I've discovered something else I did "wrong" after pulling my calf muscle.  I was alternating ice and heat trying to get the swelling to go down.  I was thinking it was just a muscle pull, when it most likely was turning into a DVT as the vein began to clot.  I've been told that heat and ice are a big no no for treating a blood clot in a vein.  Ice will increase the clotting, and heat will make the clot migrate or break loose.  I was "only" doing that for 2 or 3 months.  sigh.  What I should have been doing was making myself walk on the stupid thing instead of sitting around nursing it.

I also found that 85% of people that get DVT on long flights are considered to be athletic.  It seems a slower resting heart rate and increased vein diameter associated with athletes makes them higher risk.  The slower blood velocity and cavernous veins increase the likely hood of pooling and clot formation.  And here I thought exercise was a good thing.

I guess now that I've experienced the symptoms I'll know better next time.  There better not be a next time.

I've been having some strange side effects.  I think the strangest is my dreams.  I usually dream a lot.  Vivid lucid dreams.  Usually quite enjoyable.  However, since I've been on the warfarin, I've been having nightmares.  The dreams start out ok, but then they turn ugly.  Spiders the size of cats, getting caught in a shootout without gun and having to go to work every monday.. oh wait.. that's real life.. Anyways, I wonder if the dreams are my subconscious minds way of telling me to get away from the warfarin.  Other strange symptoms include odd sharp pains in joints, muscles and on my skin.  They last for a few seconds.. or a minute and then just go away.  I also have a light nagging headache that never goes away.  One of the good side effects is that it makes me really tired most of the time.  That might not sound like a good thing, but despite the nightmares I've been sleeping like a rock most nights.  And sleeping for more than 10 hours I might add.  A welcome change from my usual 2 to 5 hours of sleep per night.

Still, I can't wait to get off this stuff.  I'm up to 10mg per day, but I have a feeling that due to my high metabolism and body mass, I'm going to end up taking 20mg or more.  Next INR is the 25th of May.

When I talk to people and tell them about what I have going on, they all usually say it's a good thing you went and got it checked.  It might be, but my response usually catches them off guard.  It might be a good thing, but then it might not be.  Logically, who is to say what the outcome of either path would have been.  It might have healed fine on it's own, or maybe not.  We won't know.  I still find the whole thing annoying.  Honestly, I don't mind the not knowing if the clot will break loose, or if the warfarin will give me a stroke.  I take a lot of risks in life anyways.  Like riding a motorcycle at 150mph+.. or riding fast in the woods on the dirt bike or mountain bike.  Taking risks doesn't bother me.  The thing that bothers me is having to take it easy on my leg right now and having to deal with getting blood tests and seeing doctors on regular basis.. and knowing that I'm taking a drug that has many unknown side effects.  Side effects which most doctors claim are not being caused by the warfarin.  But, there are worse things, and I know many people have medical problems far greater than my own.  I feel for those people and I'm glad that I have a relatively minor and survivable condition.  But that won't stop me from whining about it.