Heylo all
,
My name is 'glosdancer86' and im from the UK. I thought I'd join as I've had a roller-coaster of a time with my R calve, with suspected DVT. **I don't know where else to post what I am about to write, so feel free to tell me to move it or whatever**.
So where do I start? End of October I began enduring this annoying pain in my R calf, I couldn't sit still and generally the leg was really annoying me. My leg (to me) did not look swollen, nor did it change colour and it was not hot, which my mum said were the signs of a DVT. I went to my GP, explained what had been going on and she did the D Dimer test, which came back with a high reading. Immediately that evening @ the Drs I was given a jab of Fragmin, to tie me over for the night, until i went to the DVT ward the following day. The following day on the DVT ward, I had a chat with the Nurse who examined the leg, took some more bloods and I was booked for my first Ultrasound scan. Until the scan I was given a 2nd dose of Fragmin.
The next day I went for the Ultrasound scan. The lady looked at the leg and said ''Hmmm yes it looks a little swollen'', but proceeded to carry out the scan. At the end of it she did not see a clot, which said is a good sign. However I am to return the following week to check again, as clots move. By this time I began to feel slightly unwell, very headache'y and I had chest pain. I explained all to the lady carrying out the scan, and she sent me back tot he DVT ward, where I'd see a Dr. Back on the ward, following my complaint, the Nurse gave me an ECG to check it wasn't cardiac. That was clear.
I saw the Dr on the ward, explained my concerns regarding chest pain, headache'y and the slight breathlessness and he put it down to either 3 things: infection of the heart lining, muscular or there was a small clot. He told me to take painkillers and see how I go. Should the pain continue, go to my GP. Later that evening the pain got worse and started to radiate down my left arm. I rung my GP, who was unavailable, so I spoke to the Nurse who told me to call for an Ambulance. The ambulance crew arrived, I explained my symptoms and they weren't too sure. So I had another ECG, which again was fine. But to be on the safe side, I was taken to A&E.
On the A&E ward, I had blood tests again and ANOTHER ECG, which again was fine. By this time the pain was still there, along with the breathlessness. I had a chest x ray, which was clear. Some 4 hours later the blood test results came back, and all was normal. Even though I had a raised D Dimer earlier in the week from the first set of blood tests, the D Dimer result was now back to normal (but I had had 2 lots of Fragmin). So the Dr in A&E told me to continue taking painkillers. If the pain persists, go to my GP.
The following day, my leg was still giving me trouble. As I had little information on what I should and should not do (apart from keep the leg alleviated, which left my right calf cold most times), I continued plod along with it. My mum thought it would have been a good idea to massage the leg. She massaged the leg, which since doing so hasn't been too bad since. Although having looked up on the internet I now realise was not the best thing to have done. But due to lack of information from medical professionals, I didn't know.
One week later I had my 2nd ultrasound scan, again that was clear and no DVT was detected. However I was still feeling unwell. I went back to the DVT ward, where the Dr just said ''No DVT, if the pain persists, revisit your Dr. Continue to take painkillers''. By this time, I was beginning to get sick and tired of hearing the words ''take painkillers''.
The chest pain continued, I was still feeling unwell, headache'y, feeling sick, various aches and pains all over my body (although this was slowly going and my appetite was gradually returning), so I decided to visit my GP again. This time the Dr I saw wasn't too sure what was going on. She checked my heart rate, she checked the right calf (which she said was lovely and soft, nice and warm), did lots of other bits and was pleased that I was physically fine. So I mentioned to her about the DVT, the feeling of breathlessness and the chest pain and she said ''I reckon that was a red herring, so we can forget that''. So she couldn't put her finger on it, so demanded I do a blood test, check for Thyroid as she said the symptoms I was complaining about sounded similar *other symptoms I was complaining about are too long to list*.
Earlier this week I rung my Drs to find out about the results, the receptionist said not all were back yet, but those that are are normal. However Wednesday I got a phone call that one of the tests I had has come back with a high reading and that I am to go back in 2weeks time to repeat it. Whilst I have been enduring this chest pain, I have developed a dry cough, which sometimes produces *sorry to sound gross* phlegm. Most occasions it's fine, however I coughed up what looked like a streak of blood. So I called my Drs and mentioned it to receptionist who booked me that same day to be seen. The Dr I saw had been familiarising herself with my case, with the first Dr who started the investigation for DVT. I explained all to her, and she decided to have me admitted to hospital, in the bid that the medics there would be able to find out what is wrong. Beforehand she did my heart rate, which was fine. She did however say she suspects that it's a viral infection. However as I am a suspected DVT patient, she didn't want to risk it. So off I went to A&E, again!
A&E did every test possible - all were fine. I had ANOTHER chest x ray, that was fine. Even a urine sample I gave and that was fine. The Dr in the end told me it's a combination of stress and Costochondritis! And sent me home!
Now I am still experiencing the chest pain, which has settled on my left side. Sometimes it crosses to my right side, across my shoulder blades and my back. The breathlessness I am still experiencing, even walking up the stairs, I feel incredibly tired and out of puff.
Now you're probably wondering = this has absolutely nothing to do with DVT. But I am absolutely petrified that I have a DVT/PE and it's gone undiagnosed. My question really is where do I go from here??? What do I do now?? . .I'm just constantly fretting everyday thinking ''What if''. The pain in my chest isn't getting any better and im constantly crying with pain and worry. The Dr @ A&E said ''You look incredibly well'' . . .to look at, yes I look well, inside, I don't feel well!!! . .
I have a few questions to ask:
1) Is it possible to have 2 clear ultrasounds but STILL have a DVT/PE??? . .
2) Those who've had a PE, what symptoms did you suffer with before it was diagnosed???
I really really really would appreciate some replies to my questions because I have been searching for quite sometime, but have had no luck whatsoever.
Thanks muchly
PS: Apologies for the long post.