How do you know you have a blood clot?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
How do you know you have a blood clot?
3
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 5:50pm
I've been having pains in my right leg for a few weeks now. It started in my calf - just felt like a strained muscle. I chalked it up to sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day.

The past couple of weeks, the strained muscle feeling has moved up to the back of my thigh. It throbs so much sometimes that it seems to come through to the front, and spread behind my knee and into my groin. Again, I've been thinking it is due to sitting for long periods of time. I've heard that blood clots cause redness, swelling, and are painful to the touch. I don't have any of that.

I am suddenly concerned because I remember a doctor telling me years ago that I had a higher risk factor for blood clots, something about C protein or something in my blood. At the time, she would not prescribe BC for me. My dad has also had a blood clot before, and they say it is hereditary. A different doctor allowed me to go on BC about 2.5 years ago, saying that as long as I didn't smoke, the risk was very slight.

Am I being paranoid?



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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2004
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 6:04pm
Why take the chance, especially given your history...


CL for Acne

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 9:12pm
Hi unicorn21, welcome!

I agree with Ariane! Why take the risk of using hormonal contraceptives when you know you have a family history of clotting problems? If I were you I'd definitely have a doctor check my leg to find out what's causing the pain! As an alternative to hormonal contraceptives you might want to consider an IUD or cervical barriers, a diaphragm or cervical cap. There is information about them in the FAQs and at these Planned Parenthood links: Contraceptive choices http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/cchoices.html and Method effectiveness http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/bcfacts2.html Let us know what your doctor says and how you’re doing, ok?

Good luck and hugs,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2004
Wed, 10-13-2004 - 12:36pm
I hope you have already gone to the doctor and had the pain in your leg looked at.I have a clot in my right leg that started with pain in my claf and then traveled up adn just made my whole leg hurt. Several doctors told me it was the muscles but after a few months of much pain and seeing many doctors one found out my leg was clotted. I ended up in ICU for a week. I could have died but I am very blessed to be here. I try to tell everyone I know that is on the pill or patch to be careful and go see your doctor at the first sign of pain in their legs, back, chest or shoulder. Better safe than sorry...good luck