Myeloma DVT

Five days after diagnose for myeloma (June 2001) I developed a pain in my right calf. Being optimistic I assumed it was a muscle strain, “No worries, it will be better next week” I said.
It was getting worse. When I limped into the day stay clinic limping and supported by a crutch the registrar took one look at me and said “That maybe a DVT”. He explained that it was quite common for myeloma patients to have a DVT.
With myeloma the myeloma proteins bind to normal blood clotting factors increasing the chance of blood clotting.
The Register examined my leg, asked about the symptoms. Common symptoms of DVT are pain, swelling, redness and warmth all of which I had in my leg. He then sent me off for an ultra sound scan resulting in confirmation of a DVT.
The treatment was 7 days of heparin injections followed by warfrin tablets to thin the blood and close monitoring. It soon cleared.
No more DVT’s have occurred since though I have had a central retina vein thrombosis in my right eye (Oct 2001) and left eye (April 2005). Both were considered myeloma related and both cleared after 3 months. More about them in later postings.

Glossary;
DVT (deep vein thrombosis): Term used to describe blood clots that form generally in the deep veins of the legs.
Heparin: An anticoagulant that slows down the clotting mechanism and allows your body to break down the clot.
Warfarin: An anti coagulant drug used to prevent the blood from clotting and to treat blood clots.
Anticoagulant: A substance that prevents the clotting of blood.