Posts by Sam Castillo7

velvetcrane1 said:thanks for getting back to me,

So, I finally have an update. I went in for a checkup at Mayo Clinic this morning. The doctor there went through all my tests, checked out my leg, and basically told me it’s not a clot—and never was. Turns out, it's actually "entrapment syndrome" involving my popliteal artery. Apparently, the folks over at the Lakers just totally misdiagnosed it and treated me for the wrong thing entirely.

The fix is surgery to "release" the artery from the muscle that's squeezing it.

Honestly, after being bounced around with so many different diagnoses, I’m pretty skeptical now. I’m going to hunt down a few more second opinions before I decide if I’m actually doing this.

The vascular specialist's advice? Just ramp up my activity levels and push right through the pain threshold every single time until the pain eventually gives up.

I don't have a hematologist—they never even mentioned I needed one. Any suggestions?

I'm moving out of the States in three months anyway, so I'll be switching doctors regardless. I just wanted to see if they could actually do anything useful for me while I'm still here.

Hey!

The diagnosis from Magdalena actually sounds plausible. If there was constant pressure on that spot, it’s perfectly logical that a clot would form—especially when you factor in genetics. Thrombosis isn't exactly rare. Definitely get that second opinion, though!

You absolutely need a hematologist because of those mutations they found. My guess is nobody has even bothered explaining them to you properly. Once you get pregnant, you'll be under the watchful eye of both a hematologist and an OB-GYN. They’ll likely put you on low-molecular-weight heparin, which means you'll be giving yourself injections. These mutations tend to flare up during pregnancy, leading to miscarriages or DVT. That’s why the heparin is non-negotiable, provided you're supervised by a hematologist. If you want to hear about actual experiences, there's a thread on this forum about blood clotting disorders during pregnancy.

I can highly recommend my hematologist, Dr. Zupančić over at Rebro. Since you already have all your lab work ready, you should book an appointment now. The number is 555-012-3456. She’s currently out on medical leave, so the nurse is booking patients for May. Try your best to squeeze in. If you can't, look for someone else at Rebro—they really are the best. They have great vascular specialists too, if you end up wanting another opinion.

Hope this helps a little. Try to get as much done as possible while you're still here, and once you move, find yourself a solid hematologist. Also, if you have a sister, she should probably get tested for the same mutations you have—just to be safe regarding future pregnancies.

Best!

Hey there!

I don't have any firsthand experience with arterial thrombosis, but I've dealt with deep vein thrombosis before.
We actually share the exact same genetic mutations—I had a clot back in 2008. I was on anticoagulants for about a year and a half. Once the clot fully dissolved and we finished all the testing, they finally took me off the meds. Now, because of my genetics, I just go in for hematology checkups every six months, which pretty much covers it.

Here’s the thing: these mutations we both have aren't inherently massive risks on their own. They aren't some ticking time bomb unless something "triggers" them—there always has to be a catalyst. Do you know what triggered it for you the first time? Also, did you stay in touch with a hematologist during the gap between your recovery and this latest incident? And what did your vascular specialist suggest for moving forward—just get back to your normal routine, or do you need to play it extra safe?

How are you holding up right now?

If the doctors you're seeing currently can't give you a straight answer as to why this happened to you, then find new ones.

By the way, there's a thread on the forum specifically about deep vein thrombosis. If you have a moment, take a look—it might actually be useful for you.

Take care!

electricbison3 said:Oh, please—as if a doctor’s actual competence depends on watching a handful of clinical rotations (and honestly, I can just picture those med students trying way too hard to look serious while they watch).
Why don't they just learn from each other?

Learn from each other how? What are they going to see? Some perfectly healthy young guy sitting in front of them.☕

Sam Hall15 said:It’s actually a solid approach—once a student gets enough reps under their belt, letting them handle the initial patient exam and outreach can be great. Honestly, patients often feel way more at ease when they get that focused, one-on-one attention right off the bat. That’s pretty much how it works in the US and Canada—at those top-tier university hospitals that basically set the gold standard for care, you usually see a student first, who then briefs the attending physician on your case.

We see that happening here from time to time too—it’s perfectly normal.😉
So, just the other day I had two students drop by the clinic to see the doctor. They asked—with all the politeness in the world—if they could touch my arm. I was shirtless, obviously, just in a bra, since the doc was checking out some vascular mapping. And honestly? Of course they have to feel it. You can't exactly get a real sense of the texture just by staring at it; you actually have to use your hands. Now, if there were fifteen of them standing there in a line waiting for their turn to poke and prod, I probably wouldn't be feeling quite so comfortable—but let's be real, nobody’s lining up like that in an American doctor's office... so, yeah.

I think everyone’s experience is going to vary wildly—it really just comes down to a dozen different factors. I’ve spent a massive amount of time trekking through various hospitals, and honestly, I’ve seen just about everything under the sun. But even with all that, I haven't had a single bad run-in with anyone—whether it was students, interns, nursing trainees, or even high school vocational kids. Everyone I dealt with was polite, tactful, and genuinely trying their best to act like professionals.

Maybe my takes come across this way because my little sister went through nursing school—so I’ve basically had a front-row seat to all the hospital horror stories, clinical rotations, and endless drama. Not to mention how many times I served as her personal guinea pig for "practice." We're talking everything from learning how to change linens and wash patients in bed to various ways of repositioning people. It was a lot. And when she finally hauled a bunch of needles and syringes home and asked if she could practice drawing blood on me? Yeah, I had to shut that down immediately.😲 But hey, Mom said it was totally fine—she even offered to let me test it out on her first. 😁 And everything was going just fine. 🙂

swiftpanther52 said:When I was stuck in the hospital, I actually thought about asking if I could watch them perform my lumbar puncture—not because I’m a masochist, but just because I wanted to see how much longer this whole ordeal was going to take. But honestly? The staff was totally thrown off by me. They kept peppering me with questions like, "Does this hurt?" while I was busy chatting and laughing with my doctor. It was awkward for them—they clearly weren't used to someone being so chill. At the end of the day, it's all about setting expectations!

For me, the constant questioning was the absolute worst part of being in the ICU. I had zero energy for it, but somehow, they always managed to time the shifts perfectly—it was like a revolving door of interns. Every three hours, a new pair would waltz in asking the same tired questions: "Are you in pain? What was the first thing you felt? Have you ever used drugs intravenously? Can you tell us 😉."

Looking back, it's pretty obvious there's always some trainee in the mix, trying to figure things out on your dime.😂

Kevin Morris12 said:LOL, I totally get that—it’s infuriating. Honestly, I haven't really had the experience of being naked in front of people before, but even at the dermatologist, it drives me nuts. Like, if you go to a place like Mayo Clinic, there’s always this swarm of med students hanging around—just a whole pack of them—sitting there while I'm trying to explain my issue to the doctor (which isn't even an intimate area, but still). Then they start poking, prodding, and scribbling everything down in their little notebooks... 🙄 It’s quite the little production; honestly, you just want to kick them all out and find a different specialist. ☕

But how exactly are they supposed to gain any actual experience if they aren't interacting with patients and learning from real cases?🙄 If it bothers you that much, just pick a hospital that doesn't partner with medical schools or pay for a private clinic.

On topic: the nursing interns—those ones doing their rotations—practiced a few small things on me, and it never even crossed my mind to complain or make a scene. They were incredibly sweet and kind, so I tried my best to stay relaxed and give them as much support as possible.

The last time I saw an internist, he actually brought some students along because the case was particularly interesting 😁 and started quizzing them. They were sort of winging it—mostly just guessing—and I actually knew the answers to about 80% of their questions. I asked if I could chime in.😂 Anyway, thanks to the fact that students were present, the doctor ended up giving this mini-lecture, explaining everything in detail and testing them thoroughly, which meant everything was crystal clear to me too and I didn't have to ask a single question.🙏 My takeaway? It’s actually better to see a doctor when students are around because there's zero guesswork involved.😉

urbanscout50 said:Ideally, any anesthesia should "start" with a pre-anesthesia consultation. If we’re talking about a scheduled, elective surgery, that checkup should happen at least a week beforehand—just enough time to grab extra test results, get a second opinion, or tweak your medication if needed. Most hospitals have a dedicated outpatient clinic for these consultations. In some places, the doctors there strictly handle the paperwork and rarely step foot in the OR, so there's almost zero chance they'll be the ones actually putting you under. But in other facilities, the anesthesiologist assigned to the clinic also rotates into the OR on other days. In those cases, there's a much higher shot that it'll be the same person. If you feel comfortable with them, you can even ask if they'll be handling your case during the procedure.
The word from the clinic doctor isn't set in stone either—things can change between the consult and the actual surgery—since the final call belongs to the anesthesiologist who manages you right before the operation begins.
For emergency surgeries, obviously, the assessment happens in a rush immediately before the procedure.

In the real world, it works like this: you see one person at the outpatient clinic (in my case, a doctor who stays strictly in the clinic and never shows up for surgery), then you meet a second person at the hospital for the formal checkup (for me, a junior doctor who just does the prep talks and doesn't go into surgery), and then, when you finally lie down on the table while the pre-op meds are already kicking in, you meet a third person—someone you're seeing for the very first and last time. I swear, it felt like a giant panda popped up over my head with a sign saying, "Good morning. I'm your anesthesiologist." My only response was: "Okay."😁

And honestly? It feels impossible to actually track one down! They're either constantly on call, or you show up the day after they've pulled a brutal double shift and you just can't catch them. They're scattered everywhere.

The biggest joke is that at the hospital (my experience was with OBGYN at Mount Sinai), when you schedule a surgery, they hand you this official packet detailing patient rights, responsibilities, and the whole process—only for you to realize that the anesthesiologist is essentially the brain of the entire operation. The paperwork makes it sound lovely, like they should visit the patient the day before surgery, but that almost never happens in practice. I actually ended up taking that paper to the head nurse to ask why on earth they even bother handing it out if the system doesn't work like that and you still end up not knowing who's going to put you to sleep. There are all these supposed steps laid out in writing, but reality tells a different story.👎

Don't get me wrong—my experience was actually great. I didn't have any issues, and everything went perfectly smoothly. It's just that I felt uneasy because I had no idea who would be in charge of my breathing until I hit the OR (and by then, I was too far gone to care). I just wanted to chat for a second with the person who would be keeping me alive for several hours, but that opportunity never came.

Laura Ramirez10 said:I've got a question too—any help from women living in New York City would be appreciated! Since I work in NYC from 8:00 to 4:00 and my apartment is also in the city, I can't get bloodwork done where I actually live. I need to find somewhere I can go without a referral; I just need to check my liver and cholesterol levels.

Where's the cheapest and closest spot (near Fifth Avenue or Potomac) to get this done so I can make it to work by 8:00?😢 Maybe the Črnomerec Community Health Center or some private clinic nearby?

You can do it here.

ironscout15 said:Look, if that community health center offers those tests, I don't see the issue—just pay the fee and get them done.
Honestly, check out some private labs too. If the price difference isn't massive, going private is way better since you don't have to roll out of bed at dawn or wait an eternity in a waiting room. I bet they can even fax you the results if you can't make it in person.

If she goes the private route, the results will be ready in a heartbeat—no crowds, no need for a referral from a doctor—but she’ll be paying through the nose for it, given these are full-blown panels before starting birth control. Stick to the community health center.

swiftbison25 said:Is there a higher chance I'll gain weight or lose it once I stop taking the pill? It seems like most women start taking them specifically to put on a little weight—that was my move too—so now I'm paranoid that the hormone shift is just going to make me bulk up again. 🤷

Basically, you end up retaining a ton of water because of the estrogen. That’s where the extra weight and the bloating come from.😬 Then you've got people whose appetites just skyrocket, leading to even more pounds. Honestly, though, it’s all super individual—everyone's body reacts differently.
Just watch what you eat and stay active.😉

ironscout15 said:Sam Castillo7, thanks a ton for the help 🙂
if I figure anything else out, I'll let everyone know 🙂
either way, I'm strictly using condoms from here on out until further notice 😛

Look, condoms are pretty much the gold standard—assuming they don't snap! 😬 Besides preventing an unwanted pregnancy, they’re the only real defense against STIs. It's not like I'm even considering the pregnancy thing—I definitely don't want one, so obviously I'm being careful—but catching a disease? That's a whole different level of terrifying.
I'm always Team Condom!👍 It's either that or nothing at all.😁

Karen White57 said:What about those contraceptive patches? My OB-GYN told me they’re way better than pills, but apparently, I've gained too much weight for them—she said there's a 165 lb limit.

The patch is still loaded with hormones, though.

ironscout15 said:That’s exactly the point... the first doctor I asked said it was a no-go, but the other three I consulted all told me I could take the pills.😕

Look, you definitely need to consult a hematologist—which would be smart anyway, given your family history—and find yourself a serious gynecologist who actually understands blood disorders and genetic issues. And please, don't go to some small private practice or a walk-in clinic; go to a major hospital.

I once had a gynecologist at some high-end boutique clinic prescribe hormones that I would have swallowed in a heartbeat just to get my cysts to burst—this was only two months after my thrombosis, so the clot was still very much a thing in my system—all while claiming "it's not even estrogen, so you're fine."🙄 Then she calls a colleague to double-check, and he confirms the prescription. It made zero sense to me, so I called my own doctor, who told me absolutely NOT to touch them—though, to be fair, she didn't really have a plan for the cysts either, just "let's wait for your period and see what happens." Since I wasn't a fan of their uncertainty or lack of a strategy, I went to the hospital, hit up the OBGYN department, and talked to people who deal with this kind of stuff every single day.😉 And they sorted it out—very successfully.🙂

stormymaker24 said:Thanks.

All my clotting indicators are perfectly normal, with the exception of those slightly elevated platelets, a marginally high fibrinogen level (by 0.3), and relatively low fibrinolysis (95, against a ref of 150-210). My PT is 0.91 and the INR is 1.06, both of which are acceptable.

I have just discovered that fibrinolysis levels drop during periods of stress, and I spent my nights tossing and turning because I was terrified they would cancel the procedure...
Well, as it turns out, they did cancel the surgery due to thyroid issues—an issue I maintain I don't even have. My TSH and T3 are only negligibly elevated, so much so that a friend of mine, who has been battling thyroid problems for ten years, didn't even believe these numbers could be the reason for a cancellation. My hormone levels used to be erratic, but they have been stable for two years now, and frankly, I have no desire to start taking medication. It is enough to drive one insane.
To top it all off, they’ve put me on heart medication because they discovered a cardiac defect I had already suspected.
It is quite unbelievable, but in the midst of these surgical preparations, I haven't encountered a single doctor who hasn't managed to slap at least one new diagnosis onto me.
I am completely overwhelmed, and I feel as though I am on the verge of a breakdown; everyone seems determined to medicate me, while my ovaries, back, and uterus are in such agonizing pain it feels like I've been on my period for a month straight... I am at the absolute end of my rope. 😢

Just take it easy. Seriously—don't stress yourself out over this. You’ve just gotta tackle things one step at a time. 😉 Look, it’s a massive relief they caught that heart issue before you went under the knife—honestly, who knows how that surgery would've gone if they hadn't. You can't just mess around with stuff like that.
I’m always telling people—and I mean everyone—that you shouldn't just settle for the first answer you get. If something feels off, go find another perspective. Seriously, seek out a second or even a third opinion if you have to. In your case, you really ought to go talk to another specialist regarding your thyroid and your heart—just to be absolutely sure.

Look, you really need to just chill out—you’re clearly letting all this stress get to you. Honestly? Just forget about all those damn doctors and the endless medical nonsense for a minute. Take a weekend trip somewhere—just get out of town—and find some way to actually enjoy yourself without it being another exhausting chore that leaves you even more wiped out than before. Go do something nice for yourself for once. Trust me, things will feel a lot easier if you just breathe.😉 And then, one by one.

Alright, hang in there—stay safe out there.🙂

stormymaker24 said:Yes, I am, which is precisely why I was inquiring about "everyday" triggers.
I was already planning on a more relaxed lifestyle, but now my scheduled surgery has been scrapped because my lab results came back absolutely catastrophic across the board, leaving me at a total loss as to how to proceed—and frankly, I am terrified of going off the pill.

Inflammation... yes, my sedimentation rate is incredibly high, so I suspect there might be a connection there, though I suppose I won't know for certain until I sit through yet another round of consultations with my doctors.

Thanks for the input. 🙂

Taking oral contraceptives when your platelet count is elevated is nothing to mess around with. What does your PT/INR look like?

I'm so sorry the surgery fell through. 😢 You were right on the verge of finally getting some relief, too. But hey, who knows—maybe this is a blessing in disguise, pointing out something else your body needs to fix first.
Hang in there, okay?

ironscout15 said:Well, you actually depressed me a little there. I’m really sorry that happened to you—and honestly, I know it could happen to me too. That’s exactly why I stopped taking Yasmin.
Since then, I’ve been deep-diving into different pill options, trying to find a solution—basically looking for contraception I can take without constantly worrying about blood clots. So, I do need to correct you slightly on one point here.
See, Yasmin and Cerazette aren't the same thing. Yasmin is a combined pill (it has two hormones—progestagen and estrogen), whereas Cerazette is what they call a mini-pill or a Progestagen-only-pill. That distinction is huge because it's specifically the estrogen that means I can't touch combined pills—at least, that's exactly what my doctor told me.
I haven't actually sat down with my OB-GYN to discuss mini-pills yet, so I won't claim I can definitely take them. If anyone knows more, please let us know. 🙂

Look, I get that Yasmin is a combination; I just got mixed up for a second. But seriously, no sane doctor is going to recommend any kind of hormone to you given that family history. You don't even know if you have some specific genetic mutation that puts you at risk for thrombosis—nobody is just going to run those tests on a whim. Obviously.

Go find a second—or third—opinion. Not every OB-GYN is properly trained; some of them honestly have zero clue about coagulation or the factors that trigger it. I'm just telling you what three different doctors told me (my regular OB-GYN, the surgeon who operated on me, and the surgeon who scheduled my appointment)—not to mention various internists and hematologists. They all said the same thing: no hormone therapy, ever again. Period.

Thrombosis is a massive, exhausting ordeal that requires at least a year of treatment. Dealing with condoms or extra prep work is nothing compared to the absolute nightmare that a blood clot can be.

Good luck finding the right birth control!🙂

ironscout15 said:In the meantime, I found out there are actually pills that women who've had thrombosis—or even those with a genetic predisposition for it—can take. They're called mini-pills (like Cerazette, for example). I'm seeing a new gynecologist next week, so I'll definitely ask about that.
Anyway, I’d strongly suggest you get some clarity from your doctor. There has to be another option besides just relying on condoms 😉

Look, let's get real: there aren't really any contraceptive pills safe for women who have dealt with thrombosis or fall into those high-risk categories. Cerazette is basically the same thing as Yasmin—it's a Progestagen-only-pill, which is still a hormone.

I’m saying this because I lived it—Yasmin was the literal trigger for the thrombosis I barely survived. And here's the kicker: nobody in my family has ever had deep vein thrombosis! I happen to have two genetic mutations, and Yasmin just... flipped the switch on them. That was it. Now, according to every single specialist I've seen—internal medicine, hematologists, OB-GYNs, you name it—the pill is off the table entirely. Period. It’s condoms or nothing.

swiftbison25 said:So, the title pretty much sums it up... since I deal with varicose veins, I’ve been "playing around" and taking pills even though I knew better—until my doctor basically told me I need to forget birth control entirely because I'm looking at massive issues with my veins if I don't...
I'm honestly lost right now. I've been in a relationship for 7 years, condoms cause me this painful irritation, and getting pregnant is a total "no-go" because of my thyroid issues—it's one of those things where you can't just get pregnant without everything being medically regulated first. So now I'm stuck. And please—don't just suggest abstinence 🙄 tracking fertile days isn't foolproof and I have no idea what to do... any (constructive) advice would be appreciated. 😉

Honestly, those condoms might actually be your best bet. Try different brands; maybe a different material will sit better. I'm not sure if diaphragms are even easy to come by here or how the whole process works. Plus, are you even in the mood for inserting something like that and having to fuss with it? 😕
But seriously, your best move is to sit down with your OB-GYN and talk through your options.

P.S. I'm in the exact same boat. Condoms are the only thing that works for me, period.

Donna Phillips26 said:I honestly think these men aren't playing with a full deck! If she actually involved a little psychology in this, she’d have plenty of work to do...

By that logic, we could say the exact same thing about urologists! 😬 Or dentists! I mean, how "disturbed" does someone have to be to spend their entire day poking around inside people's mouths—drilling, staring at cavities, dealing with food scraps and bad breath... It’s such a lazy generalization.☕

I have no clue why this thread even exists in the Health section. 🤷
Honestly, this whole debate is a complete waste of my time.☕