A painful and interesting lesson for me

[immortal gypsy]

Stayed in hospital over Easter (seizures, epilepsy blah) wake up next morning my hand that had the canula and wrist are sore. Informed nurse and doctor but thought nothing of it, because sore body parts and new bursies I expect.

Two weeks later still sore see a Dr. do a x-ray. Not broken wrap it, ice it rest it, see me in two weeks of still sore.

Back again ultrasound lets see if it's sprained. Technician(?) Wait here  YOU have to go back to the Dr. IMMEDIATELY with the results. My pain was a blood clot

Dr. sends me to hospital, explaining what has happened.

Hospital informs me as it is superficial I don't need to worry just going to be in pain, and if they knew at the time they could of given me something to help. Sends me away, telling me to watch out that the are doesn't becom swollen.

Dr. gives me advice on how to remove the boood clot and that we may need to look at surgery if we can't remove it.

Now the lesson
Visited my neuro this week she looks at my hand then tells me.
"Gypsy you take oral HRT this can happen occasionally." A painful way for me to find out

[stephaniec]

that's a bummer

[Laura_7]

Now the lesson
Visited my neuro this week she looks at my hand then tells me.
"Gypsy you take oral HRT this can happen occasionally." A painful way for me to find out

It is possible to take bioidentical estrogen or estrogen valerate sublingually.
If the liver encounters estrogen in the digestive tract it raises clotting factors.
With sublingual intake much of this is avoided.

It may be a good idea to spread the daily dose over a few small doses to keep levels more steady.
With sublingulal intake levels rise fast and drop hours later. This also might affect mood.

There are alternative routes of administration ...
patches for example, but for some they are not as effective.

Talk it through with your doc.


hugs

[AnonyMs]

What kind of oral are you taking? Some of it is not safe.

[Laura_7]

What kind of oral are you taking? Some of it is not safe.

Yes, some synthetic forms have grave side effects.
Nowadays bioidentical estrogen or estrogen valerate should be readily available.
You might talk about it with your doc.


hugs

[Tessa James]

Sorry you had the painful path for this.  Will your provider keep you on HRT?

The risk of blood clots developing while we are on HRT is often part of the informed consent we sign off on.  Mine was four pages long and I had to initial every possible item.  My provider also informed me that if I did develop blood clots or a thrombus she would cease my prescription for estradiol.  That still scares me!

Keeping active is one preventive measure.

Trust you will heal and recover soon

[Laura_7]

The risk of blood clots developing while we are on HRT is often part of the informed consent we sign off on.  Mine was four pages long and I had to initial every possible item.  My provider also informed me that if I did develop blood clots or a thrombus she would cease my prescription for estradiol.  That still scares me!

This is mainly for oral estrogen.
Some doctors rather use patches instead, or injections.


hugs

[Tessa James]

My provider has prescribed the patches for this old girl from the start but her conservative approach is unyielding...so far

[Laura_7]

My provider has prescribed the patches for this old girl from the start but her conservative approach is unyielding...so far

Lol the way of application plays a big role in this.
The liver has estrogen sensors for arteries concerning the digestive tract.
So if estrogen is swallowed the liver raises clotting factors.
Witch sublingual intake its much less.

And of course much more so with patches.

A factor could be smoking ... it makes small blodd vessels shrink.
So quitting might be a good idea.

hugs

[immortal gypsy]

Sorry you had the painful path for this.  Will your provider keep you on HRT?

The risk of blood clots developing while we are on HRT is often part of the informed consent we sign off on.  Mine was four pages long and I had to initial every possible item.  My provider also informed me that if I did develop blood clots or a thrombus she would cease my prescription for estradiol.  That still scares me!

Keeping active is one preventive measure.

Trust you will heal and recover soon

She is as it's superficial and this is my first ever clot in a family with no history of clots. I hope so to I can sort of use my hand at home where I can ask for help if something is too heavy. At work I'm stuck working virtually one handed.

[AnonyMs]

I spoke with my endo a couple of weeks ago. Out of 70% of the 3500 trans patients on implants none have had problems with dvt who did not have a Pre-existing condition, and even those that did have a condition the number with any dvt was tiny. I don't think it rules out HRT.

He has seen a fair number having problems with other forms, non-bio identical I think, that were not caused by a pre existing condition. Ie it's caused by the wrong type of HRT. It seems many doctors don't know what they are doing (my words not his).

ethinyloestradiol Has a risk of dvt in cis-women and trans women often take it in much higher doses to transition, hence far higher risk. Its not safe, but some doctors prescribe it as HRT anyway. Some people diy with it, which is really bad.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-05/women-prescribed-banned-contraceptive-pill/5136370


I don't recall every detail, but that's the gist of it.

Edit: my endo is happy with quite high blood levels, and it's great. And safe...

[Eva Marie]

Ask your doctor about taking a baby aspirin every day. My doctor wanted me to start taking one every day when I had a blood clot to help prevent them from occurring.

[AnonyMs]

Ask your doctor about taking a baby aspirin every day. My doctor wanted me to start taking one every day when I had a blood clot to help prevent them from occurring.

My endo said not too. Aspirin is not without risk, and overall it not worth it.

[Laura_7]

My endo said not too. Aspirin is not without risk, and overall it not worth it.

There may be a few natural possibilities:

http://www.ctds.info/natthinners.html

If in doubt talk it through with your doc ...


hugs

[Tessa James]

Lol the way of application plays a big role in this.
The liver has estrogen sensors for arteries concerning the digestive tract.
So if estrogen is swallowed the liver raises clotting factors.
Witch sublingual intake its much less.

And of course much more so with patches.

A factor could be smoking ... it makes small blodd vessels shrink.
So quitting might be a good idea.

I agree that smoking introduces huge health risks for anyone.  That's why I quit years ago and actively work to reduce use of that toxic product.   

hugs

[immortal gypsy]

Ask your doctor about taking a baby aspirin every day. My doctor wanted me to start taking one every day when I had a blood clot to help prevent them from occurring.

That, heat pack, massage and rubbing in a sports gel to try and make the blood clot dissappear. Don't like that we're coming into winter, the colder it gets more "OUCH" the hand gets

[Ms Grace]

I'm glad you're generally OK, Gypsy. Clots are pretty nasty business so it sounds like you got off relatively "lightly"...although I'm sure it doesn't sound like it. My father was lucky not to lose his whole foot this time last year to a blood clot, still lost two toes though and had a month or more in hospital and rehab. I never saw it, but apparently his foot turned very dark blue. Yikes! Anyway, it seems you are on the mend, get well soon. Think about talking to your endo about a different delivery method for your estrogen. I have implants and they work a treat!

[immortal gypsy]

Ooh ouch sorry about your father Grace.

Yeah on the mend(ish) now we know what it is, we are can treat it. (Or have me annoy supergirl with my endless has my hand/wrist swollen questions).

Implants have thought about them, but considering I can't cross the harbour when friends go see Dr. H for a refill due to fear. I think I might be sticking to the pills. If this ever happens again this may be something I will have to try and get over. (It's just a little knick right)

[rosinstraya]

Hi Gypsy,

I think Dr H's implants are a *lot* less trouble than that blood clot! I understand your being fearful, however it is very quick and lasts for six months!

Wishing you a full recovery!


Ros

[Cindy]

Hi Gypsy,

So sorry to hear about your woes, but I am also very glad the clot was in your hand and not somewhere else such as the brain or lungs!!!

If you can't get implants have you considered patches? I have now gone on them after years of implants and I find then no problem at all, and they are very safe.

Glad you are OK!!