history of DVT's

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Last post: Oct 29, 2009 3:41 AM by Zymurgists

DELLA3298

2 posts since
Oct 7, 2009

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Oct 7, 2009 2:50 PM

I was a long distance runner for about 10 yrs but it has been quite a few years since I was able to do very much running. I now have a history of DVT's (blood clots in the deep veins of the legs), I have had 3 in the past 15 years. I am on blood thinners now and my legs don't give me any problems. I miss running and I have tried several times to get back into it but my legs feel heavy, tired, oxygen starved, extremely weak, if there is even the slightest uphill grade. Does anyone have any suggestions on ways to improve the circulation? I use to be able to go out and run 10 miles with no effort at all. I miss it.

JamesJohnsonLMT

88 posts since
Aug 23, 2009

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1. Oct 7, 2009 7:59 PM

in response to: DELLA3298

Re: history of DVT's

So the anticoagulants spared you from pulmonary embolism but left you with post-thrombotic syndrome? There's something called the Chang technique that uses a catheter to seek out and destroy the small clots left in your legs with tiny doses of tPA, but it has only been proven to work with fresh clots.

Otherwise, you are left with all that vein-clogging residue the thinners can't touch. While there is a risk of bleeding, larger doses of tPA have been used in conjunction with vacuum devices to remove softened clots. Both these techniques are experimental, but effective in appropriate cases.

You can read about it in WedMD: http://www.webmd.com/dvt/news/20080129/cure-for-deep-vein-thrombosis

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winkirun

24 posts since
Sep 15, 2009

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2. Oct 8, 2009 6:29 PM

in response to: JamesJohnsonLMT

Re: history of DVT's

I don't think it is approved for such a problem, but it makes me wonder if a trial of Plavix would help these sufferers. It is a long-term antithrombotic agent that does work for prevention of thrombosis in patient's after MI. Just makes me wonder if this would be a good future trial at some point. Sorry...no short-term answers there, though.

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face... you must do the things you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt

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DELLA3298

2 posts since
Oct 7, 2009

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3. Oct 8, 2009 6:46 PM

in response to: winkirun

Re: history of DVT's

I have looked into the Chang Technique but it is only effective on recent dvt's. My last one was about 2 yrs ago. And I have asked my doctor about Plavix and was told it wouldn't work. It does not prevent blood clots and it is unable to cause deterioration of existing blood clots.

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cpa0217

79 posts since
Sep 26, 2007

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4. Oct 12, 2009 10:53 AM

in response to: DELLA3298

Re: history of DVT's

I feel your "pain". I have a genetic condition that predisposes me to clotting. I had no idea that I even had any problems until I had a brainstem stroke last March at the age of 46. Anyway, I feel heaviness and fatigue in my legs at times (actually, most of the time) just like you. I just basically force myself to run through it. I know that's not the encouraging information you were hoping to hear, but I'm afraid it's all I've got.

BTW, my doctor said the same thing about Plavix as yours did. It's great for heart patients, but doesn't work for people like us. He said the only two options are aspirin (only for "first-timers -- once you have a repeat occurrence, aspirin is out) and warfarin (coumadin).