Heparin is given intravenously in a hospital setting. The shots you can take at home now are a low-molecular-weight heparin:
Quote:
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low-molecular-weight heparin is as effective as standard heparin or warfarin and does not require monitoring of the activated partial thromboplastin time or the International Normalized Ratio. Traditionally, treatment for DVT required patients to be hospitalized for administration of intravenous heparin. With subcutaneous injections of low-molecular-weight heparin, treatment of DVT can be initiated or completed in the outpatient setting with no increased risk of recurrent thromboembolism or bleeding complications. Low-molecular-weight heparin is an attractive option for use in patients with a first episode of DVT, no risk factors for bleeding and the ability to administer injections with or without the help of a visiting nurse or family member.
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http://www.aafp.org/afp/990315ap/1607.html
Factor V Leiden is a type of inherited clotting disorder. There are a number of blood factors that affect clotting. I have a genetic mutation of Factor 2 that predisposes me to overclotting.
Birth control pills are a known cause of initial clots in young women (also was what my first one was attributed to, at age 27). You won't be able to take estrogen for menopause, either, since that's what caused the problem in the first place.
You will have to get a very simple blood test (sometimes now just an instantaneous finger prick, like a diabetic testing their glucose level with a meter) to check how low or high the level of anticoagulant in your system is. If it's low, you run the risk of clotting; if it's high, you run the risk of nasty things like internal bleeds (but it has to be REALLY high, so don't get scared.
) Vitamin K does in fact affect the level, but you don't have to avoid it completely -- which is a good thing, as the foods highest in Vitamin K are the ones that are "good for you," such as dark leafy greens (fresh spinach, kale, red leaf lettuce, broccoli, peas, etc). You just have to be consistent with your intake, i.e., don't eat a huge salad 5 days of one week and then none at all for the next 2 weeks.
Most important: If they didn't send you for an ultrasound right away, and actually sent you home to come back another day? It probably isn't a blood clot. They wouldn't have let you out of their sight if they had more indications that it was one.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Candy