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Kendra Bothell
One day I had an ache in my calf, since I had just started running, I paid no attention and simply thought it was a pulled muscle. As the week progressed
and the pain increased, I decided to seek a medical evaluation. At that time, the leg Doppler came back negative showing no clots so I left with my initial
thought - that it was just pulled muscle. A week later after traveling I returned and was not able to bear weight or wear shoes. The Doppler this time
showed a blood clot in my left lower leg.
I returned home ordered to be on bed rest with a home health visit to teach my husband and I how to do the Lovenox injections. The next morning, I woke
feeling short of breath. I dismissed this and thought it was anxiety due to the recent events. Four hours later, I called my doctor and was ordered to
go to the ER. I was later diagnosed with a PE (Pulmonary Embolism) in my left lower lung. I was hospitalized for one week for IV anticoagulant therapy.
The medical community attributed my leg and lung clot to thee use of birth control pills and immobility while traveling. At the time of my hospitalization
there were no further diagnostic tests.
Several weeks later I had a consultation with a hematologist because I continued to form clots in my legs inspite of continuing on the Lovenox and Coumadin® .
I was then diagnosed with Factor V Leiden. I was put on Coumadin® and told this would be a life long treatment.
Five years later, my husband and I wanted to start a family. We did extensive research on our own and worked with a skilled maternal fetal specialist and
OB/GYN. I was put on Lovenox during the 9 months it took me to get pregnant and continued these 6 weeks postpartum. I was induced at week 38, because my
medical team felt this was in the best interest of me and the child. In spite of this induction, I elected to have a natural childbirth experience.
I was scared to use an epidural given the increased risk with those on blood thinning agents. Three years later (2006) I am pregnant with my second child.
In this period of time, it seems that the philosophy of care has changed in managing Factor V Leiden pregnancies. I did not have to start the Lovenox until
I had a confirmed pregnancy and induction is not felt to be necessary based solely on my diagnosis of Factor V.
I am on 40mg of Lovenox daily and in spite of feeling like a pin cushion I anticipate another easy and "normal" pregnancy and plan again to have
a natural child birth experience. Additionally, I had a second consultation with a hematologist who felt it was not necessary to be on Coumadin® life
long. The risk for bleeding out on Coumadin® is cumulative at 1.5% annually. It was felt that my risk of having another clot was lower then having
complications from the Coumadin®. After a brief period of feeling paranoid with every ache or pain in my legs. I am happy to not have Coumadin® as
part of my daily medication routine. My advice to all newly diagnosed Factor V patients is to seek as many opinions as necessary for you to feel satisfied
with the information you are receiving and the treatments options available to you.
Thank you for hearing my story,
Kendra Bothell