I'm not sure where this fits, but I assume that anticoagulation is probably as good a place as any to put it (and it IS related to anticoagulation).
I had a small procedure (leg vein ablation) in mid-December - almost three weeks ago.
The scheduler said nothing about discontinuing warfarin, but I should have done this anyway - I don't know WHAT I was thinking.
The procedure was done, everything was fine - then, about an hour later, I started getting a swelling in my left upper leg - I went back to the doctor, ultrasound showed a hematoma developing, and he wrapped it with tape, apparently attempting to stop its growth.
The next day, with it unresolved, I called my surgeon, he told me to go to E.R. and have the hospital let him know that I was there. A few hours later, I was told that my INR was 5!!! I take my warfarin, from a daily pill thingy, so I can't imagine my INR being so high. They gave me Vitamin K in the hospital then kicked me out - they were really busy and, thankfully, had little reason to admit me.
The next day, my INR was 2.9.
The next day, my meter said 1.8, and the lab said 1.7. I again took over self testing and self management and have been in range ever since.
I went to a rheumatologist the next day, and all he saw on ultrasound was some clear veins and a large amount of clotted blood.
He told me that there was nothing I could do - just wait, and it will go down in 4 to 6 weeks.
One of the members on another forum described a hematoma that looked like a half of a grapefruit, also going away in, IIRC, about 6 weeks.
It's been at least three weeks - and this damned thing doesn't seem to have changed size much, if at all.
The veins running through it are probably very clear - and it may be a risk or hassle to try and get some mechanical (surgical) approaches to reducing this thing. At this point, it looks like I may have to live with it if it DOESN'T eventually shrink to nothing.
Any thoughts? Suggestions?
I had a small procedure (leg vein ablation) in mid-December - almost three weeks ago.
The scheduler said nothing about discontinuing warfarin, but I should have done this anyway - I don't know WHAT I was thinking.
The procedure was done, everything was fine - then, about an hour later, I started getting a swelling in my left upper leg - I went back to the doctor, ultrasound showed a hematoma developing, and he wrapped it with tape, apparently attempting to stop its growth.
The next day, with it unresolved, I called my surgeon, he told me to go to E.R. and have the hospital let him know that I was there. A few hours later, I was told that my INR was 5!!! I take my warfarin, from a daily pill thingy, so I can't imagine my INR being so high. They gave me Vitamin K in the hospital then kicked me out - they were really busy and, thankfully, had little reason to admit me.
The next day, my INR was 2.9.
The next day, my meter said 1.8, and the lab said 1.7. I again took over self testing and self management and have been in range ever since.
I went to a rheumatologist the next day, and all he saw on ultrasound was some clear veins and a large amount of clotted blood.
He told me that there was nothing I could do - just wait, and it will go down in 4 to 6 weeks.
One of the members on another forum described a hematoma that looked like a half of a grapefruit, also going away in, IIRC, about 6 weeks.
It's been at least three weeks - and this damned thing doesn't seem to have changed size much, if at all.
The veins running through it are probably very clear - and it may be a risk or hassle to try and get some mechanical (surgical) approaches to reducing this thing. At this point, it looks like I may have to live with it if it DOESN'T eventually shrink to nothing.
Any thoughts? Suggestions?
