off work and struggling!

I have been off work for two months now with my DVT which I got in JULY of 2011. I still have lots of pain and swelling and seemingly no progress in terms of being able to dissolve the clot yet. Doctors had assumed I got the clot as a result of an acute ankle sprain in my left leg; but now, it may be something else, just not sure what. I am going to laser therapy to work on healing the ankle, going to massage therapy for pains all over my body, seeing a naturopath to help with weight loss and health and well being. But here is something interesting, the naturopath let me look at a blood sample and found that, even after three months on thinners, my blood appears to be very "clotty" even still and he is surprised by this. I am TOO! I have have 24 or so blood tests to determine if I have a predisposition to clotting, and haven't yet determined this, but the blood sample leads me to wonder!

I have low energy and I am working on feeling better and working on mobility, but I am still shocked that the clot just doesn't seem to be dissolving and that If and WHEN I return to work I may likely still have the clot lingering , have a lot of pain and likely have to alter the very nature of my job!! That worries me a great deal. Has anyone else struggled with this??? Is it normal to have NO change after three months on thinners??

Thanks ...so frustrated ....

Hi Dalpatria and welcome to LADVT, you will realise that anything about DVT is different from person to person,some will have everything go fast (the whole procedure of recuperate, getting better) and for others it seems to take forever. I was like that with my first clot, I took forever before I could put any weight on my leg...
That said, you have to remember that you are presently healing two things, your ankle and your DVT, THAT IS A LOT, plus being on anticoags does take a lot out of you, no wonder you have low energy.
A thing about "naturopaths" they are good for SOME things but others like telling you that you blood is clotty and that after being on anticoags for three months it should not be like that, is ENTIERLY WRONG!!!!
First off, your blood keeps the same viscosity (thickness) even if you are on "blood thinners" to let you know I HATE the term, bloodthinners, THEY DO NOT thin your blood, PLUS anticoags do not dissolve the clot, they simply prevent your blood from forming more clots.

Naturally speaking, the clot melds with the interior wall of the vein it is in, becomes scar tissue. Some people (like me) have issues with PTS (Post Thrombotic Syndrome) where the clot prevents the valves in your leg veins from closing, which is painful and life altering, you constantly have to make sure your legs don't swell because the blood can't go back up your legs...

What I'm saying is " see your naturopath for what he/she is good, not for hematology purposes. It does take a while but it will happen, where you can start feeling normal again and be able to function as yourself.

REMEMBER anticoagulants don't make your blood thinner, it affects the way your blood coagulates (stick together).

A common misconception that many do because the medical association in 1952, called it bloodthinners as oppose to anticoagulants.

Thanks for the reply dero. Saw my gp today and it was confirmed by blood work from my rheumatologist that I have Ankylosing Spondylitis, which I know is treatable and FINALLY gives me some validation about all the OTHER symptoms I have contended with for much of my adult life. Does it make the clot go away, no, but now I feel empowered with some information which is helpful.

My GP was the same about naturopaths, I will stick to his suggested diet for weight loss (as I cannot move much currently); but will see the GP and rheumatologist for updates on bloodwork and such. Very excited to finally be starting physio next week with a hope that I can learn some coping strategies for the chronic pain. Thanks again for yes clarifying about thinners and their deceptive way of giving people the misconception that they thin blood.. I know they don't..just was shocked it is taking so long; and I guess will come to terms if the clot doesn't ever dissolve. It is good to have this forum!!