If you have a DVT, it's not uncommon at all to have some ongoing swelling for a while. Also, I know once I started being more active, walking, standing, etc I would swell from that.

If you had/have a DVT, the swelling is very common and can go on for quite a while as you are healing. You could talk to your doc about compression stockings and see if those are recommended in your case as they can really help with the swelling. As you're only two weeks out, I would totally expect things to continue to get better. Two weeks is only a drop in the bucket in terms of recovery.

Honestly, my DVTs in my right leg are still there (from 2005 and 2009) and that leg is still swollen larger than the other. But, as that's my only issue there (no pain or discoloration), it isn't really a problem, from my POV.

TossNTurn,

Those DVT's won't break off and travel up your right leg? What caused your blood clots? I'm curious?

indwen

@indwen123

No, my DVTs are considered chronic at this point and aren't dangerous. They've basically solidified and become part of the vein wall. They're kind of a scar and are at no more risk of breaking off and traveling than any other scar.

For the most part, clots are resolved by 5-6 months either by the body dissolving them or by them becoming chronic "scars" like mine. Some people see dissolving after that point, but not everyone.

Not that you won't see improvement after six months... you will. Your body is still healing and/or creating collateral veins around the clots, so many people see solid improvements up until 2-3 years out.

We're not really sure why I clot. With my first DVT, they thought it was regular birth control. With my second DVT, they thought it was progesterone-only birth control. With my PEs, we didn't have any idea as I wasn't taking anything that could have caused them. I've been tested for all known clotting disorders 2-3 times each and I'm negative for everything. They told me in the hospital that I probably just have something we can't test for yet.

Swelling of the ankle and foot were the first sign that something was seriously wrong, but the doctors assured me, when they found a "superficial" vein clot, that it was nothing to worry about. Weeks later after spreading to deeper veins and the lungs, and subsequent hospitalization, swelling and warmth seemed not to go away. Some of it persists to this day, nearly 6 years out, but I keep it managed with compression socks.
After all the mistakes of the professionals I had seen, I was driven to research this thing on my own. Part of that was happening upon compression socks, which I started wearing on my own before getting subsequent checkoff from the doctor (who is much smarter about such things now). I still wear them on work days, when I have a lot of sitting, and some off-days. If I have some activity, that seems to help with the circulation and the compression socks seem less necessary.

Thanks for the response.

indwen