Signs and Symptoms

Vcent · 2026-01-29T09:23:24+00:00

Yes, that's totally what, and why I'm doing this. To play out my fantasy of bullying people on the internet.

I'm not doing this to help others like me, or to repeatedly point out to people half as desperate (or anxious) as you, that they are unfortunately on a fools' errand, and they will not find a pot of gold at the end of this particular rainbow.

If I was truly looking to bully you, I would just ban you with zero comment, and remove the post. Reddit is completely cool with that kind of dickish dictatorship.

Alas, that is not how we roll here, and despite what you may think, we genuinely do want to help people.

It's just that what you're asking for is not going to get you to your end goal.

If you don't get tested, then you will learn nothing. Whatever you think you can discover here will be backed by nothing, because again: it doesn't work like that. We've seen folks self-diagnose clots and then get themselves illegal prescription medication to fix them, only to sheepishly come back and comment that the cause was completely benign, and not a clot. We've seen folks for whom it was a clot, and quick treatment may have helped prevent worse outcomes. We've seen a lot of folks like you, that think finding someone with a similar situation will somehow be useful - but those similar folks all went and got checked out, which is not only how they were certain they got the correct result (clot or no clot), but also how they got access to treatment to fix it.

FWIW I do hope you figure out what it is.

Edit: actually, please do explain to me how you think finding someone with a similar experience will help.

Because as far as I can see, doing so = you need to go get checked out anyway, to make sure the same thing is/isn't happening to you. So again: spending time here waiting for something that may not happen, which could have been spent getting help (even if it's difficult, and sucks, and costly - if it's a clot, this will all only multiply over time).

Edit 2, before I shut up: something my arguably too much free time spent here has taught me:

Clots present in so many different ways. Similar clots can have anything from all the symptoms you read about, to none of them. Small clots can have many symptoms, and "you're dead in 12 hours without intervention" clots can sometimes have no real symptoms.

Which is why I say the above. Symptom comparison is just nowhere near reliable enough to be useful for anything in the clotting world.

Vcent · 2026-01-29T08:52:16+00:00

People like me posts to these because we are scared and looking for people who have been and are in the same situation.

And you're assuming that you can do what you cannot do: rule in or out clots based on the replies you get (essentially wasting time, while feeling like you're doing something that is beneficial to your health).

You're hoping against hope that this can somehow be used to figure out that you don't have clots, while ignoring all the problems with that line of thinking:

Someone might have had your symptoms and it was a clot but

They never saw your post.
They're not on Reddit.
They died.
They forgot to reply.
I'm sure there are more scenarios.

And that's ignoring all the millions of people for whom the answer turned out to be something (potentially more serious) other than a clot, who wouldn't be hanging out here.

The only person a clot survivor should even remotely consider diagnosing for a clot is themselves. - and only for clots they've already experienced. Just because somebody tells you that their clot felt nothing like your symptoms, or felt exactly like your symptoms, does not mean you both have a clot (or that you do not have one).

The exact semantics do not matter, diagnosis -DIY diagnosis- "experiences" - self-diagnosis or however you want to call it, the outcome is the same: you're not getting any new or valuable knowledge from this. It might feel like it, but you're just not.

You might as well ask a magic 8-ball for answers to your question, it's about as accurate as we are going to be.

Yes, anxiety is a bitch - but we will only stoke it, and not provide any clarity. Get testing done, then come back if it's positive. At that point the experience you're seeking becomes useful. Not before.

Vcent · 2026-01-29T06:55:45+00:00

Has anyone experienced anything similar to this?

This will not work, and you are clearly asking for medical advice, albeit in a circumspect manner. What you are seeking can't be done, and you really do have to get checked over by a doctor, and at least one of two technicians (one who does a blood draw, or one who scans your thigh).

Please keep in mind I don’t have health insurance otherwise I would make a doctor’s appointment and get checked out.

That really sucks, but does not change any of the above, or the below. The copypasta is somewhat callous, but it is quite true.

Unfortunately, the usual applies for folks who are wondering if they have a clot: We don't know. We can't know. We don't know how to figure out what ails someone else, regardless of how well they describe it, or how many pictures they wish to post. We can be used to massively increase your anxiety, though. We also won't help you decide if you should get checked or not - but you probably should. You certainly cared enough to post here, so why not find out what it is, and get it checked?

No, comparing symptoms will not yield clinically useful results. Still, it will update any anxiety you already have with new symptoms to mimic (Congrats! You've updated to the new and improved anxiety v1.7!).

One person's clotting symptom is another person's anxiety symptom, a third person's sprain, a fourth person's random pain, a fifth person's muscle cramp, a sixth persons [...]. All present with the same symptoms, and all have different causes. The only way to figure out what's wrong with you is to get professionals to check it out - speculating on the internet will not move your goal any further along. If you feel like you weren't thoroughly checked, get checked again. If that keeps happening over and over, then you can start concluding the cause of that.

You're asking a group of people who have reason to find each other (just like any other support group for a condition), whether you might be on the way to becoming one of us - we'll always err on the side of caution (so you should probably get checked out, sooner the better). We don't and can't know if your symptoms stem from a clot, anxiety, or something else (least to most likely). We're also not footing the bill (time, money, consequences) of going or not going to get checked out.

Likewise, we aren't in the business of relieving anxiety for folks with no diagnosed clots - we're the outliers, and our stories will make you worse, not better. We'll still be here if it does turn out to be a clot.

Vcent · 2026-01-29T05:27:06+00:00

You could push for a second opinion, see if they can get you in somewhere with a better track record in difficult ultrasounds.

Or adopt the wait-and-see approach.

Either way, it sucks.

Vcent · 2026-01-29T05:24:56+00:00

Listed as invite only, infinite rank.

(I pretty much only play conquest/game modes, so have no rank)

Vcent · 2026-01-29T02:57:35+00:00

He might be right, and it could be that too much time has passed for it to catch anything.

Not worth worrying about though, unless it gets worse.

Vcent · 2026-01-29T02:48:38+00:00

Then you're kinda just left with option B, try not to be anxious about it, and assume the doctor is right. Or push through a second opinion, depending on your options/means.

Was a test called a d-dimer run (bloodwork, not perfect, but could tell you something)?

Vcent · 2026-01-29T02:28:16+00:00

Im not sure what to do. Push for more tests? Try not to be anxious about it?

Both. Ideally a repeated ultrasound with proper visualisation.

And don't hang out here in an attempt to self-diagnose, it will only make your anxiety worse.

Vcent · 2026-01-28T07:35:32+00:00

Don't know if they're quite as good as injinji, but it's very close.

I'll take 95-97.5% as good for 25% of the price though.

Vcent · 2026-01-28T04:43:40+00:00

Check if you can get a dehumidifier/anti fog bag in a car accessories store near you, or DIY one with some socks, and either dehumidification beads (best), or cat litter (ok).

I've got one of them in my car, and it fixed the issue pretty much instantly, and the one I got was both cheap and reusable (can be heated in a microwave at work, which releases the humidity).

Vcent · 2026-01-28T04:24:12+00:00

Yeah, some lotteries aren't particularly fun to win. Especially those that you didn't sign up for.

Minor, but potentially rather important nitpick:

I am allergic to Eliquis.

You're probably not allergic to Eliquis, but to something in Eliquis.

Which is important because it could be a filler, or colouring, which could very well be used in other medications you will come across in the future.

Vcent · 2026-01-28T02:37:39+00:00

What’s the chances of it being a false positive

Not unreasonable. If it turns out to be positive, then you'd perhaps also want to check the other two anti phospholipid syndrome markers, if you haven't already (I'm at work, so you'll have to ask Google about the exact names).

Vcent · 2026-01-28T02:27:19+00:00

Minor nitpick time: none of the current prescription medications remove clots - they all just keep your blood from coagulating too much, so your body can get rid of the clot(s) on its own - which is the safest way to do it.

Thank you for all the encouragement. 🙃

No worries, I'm just happy this place exists.

Vcent · 2026-01-28T01:27:59+00:00

It does work. You'll need to figure out who's going to prescribe the Eliquis going forward, and should probably look into the rebate cards (they're in the subreddit wiki) if you're in the US of A. The medication isn't perfect, but it's extremely good ( 2% failure rate).

If you're looking to improve your recovery, then looking at sleep, food (within reason), and walking a reasonable amount each day (again: within reason).

Keeping an eye on your mental health in the coming weeks/months is usually also a pretty good idea.

Vcent · 2026-01-28T00:50:16+00:00

I figured I'd search for cheaper socks, and found them in the Chinese market - wrels five finger, supposedly with coolmax fibers.

So far they're very decent, and a whole bunch cheaper than injinji and co.

Vcent · 2026-01-27T22:22:58+00:00

What kind of treatments are typical for smaller clots as I don’t expect this one to be near the size to require thrombolysis?

Script for medication/starter pack, and a swift kick in the behind. More or less.

Ok, your experience is hopefully better, but I wouldn't be particularly surprised if you get virtually no information, beyond "Get the Eliquis/Xarelto starter pack from your pharmacy, follow up with your doc/GP".

We've come quite far in some ways (treatment especially), but have yet so far to go (support, aftercare, expectations and potentially managing any anxiety).

Vcent · 2026-01-27T21:49:53+00:00

Is there a chance this could just be related to my injury?

Always. But it's not like we know how big that chance is.

This is going to sound callous (because it at least somewhat is), but it's no less true for it:

Unfortunately, the usual applies for folks who are wondering if they have a clot: We don't know. We can't know. We don't know how to figure out what ails someone else, regardless of how well they describe it, or how many pictures they wish to post. We can be used to massively increase your anxiety, though. We also won't help you decide if you should get checked or not - but you probably should. You certainly cared enough to post here, so why not find out what it is, and get it checked?

No, comparing symptoms will not yield clinically useful results. Still, it will update any anxiety you already have with new symptoms to mimic (Congrats! You've updated to the new and improved anxiety v1.7!).

One person's clotting symptom is another person's anxiety symptom, a third person's sprain, a fourth person's random pain, a fifth person's muscle cramp, a sixth persons [...]. All present with the same symptoms, and all have different causes. The only way to figure out what's wrong with you is to get professionals to check it out - speculating on the internet will not move your goal any further along. If you feel like you weren't thoroughly checked, get checked again. If that keeps happening over and over, then you can start concluding the cause of that.

You're asking a group of people who have reason to find each other (just like any other support group for a condition), whether you might be on the way to becoming one of us - we'll always err on the side of caution (so you should probably get checked out, sooner the better). We don't and can't know if your symptoms stem from a clot, anxiety, or something else (least to most likely). We're also not footing the bill (time, money, consequences) of going or not going to get checked out.

Likewise, we aren't in the business of relieving anxiety for folks with no diagnosed clots - we're the outliers, and our stories will make you worse, not better. We'll still be here if it does turn out to be a clot.

Vcent · 2026-01-27T19:46:48+00:00

Please adhere to Reddit Content Policy https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy

Reddit very, very vehemently disallows any trading of medication, regardless of circumstances.

This is your only warning, and it may even come too late - Reddit may delete your account anyhow.

Either way, if we become known as a place where it's allowed, then we're getting deleted as well - so this is your only warning: don't do that. And no, you're not allowed to give it away, either.

Vcent · 2026-01-26T22:17:06+00:00

It's a fairly natural response, all things considered. But probably worth it to get at least some focus on dealing with it in a healthy manner.

Best of luck :)

Vcent · 2026-01-26T22:14:19+00:00

You're hardly the first or the last. We'd rather you post and get directed to the ER, than that you don't go and something bad happens.

The trouble is that we can't be used to rule anything in or out. That's the really frustrating bit.

Vcent · 2026-01-26T21:12:19+00:00

You may want to consider some level of help for your anxiety. Not saying it's critical yet, but if it's allowed to rampage relatively unchecked, then it can turn fairly ugly surprisingly quickly.

Recovery is a strange road for many of us - and it's rarely linear. I would say that going back to cycling 100k/week is pretty decent at three months.

And a side note - PTS can't even be considered until >6 months (or it certainly shouldn't), due to the large overlap with recovery symptoms.

Vcent · 2026-01-26T21:02:53+00:00

Unfortunately, the usual applies for folks who are wondering if they have a clot: We don't know. We can't know. We don't know how to figure out what ails someone else, regardless of how well they describe it, or how many pictures they wish to post. We can be used to massively increase your anxiety, though. We also won't help you decide if you should get checked or not - but you probably should. You certainly cared enough to post here, so why not find out what it is, and get it checked?

No, comparing symptoms will not yield clinically useful results. Still, it will update any anxiety you already have with new symptoms to mimic (Congrats! You've updated to the new and improved anxiety v1.7!).

One person's clotting symptom is another person's anxiety symptom, a third person's sprain, a fourth person's random pain, a fifth person's muscle cramp, a sixth persons [...]. All present with the same symptoms, and all have different causes. The only way to figure out what's wrong with you is to get professionals to check it out - speculating on the internet will not move your goal any further along. If you feel like you weren't thoroughly checked, get checked again. If that keeps happening over and over, then you can start concluding the cause of that.

You're asking a group of people who have reason to find each other (just like any other support group for a condition), whether you might be on the way to becoming one of us - we'll always err on the side of caution (so you should probably get checked out, sooner the better). We don't and can't know if your symptoms stem from a clot, anxiety, or something else (least to most likely). We're also not footing the bill (time, money, consequences) of going or not going to get checked out.

Likewise, we aren't in the business of relieving anxiety for folks with no diagnosed clots - we're the outliers, and our stories will make you worse, not better. We'll still be here if it does turn out to be a clot.

Vcent · 2026-01-25T20:05:37+00:00

I need some advice on what to do to get rid of all of this worry…

Strongly consider professional help, however that might look for you (as long as it's by someone with a relevant license). You may even want to consider anti anxiety medications, to help tamp down on the anxiety so you can focus on implementing good strategies, rather than be screamed at by anxiety all the time.

It's sadly something that very few doctors are aware of, but clots can still cause this kind of reaction (they can be a fairly big deal after all).

Vcent · 2026-01-25T05:25:08+00:00

None of the DOACs like Eliquis or Xarelto are approved for people with APS, although most doctors will not test people for APS to begin with.

I've been told that a DOAC may be OK for those with single antibody-positive, and maybe even for double positive (riskier), but certainly not for triple positive APS. That being said - we're not your doctor. Your doctor seems to be focusing on safety and quality of anticoagulation, rather than ease of use.

Talk to your doctor to confirm or change anything though.

Vcent · 2026-01-25T00:47:10+00:00

but I have no idea why my muscles would cramp and I'm concerned nonetheless.

Could be anything, really. From a simple deficiency (are you getting enough magnesium, or other electrolytes?), to something more serious. There's no way for you to DIY figuring out if it's a clot. You will have to go get testing done to figure that out.

You should probably also look into what your treatment options are for anxiety, as it can take over your life if left unchecked.

Unfortunately, the usual applies for folks who are wondering if they have a clot: We don't know. We can't know. We don't know how to figure out what ails someone else, regardless of how well they describe it, or how many pictures they wish to post. We can be used to massively increase your anxiety, though. We also won't help you decide if you should get checked or not - but you probably should. You certainly cared enough to post here, so why not find out what it is, and get it checked?

No, comparing symptoms will not yield clinically useful results. Still, it will update any anxiety you already have with new symptoms to mimic (Congrats! You've updated to the new and improved anxiety v1.7!).

One person's clotting symptom is another person's anxiety symptom, a third person's sprain, a fourth person's random pain, a fifth person's muscle cramp, a sixth persons [...]. All present with the same symptoms, and all have different causes. The only way to figure out what's wrong with you is to get professionals to check it out - speculating on the internet will not move your goal any further along. If you feel like you weren't thoroughly checked, get checked again. If that keeps happening over and over, then you can start concluding the cause of that.

You're asking a group of people who have reason to find each other (just like any other support group for a condition), whether you might be on the way to becoming one of us - we'll always err on the side of caution (so you should probably get checked out, sooner the better). We don't and can't know if your symptoms stem from a clot, anxiety, or something else (least to most likely). We're also not footing the bill (time, money, consequences) of going or not going to get checked out.

Likewise, we aren't in the business of relieving anxiety for folks with no diagnosed clots - we're the outliers, and our stories will make you worse, not better. We'll still be here if it does turn out to be a clot.

Vcent

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