Introduction
Welcome to BloodClots website. This is a free web based
resource to answer questions about blood clots. This site is based on
personal experiences and research and is provided to help patients and
families afflicted with blood clots.
Why was this website created?
In June 2005, I was suddenly diagnosed with PE (Pulmonary
Embolism - blood clots in the lungs). I was subsequently put on Fragmin
and Warfarin/Coumidan
for six months. Later tests showed this solved the problem so
nothing more was done for four years. In June 2009, I awoke with a very
stiff, red and swollen left leg and was then diagnosted with DVT (Deep Venous Thrombosis - a blood clot in the leg).
Two days later, PEs (blood clots in the lungs) sent me to the hospital
in an ambulance followed by a visit in ICU in a local
hospital. At no point was I ever told anything more about
what had caused them or how they formed, what the prognosis was, or how
to avoid them. This page is meant to share whatever information I can
about this process based on my past experiences.
The Coagulation Cascade
If you have had blood clots before (either DVT or PE) then the mechanism that causes this is called the coagulation cascade (the mechanism whereby clotting happens and clots are formed). This is a complex bio-chemical process so please refer to the description and diagrams found in the link above.
Resources
Most of the resouces provided here are based on books I have read, internet searches (Wikipedia is a favourite) , personal experiences, and reading I have done in an attempt avoid any future blood clots.