[defyinggravity65]

I'm worried I have/will get DVT (blood clot in the leg). I read that symptoms are pain, swelling, color change in the skin and that risk factors are periods of immobility, being on birth control, smoking, being over 50, airplane travel, etc.
I am 21 and take birth control and am immobile for long periods of time. I am supposed to fly from Wisconsin to California, USA at the end of next month. It's 8 hours of flying, including the flight back home. I've always had tenderness in my left calf for some reason and I've recently started getting brief, sharp pains in my thighs since I've started worrying about DVT. I'm worried I will get DVT on the plane or that I already have it now and being on the plane will make it worse.
Has anyone ever had DVT and know what it feels like? I talked to my doctor about it and she didn't think tests were necessary. She did not take my concerns seriously since I worry about having a different health condition almost every month.

[queenofpanic]

I see you posted this a while ago. I hope you've already discovered/come to the conclusion youre fine, but in case not.....

I had the same fear for a long time. Ever single time I had any pain in my leg, Id freak out that it must be a clot. I dont really leave my house. I stay home and sit in bed with my legs crossed all day long, which is why Id get so easily freaked out about clots. What I did is I put myself on a baby aspirin each day. Im not necessarily recommending that - you should ask your Dr first, but I just did it cause I couldnt take the panic attacks any more. Havent worried about DVT even once since...

So I guess what im saying is that if you are still worried on a regular basis, look into the possiblility of an aspirin regime with your doctor. See what she says about it. There is a great comfort in knowing that I cant possibly have a clot because my blood is actually too thin now - that's not a great thing, but to me, its better than the constant panic over clots.

The symptoms you listed are accurate. Most doctors will look for redness and swelling along with pain in order to come to the conclusion that it is a clot. Knowing that never made me feel better though. Id panic when the pain in my calf went away because i figured that meant the clot had traveled upward. Its a scary thing to fear something you cant see, that may or may not be inside your body.

On the plane, assuming you can confirm that you dont already have a dvt, make sure to flex your leg muscles often. If you can get up and walk, that's best. If not, then even just flexing your feet as often as you think of it should be enough to keep the blood circulating (and should help to put your mind at ease that you've done what you needed to do to prevent a DVT from forming).

Unless youre very attached to your doctor, maybe it's time for a change to someone who takes you seriously. Even people with health anxiety do sometimes have very real health issues that need to be looked into. A doctor should never dismiss a potentially life-threatening concern just because you worry about your heath more often than most. Just something else to think about.