Clot to internal Jugular Vein
Hi all, Just thought I'd update my blog with the latest. Looking back I have continuously complained of lightheadedness, dizziness and the inability of being able to walk any great distance without becoming breathless throughout my EC chemo, just thought it was the side effects. Have been on xeloda since March (2015) complaining to onc of the same stuff along with other side effects, as we do. Just over two weeks ago I experienced a TIA (mini stroke) with no side affects...thank goodness. Last Wednesday went for follow up ultrasound on thyroid and was talking to the sonographer about my experiences. She obviously just didn't look at the thyroid nodules( which have apparently grown another half a cm) but also the lymph nodes and veins etc in that area. The sonographer left for a few minutes and when she came back I was asked to see my GP (conveniently next door). She obviously had rang Dr with findings, where he agreed to see me without a prior appointment. I was grateful in one way but not happy with the news when I was told I had a 7cm clot in the internal jugular vein. Treatment...Clexane for the rest of my life. Not good. Not happy at all. Did not feel the best , not just from the news but my head was very tight especially on the right side and down that side of my face. Dr checked me,called ambo and while waiting did an ECG and other tests looking for stroke etc. Wisked off the hospital for a Ct scan with contract of brain and lungs and ultrasound of portacath and surrounding areas looking for clots, Luckily none found. Very happy with that result. Kept in hospital again for obs and discharged last Friday. Now injecting myself with Clexane twice a day. Have multiple bruises and have actually bled from one site (must have been too close to capillary or something). Still very guiddy and can't walk too fast as I become very lightheaded, the heart starts pumping and I feel faint and become breathless. So what's next.... a PE....heart attack!. I believe the Clexane will take at least three months for the clot to dissolve. This is all the result of boney mets and what cancer does to you blood, which in my case, becomes thicker due to the platelets becoming more active which produce fibrin which acts like a mesh in the blood, forming a clot. Why in the vein? Because the blood flow is slower in a vein to an artery. Why that particular vein? Who knows. All I know is that I was/am a walking time bomb and so far very lucky. A lot of questions still to ask but obviously not everyone has an answer or can answer them.
Was sooo looking forward to no more incidences, completing two more cycles of xeloda and getting another good result from the scans etc of no further progression. Its bad enough to put up with the side effects without having more to cope with. Sorry everyone, just venting.....
Anyway has anyone had the same experience? Looking forward to your response. Sue:)