On my last trip to the Chatham’s I developed bad pains in my left leg in the second week and I put this down to weather conditions and hard work, but upon my return to the mainland the pain was increasing making it hard to function normally. After going to my doctor it was initially put down as being an infection in the nerves as I have had flare-ups like this before as a result of tissue damage in my back.
This nagging pain and heaviness in my left leg lingered for over a week, with the only relief coming from having it submerged in water. This in itself made me think that it was something else like tendon issues, so it was another trip back to my trusty GP for further investigations. After explaining my full symptoms, my doc checked the pulse in my leg as well as diameter of the calve mussel compared to the other leg to rule out DVT Deep Vein Thrombosis) Wanting to double check he sent me for scans that were to confirm my worst fears as multiple clots were found in my main artery.
Learning about Having DVT’s
Once I was told that I had DVT’s I was then instructed to go back to my GP urgently after telling me that it was life threatening! I was told that if it was left a piece could easily travel up my blood stream to my heart, lungs or brain and kill me. Wow!! Facing the thought of something that you had that could kill you was hard to take!!After going to the doctors we talked about the next stages, I went back to see my children before heading to the hospital. Once I arrived at the hospital expecting to be admitted for two or so days I had a doctor tell me that my mate could take me home in about an hour. Totally surprised at this I questioned his train of thought, as I told him what my GP had explained. The doctor just basically said that they would give me hyperdermic needles, show me what to do and send me home with pain relief to slowly recover. Wanting to know more about the treatment options and arguing over the type of drug they wanted to use, I ended up staying overnight.
Medication for DVT’s Treatment Plan
It appears that the normal treatment for DVT is to administer a drug called Warfarin, which is basically watered down rat poison. Looking at the other alternatives I was advised that there are other new drugs on the market, but I would have to pay for them as it was not government funded. Taking all this onboard I started to get rather pig headed after being told more about the Warfarin drug. I told them that If you can give me the new one here and the other when I leave, I would just come to the hospital daily to have the more suitable choice of drug. The doctors then told me that this was not going to happen as they would not administer it to me once I leave as it was too expensive.
I think it is pretty sad that our health system is putting money before what is better for the patients just because of a bloody budget. What type of country are we living in where our health system use to be one of the best, now it is all about the glorious dollar!!
So I was shown how to inject myself with the new drug, before being released from hospital with a 7 day supply. I now have to go back to the doctors to pay for the new supply as well as find out all about what I can and cannot do over the next six month treatment plan.
I would like to say thanks to my dearest friends that are being supportive to me as I go through this difficult time.
My next blog will be about the differences’ between the drug options for DVT’s, as well as how I am finding the recovery process.
References:
Warfarin http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/warfarin-side-effects/HB00101
About DVT http://www.medicinenet.com/deep_vein_thrombosis/article.htm
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