Ooops, it’s only 6 hours’ difference—I thought it was 7! 
Silly me. And I should know you probably don’t go to bed at 9:45 either!
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Well it’s obvious too early in the morning for me in the UK because I read your post initially @Grandma_J that you were going to share your goodbye message and details of your cothing disorder… and I did that instant rack through the brain thinking gosh - what’s a clothing disorder. 
Anyway please don’t write any more good bye messages even just practising because you’re not going anywhere because it is a superficial clotting disorder. But as you say how on earth do you have that with all your heart meds? Even though have an insane immune system makes crazy things happen.
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Oh, Poo, sorry for all that silliness!
But, I have to say, I’ve been worrying more about this - way more - than I did when I had the stent placed in my heart!
Why? Because I’m on an ant-platelet med and ideally I should NOT be getting blood clots. I think I may be that 1 in 6 person who has a genetic resistance to Plavix…tomorrow when I go in for my follow-up I’m going to ask for a different anti-platelet. There’s one called Brilinta my sister takes. She’s older than me and has never had any trouble with clots.
Blood clots like this are painful—my foot hurts really bad when I stand or walk for awhile (and I already have bad feet!). I have compression stockings on and have been doing everything else they told me to do—elevating, movement, and warm compresses. I guess it takes awhile to get rid of this.
I can’t imagine how painful a DVT must be!
I had a phone follow-up with a cardiologist PAC today. She said there are a few different reasons why people get the superficial blood clots, and they usually aren’t dangerous. They’re worse if they start up in the thigh nearer the groin because that’s where the surface veins meet the deep veins and they can become a bigger problem if the clot crosses into the larger deep vein.
She also told me Plavix isn’t meant to stop/prevent these types of clots. I asked what was the purpose of me continuing to take Plavix? She said it was necessary to prevent a clot from forming in my stent during the first six months of getting the stent placed, but it’s not crucial that I continue taking Plavix after that. She did say if it was her, she’d continue taking it for the small benefit it provides. Plavix is an anti-platelet, not an anti-coagulant.
Also, they don’t start patients on anti-coagulants for the kind of clot I have. Coumadin is an anticoagulant that is used for deep vein thrombosis. She did say I need to stay on 81mg aspirin for the rest of my life, and taking a larger aspirin dose isn’t necessary.
It was an interesting conversation and I’m less worried now about future clots. I’m wondering if the dark spot of psoriasis I had in my leg had something to do with the clot forming. She didn’t know if that was a factor or not.
If you get a clot in your leg below the knee and it’s on the surface (I could only see the clogged vein in my foot, but I could feel it just below my knee to my ankle), no need to worry—much. It shouldn’t be dangerous. To be safe, I’d recommend showing it to your doctor and getting an ultrasound to make sure there isn’t a clot in the deep vein.
I can tell you, no matter what, it makes for a very painful foot!
Amen
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Well it certainly does sound like you got coherent answers and that always but always helps, doesn’t it? So keep that leg elevated and use the compresses and hopefully it will ease for you soon. An enforced rest @Grandma_J never something that sometimes isn’t just welcome even if it comes with a painful leg. x
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Oh thank God!! I just remembered about your issue @Grandma_J and had received an email about cellulitis(misp?) I was going to post the link. Praise God!! I now don’t have to.
So glad and thankful thats not what the problem was and it was not serious, although sounds incredibily painful. Prayers you are better very soon!
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@Sybil, there is nothing wrong with an 8.30 bedtime! @Grandma_J, so glad it turned out not to need the texts 
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Thanks, everyone…it’s a slow process getting rid of a clot! Inch by inch it’s softening…I hope it’s gone in 2 weeks when I go on vacation!
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Well, don’t expect a speedy recovery from a superficial blood clot in your leg. I remember reading it can take up to 6 weeks for it to dissolve. Six weeks have come and gone and I still have the stupid clot running from my ankle down to my foot between my arch and my toes. Clots aren’t comfortable and this adds insult to injury with my painful arthritic arches and ankles…
Does anyone else have superficial thrombophlebitis? Did you end up on Coumadin? Because I’m concerned that’s what’s going to happen to me! IDK if I should message my doctor now or wait until my May 1 physical…I know what I have isn’t a DVT, so not as serious, but it still worries me it hasn’t dissolved all the way yet.
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Sometimes clots never go away. I had my physical today. My doctor told me the reason my clotted vein is still hard is because it has calcified. According to her, this vein won’t go back to normal. So, I’ll continue to have some swelling and discoloration in my foot. She advised me to wear the compression stockings as much as possible. That’s about it. All I can say again and again is what’s next?
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Hey @ Grandma_J. I’m sorry you’re having this problem. I have calcified muscle in my right calf. It does bother me at times but doesn’t sound as painful as what you have going on.
Praying for you hunny. `
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Whats next is a different doctor… Your PCP is right phleboliths usually require no treatment but if phleboliths are causing pain, there are treatment options. Sclerotherapy is the simplest. In this procedure, the vein containing the phlebolith is shrunk with an injection and eventually absorbs back into the body. Endovascular laser therapy uses a laser fiber to seal off the vein and the phlebolith.
Either is simple effective covered by insurance. In fact it is so simple there are vein centers popping up in shopping malls across the country. @Seenie should get a kick out of that. There is no reason to put up with the swelling etc. Your PCP may have forgotten that veins will actually regenerate…
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LOL Yup, I got a kick out of that. 
GrandmaJ, what a miserable nuisance (and worse!) that is. Hope things get better for you.
What’s next? Most of the time I think we need to be grateful that we have no idea. Right?
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Well, the most of it is just the little bit of swelling and discoloration in my foot. The pain is gone. But, thanks @tntlamb, I didn’t know about the laser therapy to seal off the vein. Maybe my insurance doesn’t cover that. I’ll have to ask more questions.
It’s okay @AngieB and @Seenie. It really doesn’t hurt anymore. I had just hoped it would heal completely and the clot would dissolve so my vein would be back to normal. That’s what I was told when it first happened…I understood it would take up to 6 or even 8 weeks. Now it’s a permanent thing.
It seems to be a succession of weird things with me. Just when I think it’s going to be clear sailing, something upsets my apple cart. Maybe I shouldn’t be sailing with an apple cart…
I know almost everyone here deals with health things that come and go (hopefully go) that they never thought would happen. I’m just a little discouraged about it all…I shouldn’t even mention psoriasis is popping out all over my arms and all the little red spots look like I’m a meth addict. Oh well, I mentioned it. 
ROFL! (& more rofl to take it past 8 characters).
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