Quote from: Bea1968 on May 16, 2019, 04:00:26 PM
When I first started HRT I was on spiro and oral estridol. I had some issues with blood clots.
.
.
@DenaHi Bea, 16 May 2019
Let me introduce myself. My name is Christine Jessica Hernández, which is my chosen name. My legal name is Chet Headley, currently from Southlake, Texas, soon to be Phoenix, Arizona.
I have read some of your posts about your blood clots. I am no expert on medical issues though I do have some first hand experience with blood clots in the legs.
On Friday 23 November 2018, I experienced itching, swelling, redness and elevated temperature in my left leg. At the time I was Skyping with my girlfriend Dena. I mentioned what my calf looked and felt like and she asked me to hold it up to the camera, which I did. She told me to immediately go to a real hospital emergency department and to
NOT go to a
"Doc-in-a-box.".
It was early afternoon, got to the hospital emergency department and registered. When I told them what the symptom/problem was, they immediately took me in and gave me a room. The Doc came in, looked at my leg and called in an Ultrasound Tech who checked my left leg. She found two DVT's in the veins in my calf behind the knee.
Long story short, they prescribed Xarelto as the anticoagulant and clot dissolver. Within four hours my symptoms started to clear. On the 22nd of this month I will have been on Xarelto 6 months, which is the normal course of treatment with this drug. Sometimes it will take longer. On Wednesday 15 May 2019 I had my third D-dimer blood draw. This checks for debris from disintegrating clots. My first test result was 2.51, the second was 1.73 and on Wednesday 22 May 2019 I'll learn the results of my third D-dimer. Normal is (less than or equal) <= 0.49.
My Hematologist wants to run another test that is more definitive than the D-dimer, but, and a big but, I have to be off Xarelto for 30 days before they can run the test. I'll probably have to switch to Coumadin for 30 days. At any rate, I won't know where we are going until the 22nd of May.
I have been
OFF HRT (Estradiol Patches) since 23 November 2018. I'm on what I call
No-Mones. For almost 6 months I have been sitting in a stalled car at a traffic light, languishing in
"Eunuch-Ville." I prefer being on the green side of the lawn so I won't be self medicating.
There is another issue called Phlebitis, which is an inflammation of a vein, usually in the leg. Sometimes clots will form and then it's called Thrombophlebitis. This is serious but not as serious as a DVT.
If you are a smoker, stop immediately and never take it up again. See a Hematologist to find out why you are developing blood clots in your legs. If you're sedentary start exercising especially walking. If overweight lose some, go on a diet and exercise program. See a Hematologist and your Primary Care Physician. If you drink alcohol cut it way back or stop it altogether. Illegal drugs, just stop.
If you have DVT's, do not neglect or ignore them; they are dangerous, they can cost us our lives or worse, we can survive as vegetables. Strokes, if you know what they are.
Had it not been for Dena spotting the DVT and sending me off to the hospital, most certainly I wouldn't be here today;
Dena saved my life! Thank You Dear, I Love You.I asked the Hematologist about Estrogen / Estradiol and their connection to blood clots. He said Estradiol / Estrogen cause the blood to become stickier. So does Testosterone but to a lessor degree. In my case Testosterone should not be an issue as I had an Orchiectomy Friday 13 April 2018; my "T" is close to zero. Dena and I both think my DVT was the result of other problems in my left leg that manifested themselves about 3 years prior and were not related to HRT as I was not on it at the time.
I wish you well in your transition. I'm glad your wife supports you; she is your most valuable asset.
Best Always, Love
Christine
