Heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or stroke?

Question

Anyone else worried about any of these happening to them?? Starting a couple of weeks ago I have had horrible anxiety worrying that I'm going to develop one of these deadly complications during my pregnancy, I feel like a crazy person for worrying so much but I can't help it :( especially since I know you are more likely to suffer from these conditions while pregnant because blood clots are more likely.

Answer

Some days I have no issue with the injections and some days it hurts, bleeds and my belly is covered with big, dark, purple bruises.  Because of the blood thinners, it's recommended that I don't try to have a vaginal birth, as I cannot have an epidural or such treatments, while on the blood thinners.  I have to be off of them 24 hours prior to giving birth.  IF I go into labor and I am NOT off of the blood thinners for the 24 hours, I'll have to be put completely under so they can take the baby via c-section.  It is for this reason, I am having a scheduled c-section.  I will also be having another MRI done of my calf, prior to my c-section, to make sure that the enoxaparin has done its job of preventing more clots.  It's been a scary journey, and aside from child birth, the pain I felt from these clots was the second most painful thing I've ever experienced.  What's scary is that I may be on blood thinners the rest of my life because of this.  I'm being referred to a geneticist to see if I have a genetic disposition for clots.  If I miss a dose, I risk a pulmonary embolism.  I'm currently 25w3d, and the baby is healthy and growing as she should.  :)

Answer

I developed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) blood clot shortly after learning that I was pregnant.  It started as a huge bruise that covered most of my left leg, then became what felt like a pulled muscle that just wouldn't go away.  One day I just couldn't put any weight on that leg and I decided to go to the emergency room, as the pain got worse and worse with each passing day.  Turns out I had several clots in my left calf, as discovered by an MRI of that leg.  I was told that the clots wouldn't just go away or dissolve with medication, but that I needed to be on blood thinners for the duration of my pregnancy and even a few months after, to prevent more clots from forming.  I was prescribed enoxaparin, the generic name for lovenox, and have to inject myself twice a day, just below my belly button.

Heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or stroke?

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