Superficial Blood Clots

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all! I came across this site a few days ago as I was looking up information about superficial blood clots. I'm a little concerned and would really appreciate any information you'd be willing to give.

I was in the hospital from 9/12 - 9/16 with pneamonia. (BTW, i'm a fairly active 28 y.o. female.) During that time I was on three medicines through iv... antibiotics, phenergan and cortisteroids. I had two ivs blow my first day, one my second day and two more the third day, on the fourth day they placed a picc line in me.

After coming home from the hospital I noticed my veins were becoming hard in my left arm. one above the iv site on my forearm and the other around the site on my hand. Well, it got worse, the site on my forearm began to get harder and and you could see and feel the hardened vein running three inches up my arm. Around the site on my hand, the vein on my middle finger was hardened, my wrist has a lump and other veins around it have hard balls in them.

I was doing warm compresses and it seemed to get worse, called me doctor he said not to worry, do the warm compresses and take tylenol for pain. A few days ago I woke up my hand was swollen, pale and cold... So I took a trip to he ER. The doc told me to do warm compresses and was going to prescribe an antibiotic. :confused: I told him I just came off and antibiotic three days prior and he asked what my concern was... I said I was afraid I had blood clots. He asked If a doppler would make me feel better and I said yes, so he ordered it.

They did the dpppler on my left arm and said I had three superficial clots in my forearm and four in my hand. When I returned to the ER they were ready with realease papers and told me to do warm compresses and in time the clots will disolve on their own.

Now i'm not trying to be super paranoid, but my doctor is kind of a "walk it off" doctor and everything felt very rushed in the ER. So all I would like to know is, am I being ordered to do the correct thing? And is there anything I should watch for? I've tried to research this on the internet, but most results are about Deep vein thrombosis and most results are about clotting in the legs.

Thank you so much to any and all who have taken time to read this! I appreciate any reply.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Being a neonatal nurse, this is something I have absolutely no experience with. Just wanted to let you know that you should obtain a second medical opinion if you are not comfortable with your doctor's care. Do you have a friend or family member who could refer you to a family practice or internal medicine office? Hope you feel better soon!

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Specializes in IMC, ICU, Telemetry.

When I had my DVT, I had the hospital internist care for me and then went to a hematologist/oncologist when I got out. I don't know if superficials are treated the same way deep clots are, but I was on Lovenox the first week, then warfarin for 6 months after. You absolutely have the right to manage your own healthcare, so if you aren't comfortable with how your doc is treating this, get a second opinion from a specialist. It's important to treat it asap, as you can have permanent damage, valve incompetence and scarring as a result of phlebitis & clotting.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in IMC, ICU, Telemetry.

I sent you a PM with some more info...

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Hello all! I came across this site a few days ago as I was looking up information about superficial blood clots. I'm a little concerned and would really appreciate any information you'd be willing to give.

I was in the hospital from 9/12 - 9/16 with pneamonia. (BTW, i'm a fairly active 28 y.o. female.) During that time I was on three medicines through iv... antibiotics, phenergan and cortisteroids. I had two ivs blow my first day, one my second day and two more the third day, on the fourth day they placed a picc line in me.

After coming home from the hospital I noticed my veins were becoming hard in my left arm. one above the iv site on my forearm and the other around the site on my hand. Well, it got worse, the site on my forearm began to get harder and and you could see and feel the hardened vein running three inches up my arm. Around the site on my hand, the vein on my middle finger was hardened, my wrist has a lump and other veins around it have hard balls in them.

I was doing warm compresses and it seemed to get worse, called me doctor he said not to worry, do the warm compresses and take tylenol for pain. A few days ago I woke up my hand was swollen, pale and cold... So I took a trip to he ER. The doc told me to do warm compresses and was going to prescribe an antibiotic. :confused: I told him I just came off and antibiotic three days prior and he asked what my concern was... I said I was afraid I had blood clots. He asked If a doppler would make me feel better and I said yes, so he ordered it.

They did the dpppler on my left arm and said I had three superficial clots in my forearm and four in my hand. When I returned to the ER they were ready with realease papers and told me to do warm compresses and in time the clots will disolve on their own.

Now i'm not trying to be super paranoid, but my doctor is kind of a "walk it off" doctor and everything felt very rushed in the ER. So all I would like to know is, am I being ordered to do the correct thing? And is there anything I should watch for? I've tried to research this on the internet, but most results are about Deep vein thrombosis and most results are about clotting in the legs.

Thank you so much to any and all who have taken time to read this! I appreciate any reply.

Hello, Shutterbug,:balloons:

Normally, superficial blood clots will reabsorb without incident. If you are still concerned, you need to contact your PCP again.

Good luck.

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Thank you all for the replies! It's nice to have other opinions. It's not so easy for me to change doctors though, as I have no insurance. I go through a medical clinic and there is only one doctor in the clinic. So I really appreciate all the replies, it makes me feel more at ease. The swelling has gone done and the color has returned to my hand. The veins are still hard, but the warm compresses help a lot with the pain.

Again thanks, I felt kind of bad posting here, because I am not a nurse, nor a nursing student (Social Work student) and I'm sure all of you hate being questioned as soon as someone finds out you're a nurse. So thanks for the time and the concern, it means a lot. :)

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:confused: Ok, i'm a pest, but I don't know what to do. It's a month later, my veins are still rock hard and more bumps are popping up in my veins. The area that's hard is starting to get pretty painful.. but there is no swelling or heat.

Last time, I promise, is it normal to still have this problem a month later? I can't get in to see my doctor until the 31st. Is there more I should be doing? And better yet, can anyone direct me to any websites with good information. I've read many sites, but none seem too concerned about superifical clots. Tell me if i'm over reacting.

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Specializes in IMC, ICU, Telemetry.

So sorry to hear you're still having problems. I'd definately consider seeing a specialist - maybe a vascular MD? Is there still a clot or is it chronic phlebitis? I sent you a pm a while back about an online thombosis group - have you had a chance to check that out for more info?

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Hi Maolin, yes I did go to the site and thank you for the link, however the site seemed to only be about deep vein thrombosis and I was told mine was superficial.

It's clots, from the ivs I had while in the hospital. I'm more or less wondering if it should take this long or longer for them to dissolve, because they seems to be getting worse, not better.

Thank you for the advise and i'm looking into a vascular doc in my area. :)

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Hi Maolin, yes I did go to the site and thank you for the link, however the site seemed to only be about deep vein thrombosis and I was told mine was superficial.

It's clots, from the ivs I had while in the hospital. I'm more or less wondering if it should take this long or longer for them to dissolve, because they seems to be getting worse, not better.

Thank you for the advise and i'm looking into a vascular doc in my area. :)

I suggest you take yourself off to see a hemotologist. Superficial vein thrombi can turn into SDVT.

Grannynurse:balloons:

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I was just in the hospital 2 weeks ago and the doctor told me that i had a superficial blood clot.

When the pain was still there 2 weeks later i went back to the ER and it turned out that it had turned into a deep vein blood clot and i was put in the hospital for 2 days and they shots of blood thinners twice a day. They also put me on plavix to help my blood not clot so easy and i feel a lot better. The doctors started me out on Naproxen ands antibiotics the first time i went in and they did not help at all. I would ask about being on a long term blood thinner it helped my arm.

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