Blood clots, leg pain and shortness of breath

[ronswife]

Hello All,

My husband has one large blood clot in one of his lungs, plus MANY DVTs in both legs. One leg has more than the other.

Before his cancer diagnosis, he had a cardiac stress test and the doctors discovered he had many small blockages in the bottom of his heart. But since he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, the heart treatment has taken a back seat.

He has been on a daily Lovenox injection since 4/21/16, for almost 2 months now.

He almost collapsed at the post office last Thursday, 6/16, due to lightheadedness. The doctors are trying to find out what is causing all of this and they took him off one of his blood pressure meds, glipizide. He is also now on only 1/2 a pill of Lisinopril.

He had an attack of leg pain the shortness of breath this morning too. I just don't know what to do anymore!

Has anyone else on this forum experienced this? If so, PLEASE let me know how you dealt with it!

Thanks Much!

[Lee]

He almost collapsed at the post office last Thursday, 6/16, due to lightheadedness. The doctors are trying to find out what is causing all of this and they took him off one of his blood pressure meds, glipizide. He is also now on only 1/2 a pill of Lisinopril.

Has he had an MRI of the brain? While it is rare for this cancer to travel to the brain (something like 1%), it has happened to a few people. Something to consider especially since he is a stage IV.

Hope he starts to feeling better soon.

Lee

[Mastan]

I have had 2 DVTs and a large saddle embolism. I don't have a history of heart problems though. I can say that it took months to get my breathing back after the embolism. I have metastic disease to the lungs however so I see a pulmonolgist from time to time to track changes in breathing. I assume that your husband sees a pulmonolgist too. If not he should. It is rare for someone on Lovenox to get clots but it happens I am told by the Oncology nurses. If his breathing has changed for the worse and it persists he may need a CT to see what's going on in the lungs.

[ronswife]

Thanks for the great comments Lee and Mastan! I really appreciate it.

He had the clots before he went on Lovenox. And we have been told many times by medical staff that Lovenox does NOT break up clots that are already there. Those have to be "absorbed" by the body over time. (I WISH it would HURRY the HECK UP)!!

But the injections supposedly DO stop new ones from forming!

He had another CT in April that showed NO cancer in his lungs, thank God!

One other thought. Is it possible his liver function could be causing these problems??

[Lee]

One other thought. Is it possible his liver function could be causing these problems??

With my very "non educated" medical opinion , yes I could see where liver function could have an impact. Has he had a blood test recently? Did it show any out of range results?

Lee

[ronswife]

Lee,

He gets very frequent blood work due to his chemo. I will ask his onc on his next chemo, 6/23.

Thanks!

[Pita]

Hope he gets his issues resolved soon! You are a wonderful caretaker (((ronswife)))

[ronswife]

Hope he gets his issues resolved soon! You are a wonderful caretaker (((ronswife)))

Thanks so much Pita! You made my day!