feel like a charlie horse - a terribly pulled muscle that you just can't stretch out.

Take care ... try to relax (I know, I know)!

:o)

I too have bruises all over the place and have a regular freak out every once in a while. I can bruise just from leaning on a stud on my trousers (pants to the USAers - lol). But just as the others say - it goes away - it is good that you're aware of your body and I know in time you'll start to get less freaked out.

P.S What is all this Charlie Horse business - is it a program in USA? haha x x x

A charlie horse is a really bad leg cramp - usually caused by being struck really hard, or really strenuous exercise. It can actually be quite painful and take a long time to heal.

In it's "lesser" form, it's one of those lovely things siblings do to each other growing up. If you're mad at the sib, curl your hand up into a fist making your knuckles as "pointy" as possible, then hit them as hard and as quickly as you can in the thigh, and then watch them howl in pain. Ahhhh, memories! lol!

You UKers call it a "dead leg" I think?

Thanks for the explanation - yes we UKers call it a dead leg. It is good to know what the DVT symptoms are too because I have only mainly focused on the PE - I have just added some more questions for my Consultant based in these discussions.

Thanks x x

P.S Khurney, you seem to know a lot of technique with Charlie Horse - may be we need to give some Charlie Horses' to some of those Drs who tell us we will be as right as rain in a few weeks after our PEs - lol x x

Thanks for all of your thoughts! I cried for an hour last night, the thought of having another blood clot is just too much. I dont even remember having one in my leg, just the PE which was very sudden.

The bruise today seemed to have lighten in color a bit, but of course still freaking out.