I have recently been diagnosed with active myeloma and will be taking a long flight prior to the start of my treatment. I am concerned about blood clots and am planning ahead with excessive hydration and ASA (aspirin) therapy, moving and walking as much as possible on the plane.
Any other suggestions?
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loveparis - Name: loveparis
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: Best ways to avoid blood clots?
Compression hose might help
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Melpen - Name: Melissa
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 5, 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Best ways to avoid blood clots?
Yes, that is a great idea. They are quite charming, but I am way beyond that. Thanks for reminding me.
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loveparis - Name: loveparis
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: Best ways to avoid blood clots?
Loveparis wrote:
Actually, you CAN get 'charming' support hose that don't actually LOOK like support hose; they come in colors, and stripes.
And they really do help.
Yes, that is a great idea. They are quite charming, but I am way beyond that. Thanks for reminding me.
Actually, you CAN get 'charming' support hose that don't actually LOOK like support hose; they come in colors, and stripes.
And they really do help.
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Best ways to avoid blood clots?
My mom had one her first week on Revlimid. She was put on Lovenox shots, and she has not had anymore problems.
Re: Best ways to avoid blood clots?
I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis, LoveParis. I hope you respond well to treatment and that you don't experience many side effects.
If you don't mind my asking, were you told by your doctors that you were at a higher risk of blood clots prior to the start of treatment?
Here's why I ask. As far as I know, blood clots among myeloma patients occur mainly because of the treatments they receive -- primarily Revlimid and the related drugs thalidomide and Pomalyst. Unless the disease in a newly diagnosed, not-yet-treated patient has advanced to the point where the blood is becoming "hyperviscous" (sludgy thick), I think that, if anything, the patient is likely to be prone to excessive bleeding, due to low platelet counts, than to blood clotting.
Since you recently progressed from smoldering to symptomatic myeloma, I doubt that you've reached the point where your blood is hyperviscous. So I doubt that you're at increased risk of developing blood clots.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't be cautious. I just wouldn't be overly worried.
It will be a different story, though, once you start treatment, assuming treatment includes Revlimid or one of the other two drugs I mentioned. Then you'll want to be cautious about the possibility of blood clots, including taking regular aspirin or something even more powerful, like Coumadin or some other prescription anti-clotting drug, like the Lovenox hopeful27 mentioned.
Good luck, keep us updated on how you are doing, and let us know if you have other questions we can help you with.
If you don't mind my asking, were you told by your doctors that you were at a higher risk of blood clots prior to the start of treatment?
Here's why I ask. As far as I know, blood clots among myeloma patients occur mainly because of the treatments they receive -- primarily Revlimid and the related drugs thalidomide and Pomalyst. Unless the disease in a newly diagnosed, not-yet-treated patient has advanced to the point where the blood is becoming "hyperviscous" (sludgy thick), I think that, if anything, the patient is likely to be prone to excessive bleeding, due to low platelet counts, than to blood clotting.
Since you recently progressed from smoldering to symptomatic myeloma, I doubt that you've reached the point where your blood is hyperviscous. So I doubt that you're at increased risk of developing blood clots.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't be cautious. I just wouldn't be overly worried.
It will be a different story, though, once you start treatment, assuming treatment includes Revlimid or one of the other two drugs I mentioned. Then you'll want to be cautious about the possibility of blood clots, including taking regular aspirin or something even more powerful, like Coumadin or some other prescription anti-clotting drug, like the Lovenox hopeful27 mentioned.
Good luck, keep us updated on how you are doing, and let us know if you have other questions we can help you with.
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JimNY
6 posts
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