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Beery's avatar
Beery
Member
10 years ago

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:)

4 Replies

  • AMM5's avatar
    AMM5
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Sue

    Iwas diagnosed with multiple clots in my chemo arm this week and have been injecting with Clexane twice a day since Wednesday.  Apparently you cannot take the tablet form once on chemo and the injections are absorbed quickly and very effective.  Ive also been told that it will take 3 months but maybe in a few weeks the injections will only have to be daily and the pain will be reduced.  My arm is extremely painful at the momemt.

    Ilve been told it could be from my mastectomy just over two months ago or from the chemo (ive only had two rounds so far).  No one can be sure.  So for my next 4 rounds they will be using my surgery arm as they have no choice.  Anyway apparently lots of people in the normal population are on clexane and it is a very effective drug.  I also would in interested if anyone has either of our experiences.  My oncologist says he sees this all the time.  Thanks Annmaree 

  • lrb_03's avatar
    lrb_03
    Member
    10 years ago

    Where would the fun be if we didn't keep them on their toes! (I'm part of it as a nurse, so couldn't expect things to be straight forward either) 

    Take care, Lyn

  • Beery's avatar
    Beery
    Member
    10 years ago

    Thanks Lyn,

    I think my breathlessness is due to the anemia from the results of the chemo.  Have suffered with fatigue and the usual symptoms continuously since IV chemo started.   I'm off for my three weekly bloods today and see onc tomorrow.  So far so good, I'm still kicking.  Still very frustrated with what is going on and am worried about the prognosis and future treatments.  But life goes on.  Thanks for your story.  It's interesting that these things happen. Keeps the medical profession on their toes tho.  Sue:)

  • lrb_03's avatar
    lrb_03
    Member
    10 years ago

    Oh wow Sue, sorry to hear all that. I have a slightly different story. Diagnosed with bc in late May, with positive lymph nodes. All other scans etc clear. Having chemo to start with. Port inserted 19/6, started chemo 23/6. Saw oncologist again on 6/7, and mentioned what I thought was a painful swollen node in my neck on the opposite side. Off I was sent for another U/S & FNA. Had that done on the Friday afternoon, discovered a clot in " a superficial tributary" of the superior vena cava. Talked with GP late that arvo, on oral thinners. Went to the hospital on the Monday to get port checked before chemo on the Tuesday. The registrar spoke with the Oncolgist, the result? At this stage, a month on clexane twice a day. I see the onc again on 4/8, and will find out then from him where to next, and what it all means for me. However, I hadn't associated until your post, that there might be a link between that and the slight breathlessness that I get when standing, although not so much when walking. 

    Injecting cleaxane, horrible isn't it? Hope you're doing ok

    Lyn