No Way, What Next?

I had a regular office visit today with my oncologist's nurse practitioner. We were talking about the lymphedema and she referred me to the lymphedema clinic, where I'll get a compression sleeve, receive massage and learn more about managing the symptoms. While she was examining my arm and lymph nodes around my neck she said... "you're not going to want to hear this, but some of the swelling in your arm may be due to a blood clot". A blood clot? It seems that I have had about every possible side effect or complication that there could be. About an hour later I was on the exam table getting a vascular ultrasound. Sure enough, I have a blood clot between my shoulder and port site. It is about 2-1/2" in size and is blocking normal blood flow. I went back to see the oncologist. He assured me that this type of blood clot does not commonly dislodge and travel to the brain, lungs or heart. Whew! Even though he said that I am still a bit unsettled about the whole thing. If it were dangerous or life threatening I know that I would be in the hospital having it taken care of. I started two types of anticoagulants (blood thinners) today (Fragmin injections and oral Coumadin), which will hopefully break up and dissolve the clot. I'm on the injections for five days and will need to be on Coumadin for as long as I have my port. I'll be getting regular blood tests (called PT/INR) to see how fast my blood clots and then my Coumadin dose will be adjusted accordingly. I have to watch for easy bruising and to add reality with a bit of drama... I'll need to be careful not to cut myself or I could bleed to death. Keep me out of the kitchen and away from the sharp knives.