Aftermath of having PEs and DVTs
 

Back on 19 May, I was hospitalized with extensive blood clots in all lobes of my lungs and in my left leg. This is my second time with pulmonary emboli (the first was about 10 years ago or so). I was discharged from the hospital on 24 May.

I had my hematology follow-up this week. They want me to get another chest CT and another ultrasound of my legs (scheduled for 3 Aug). They also want me to get more blood tests done on 13 Aug, to retest for the lupus anticoagulant antibody (since I tested positive for it in the hospital). I was told that in all likelihood, I will probably test positive a second time, and if so, that will mean I have Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

And if that's the case... they will switch me from Xarelto to Coumadin. :(

I was on Coumadin the first time I had clots and I had to get my blood tested every two weeks. So...I'm not looking forward to that (especially since I'll be on Coumadin the rest of my life). And I'll have to be mindful of my vitamin K intake which, tbh, I'm not good at. A lot of foods high in vitamin K, I love. But not to where I eat them every single day. That will be the hard part for me, honestly.

Also, today I noticed some pain in both legs... just mild, like a small cramp. I am sure it is nothing (and I still have the filter in, even if I did develop more clots in my leg). But....I'd be lying if I said it doesn't mess with the brain. It's like... "oh, a small cramp, should I mention it to my doctor?" Especially since the only symptom of clots in my leg, that I had, was I felt like I had a mild pulled calf muscle; no redness; no swelling; no discoloration; no warmth; etc. But I also don't want to be the type of person that worries about every little twinge in their legs and just be a nuisance.

I'm sure the further my clots are in my past, the less paranoid I'll be about stuff like that.