On Tuesday, February 22nd, the day of my 20th wedding anniversary, I received some good news. I went to the Imaging Clinic in Barrie to have my 3-week follow-up doppler ultrasound. The technician told me that the blood clot in my left jugular is starting to dissolve and there is now some blood flow getting through. The Coumadin is working. I went for blood work on Tuesday and my levels were 2.7. On Friday, I called the doctor to get Thursday's results and it had increased slightly to 2.9. He told me to continue on the 2 pills a day (10 mg).
I updated my doctor in Brooklyn and he mentioned that this was great news. He said he doesn't know what happened as he had a group of patients with clotting, the likes of which he has never seen before and has backed off a bit in the over dilation.
I have lost my balance and have fallen three times in the last week so I'm now using my walker before I really hurt myself. I can still feel the bruise on my head from the fall I took last week at my sister's place.
Despite not having any improvements from my last procedure, I am very optimistic that the increased blood flow will change things. I go back to Barrie in 2 months time and hopefully the blood clot will be completely gone by then.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
More Blood Work - February 15
Today I got the doppler ultrasound results from my appointment on Feb. 2. It shows that my right internal jugular vein to be normal flow. But on the left side it says that the internal jugular vein does not appear patent with trombus imaged. No flow was obtained by pulsed doppler suggestive of venous trombosis.
I started to take coumadin (an anticoagulant drug) that day and have since been having blood work done twice a week. This test is called the PT/INR and it used to monitor the effects of blood thinning drugs. The normal ratio is 1 and my results were 1 the first week and then 1.1 last Friday. My doctor has increased my coumadin amounts twice so that I am up to 2 pills or 10 mg a day. I guess the best ratio for anyone with a blood clot is to get it betwen 2 and 3. I had a blood test today and will be having another one on Thursday so I'm anxious to see if the extra coumadin gets the level up!
I go for another doppler ultrasound in Barrie next Tuesday, Feb. 22nd which is also the day of our 20th wedding anniversary so getting good results would be a nice gift!
I had a good friend and his wife over this weekend. This friend has had MS for about 25 years and at one time spent about 8 years in a wheelchair. It's so nice to see him walking around without any aids. When I asked him what his secret is, well he says he doesn't have one. He never had the CCSVI procedure and it's a total mystery why his MRI shows remyelination. He is on his threadmill everyday and his laugh and good humour is infectious. He is my inspiration!
Most days I walk around the house with my walker now since I still have a lot of back pain. Although my energy is still very good, my body is not very cooperative and I still drag both feet a lot, more so with the left leg. I know I should be exercising but lack the motivation.
I will post again once I get back from Barrie next week. The good thing about this trip is seeing my sister and brother-in-law more often as they live in Orangeville. I wish they lived closer as I love spending time with them
I started to take coumadin (an anticoagulant drug) that day and have since been having blood work done twice a week. This test is called the PT/INR and it used to monitor the effects of blood thinning drugs. The normal ratio is 1 and my results were 1 the first week and then 1.1 last Friday. My doctor has increased my coumadin amounts twice so that I am up to 2 pills or 10 mg a day. I guess the best ratio for anyone with a blood clot is to get it betwen 2 and 3. I had a blood test today and will be having another one on Thursday so I'm anxious to see if the extra coumadin gets the level up!
I go for another doppler ultrasound in Barrie next Tuesday, Feb. 22nd which is also the day of our 20th wedding anniversary so getting good results would be a nice gift!
I had a good friend and his wife over this weekend. This friend has had MS for about 25 years and at one time spent about 8 years in a wheelchair. It's so nice to see him walking around without any aids. When I asked him what his secret is, well he says he doesn't have one. He never had the CCSVI procedure and it's a total mystery why his MRI shows remyelination. He is on his threadmill everyday and his laugh and good humour is infectious. He is my inspiration!
Most days I walk around the house with my walker now since I still have a lot of back pain. Although my energy is still very good, my body is not very cooperative and I still drag both feet a lot, more so with the left leg. I know I should be exercising but lack the motivation.
I will post again once I get back from Barrie next week. The good thing about this trip is seeing my sister and brother-in-law more often as they live in Orangeville. I wish they lived closer as I love spending time with them
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
February 1, 2011 - Blood Clot
I know I haven't written in a while but it's because I was waiting to go for my doppler ultrasound in Barrie, Ontario yesterday. The technician did not have good news for me as I was told I have a blood clot in my left internal jugular vein. This is the vein that Dr. Sclafani had some difficulty with. In his report, he mentions that it was quite difficult to get into the left internal jugular vein. There were multiple areas of abnormal valves and hyperplastic areas. I finally had two areas on that side ballooned and after the procedure that side was very painful and I was told to take Tylenol.
I was really surprised that I had a blood clot since I don't have a stent and I was on an anticoagulant for 21 days after the procedure and then I continued on baby aspirin every day. I'm a bit worried about this blood clot especially after seeing the urgency at the clinic in getting in touch with my doctor and still having some discomfort in my neck since my procedure depending on how I turn my head. Also, for the past few weeks I wake up feeling like I have a headache starting or more like some slight head pressure but it eventually clears up somewhat. I also wonder if this is why I have not had any major improvements. I don't know much about this and whether blood thinners alone can disolve the blood clot but at least it's been discovered and I have proper followup. I also informed Dr. Sclafani, the doctor in Brooklyn, and he was sorry that this happened. He wants me to keep him informed so that we can look at what we need to do after the anticoagulation is completed.
I was really surprised that I had a blood clot since I don't have a stent and I was on an anticoagulant for 21 days after the procedure and then I continued on baby aspirin every day. I'm a bit worried about this blood clot especially after seeing the urgency at the clinic in getting in touch with my doctor and still having some discomfort in my neck since my procedure depending on how I turn my head. Also, for the past few weeks I wake up feeling like I have a headache starting or more like some slight head pressure but it eventually clears up somewhat. I also wonder if this is why I have not had any major improvements. I don't know much about this and whether blood thinners alone can disolve the blood clot but at least it's been discovered and I have proper followup. I also informed Dr. Sclafani, the doctor in Brooklyn, and he was sorry that this happened. He wants me to keep him informed so that we can look at what we need to do after the anticoagulation is completed.
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