Prolonged leg swelling after long plane trip (follow-up)

This is a follow-up to yesterday's question about my swollen left leg. You asked me to describe the DVT diagnostic tests I have had. I have had three ultrasounds. The first two looked at the left leg up to the groin. The third also tried to look at the iliac vein, but the operator was unable to see the area clearly. I then had a CT scan with contrast dye injected into the veins. This test was also negative. However, I believe it only looked at the left leg and left pelvic region up to the iliac vein. The vascular surgeon seemed pretty convinced that I do not have DVT.

Do you think it is possible to have DVT in the vena cava region that leads to swelling in only one leg? I guess there may be swelling in both legs, but more in the left leg. It is hard for me to tell because I have no measurements of my right leg before the accident. I've been having other circulation problems at night. For example, I once woke up in the middle of the night and my right hand was numb from the wrist to the tips of my fingers (like it had fallen asleep). Normally, I would think I was just sleeping in a bad position, but I have had incidents of this kind repeatedly since the flight, so I don't think it is a coincidence.

Do you think I should go back and see the vascular surgeon and ask for a CT scan of the vena cava region?

[Citizen T]

This is just an observation.. from now on, don't make a new question when you post a follow up.  There are people who spend weeks or months trying to hit the right time, you should have posted a reply in your original thread.

[ozark]

i would request an abdominal scan...not to scare you but sometimes one sided leg swelling can be from a mass pressing on your vena cava or kidney......good luck

[hull00]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. Sounds like I could have some kind of serious heath problem. I will go to see an internist and get some more tests.

BTW, I reposted to the general site because that was the request from the doctor in his original response. I gather that he doesn't always monitor the comments section.

[SusanG]

I'm reading and replying on Nov 12 - a bit late perhaps.

I had a DVT in 1991 - inferior vena cava - AND only my left leg swelled up (and turned pink, pink, pink).  The vascular surgeon (no surgery involved) said that - although only one leg swelled -- BOTH were actually affected.

I was given massive doses of heparin - and spent 4 weeks in the hospital before they finally brought this whopper under control, followed by 15 months of Coumadin and weekly pro-times.

(I had "jillions of tiny clots" from my pelvis down to the toes of my left foot - which blew up like a balloon!)

The white-coats theorized that it started in my pelvis - but I had dropped a heavy box on my left foot before it happened (vision went white, swore like a sailor: the whole deal).

Also, they blamed birth control pills, but years later a genetic blood test revealed a Factor II blood mutation.  My sister was also found it have it.

Fourteen years later, we can turn to the Internet for information and support. I've since learned that I'm not superhuman - and neither are the doctors.  

IMPORTANT: Tell providers ALL of your symptoms - but keep in mind: They may not all be related to the same problem.  Or, the doctor you're talking to may not be in the appropriate specialty to attribute them properly.

And don't let anyone (even doctors) "talk you out of" symptoms - or immediately refer you to a psychologist.  Symptoms (even "just pain") deserve an investigation before you're packed off to a pill dispenser.

I had undiagnosed MS for years - and my raging symptoms were written off as post-phlebitic Fibromyalgia and an Anxiety disorder! Oops! (Gee, maybe THAT'S WHY those anti-depressants didn't work . . .)

Keep your sense of humor - or find one somewhere.  It'll come in handy.

I wish you the best in your recovery.

[Shmd]

Hi Hull00, how are you doing now and I wonder whether you have solved your problem. Have you thought about possible lymphedema? Have you tried Rutoside to treat the swelling?