Thrombophlebitis

Crohn's Disease Forum

Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:

CarolinAlaska

CarolinAlaska

Holding It Together
Joined
Jan 24, 2013
Messages
2,574
J is weaning off her prednisone and is down to 5mg/day. Right after her hospitalization last month she had developed thrombophlebitis in her forearm, which went away except for a little knotting in the vein and a brownish discoloration of the vein. Over the past week, she has noticed increased hardness in that vein, and now for the past 2-3 days has started having another area that is getting sorer and sorer, red, warm and swollen just above her elbow. It hurts to touch. I'm trying to figure out what to do... I guess we'll be going to hospital or doctor again soon...
 
Carol - this is interesting - how did the Dr diagnose it, and did J bruise too? Not sure if you saw my post last week about the bruising on both my forearms that showed up.....

I did mention it to my infusion nurse yesterday but she didn't seem concerned about it.....
 
Here is a picture. No one has taken any real interest in it until now. I diagnosed it myself after being brushed off by the nurses and docs in the hospital. I am a PA myself and I've had similar problems myself.
 

Attachments

  • 1450807964028899783657.jpg
    1450807964028899783657.jpg
    193 KB
Yes,math at needs to be checked out ASAP!
Are you sure she does not have any immune issues?
She needs a more thorough work up for them. That arm looks infected to me. With all these issues she is having I would be concerned.
 
Yeah, I'm waiting to see what the ped wants to do. The rheumatologist asked for pics and told me to see her, but let him know if I couldn't get in with her.
 
kimmidwife said:
Yes,math at needs to be checked out ASAP!
Are you sure she does not have any immune issues?
She needs a more thorough work up for them. That arm looks infected to me. With all these issues she is having I would be concerned.
Click to expand...

No, I've been waiting to get a referral to immunology, but still waiting though I've brought it up a couple times.
 
Did they at least do an ultrasound?
Wow
Ours had ds in the ER quickly when he had vasculitis rash spreading up his foot
 
So far waiting still for and appointment. We'll probably end up in the ER :(, which means hours of waiting in a room with sick people!!! :(
 
Here is one of my arms (left) - started with a red, sore and swollen spot that came up quickly, then turned into a BIG bruise.....like a vein broke....I still have a faint mark on my right arm, but a sore spot still on my left....
 

Attachments

  • left arm 2.jpg
    left arm 2.jpg
    59 KB
Do you have hypermobility? People with hypermobility syndrome bruise more easily and get IBD. Were your bruises where you had IVs?
 
Sending hugs! I hope you can see the ped. and avoid the ER (if possible).
 
No, not my fate in life... we were sent to ER. We're waiting for testing now.
 
Last edited:
CarolinAlaska said:
Do you have hypermobility? People with hypermobility syndrome bruise more easily and get IBD. Were your bruises where you had IVs?
Click to expand...

No, don't have that....and no, the bruises were not where I normally get an iv, if it happens again I will definitely give the doctors office a call....

Hope everything ends up ok at the er!
 
I was kind of expecting that too :(. Oh well. Hope you guys get out of there quickly and that they have some GOOD answers for J.
 
How is it going? Hope that it won't take too long, and that you get some answers while you're there.
 
Still waiting for results. I think she saw a clot on the ultrasound. Haven't heard anything official.
 
Well, they are keeping her overnight. Starting IV vancomycin and they have concerns about reactivating her c.diff. We're not overjoyed about this. She has a clot in her arm.
 
Ugh! Well, I'm glad they're taking it seriously, but I'm sorry that she's going to have to stay overnight, and I really hope the c diff doesn't come back.
 
So far, with antibiotics. Haven't heard anything mentioned about blood thinners or anything like that.
 
Does J have a high platelet count right now? My daughter had a really high count (above 1000) after her abdominal infection last spring, while she still had a lot of Crohn's inflammation and ulceration going on. We saw a hemetologist before she was discharged, but he recommended against blood thinners, since he was worried about worsening her intestinal bleeding. E did end up with a clot in her upper arm a few days later, just above one of her recent IV sites, but luckily it was in a small vein, so she just had to wait for it it dissolve on its own. It took a few days, and we used warm compresses to speed the dissolving. It was very painful for her though, until it was gone.

Her platelet count took months to go down, but this fall it's finally back in the normal range.
 
The antibiotics helped a little last night. She isn't as sore today. She is really gassy since starting the antibiotic. Today they are considering thrombolytics. We've seen residents so far. Waiting to see the attending. She is getting a red streak in the new IV arm today... Sheesh!
 
Nothing like being in the hospital with a crabby, grumpy teen before Christmas... She is not happy at all!
 
So sorry :(. I'm sure she's not at all happy. Do they have anything special for patients going on? Can Child Life come and bring her games or movies or something? At our hospital they also bring crafts for kids to do and actually convinced our grumpy teen that it might be fun to do them!

Hang in there :ghug:.
 
Farmwife said:
Hugs to you both.
Find out anything yet?
Click to expand...

She has a blood clot in her basilic vein and it seems to have gotten infected. They are going to continue IV vancomycin and have her see a hematologist because blood clots in kids are rare. Peds surgery was also consulted and they are watching to make sure it resolves without surgery...
 
Last edited:
Blood clots in crohns patients are very common though
According to our Gi
When ds had leg pain
Automatic ultrasound and clotting factor bloodwork due to risk



Hope things resolve quickly so she can get sprung
( and you )
 
Carolin,
I am so sorry to hear but glad you took her in when you did. Please keep us posted! I hope she will be home before Christmas!
 
So, Jae will get another ultrasound tomorrow. If the big clot is smaller or the same size, she may get to go home. She's getting blood work for clotting disorders from the hematologist. Bad news is that the c.diff is positive again (still or already). We're back on contact precautions and Flagyl.
 
Really hope she gets to go home for Christmas. Fingers and toes are crossed for you.

Poor J - CDiff is just the worst. I hope Flagyl helps quickly.
 
Going home today. With the IV antibiotics alone, her clot has gone from 8-9 cm long to 5 cm. It is much less tender. So far her c.diff has been inactive. Unfortunately, when we go home, they will be switching her from IV vancomycin to oral clindamycin, which is notorious for activating latent c.diff. She will take Flagyl to prevent it, but it makes me very nervous!!! Has anyone been in this situation that didn't activate the c.diff?
 
Sending big hugs - glad she is going home. We were also told the same about Clindamycin. Last time M was on an antibiotic (can't remember which one), she was also given Flagyl to prevent CDiff. It worked!

SO glad she is going home. Fingers crossed things are easier from now on.

Did they say why she had the clot? Is it IBD related?
 
Happy that you get to go home for Christmas! Sending lots of "no c diff" thoughts your way.
 
Maya142 said:
Did they say why she had the clot? Is it IBD related?
Click to expand...

The verdict is still out. Maybe related to the phlebitis from IV in November plus a throat infection last week. Apparently IBD patients are five times more likely to develop clots... I did not know this. She has a bunch of send out labs that won't be done for another few weeks to try to figure out if she has another underlying disorder that could make her more susceptible.
 
Carolin,
They can't give her PO vancomycin?
Caitlyn took that to get rid of the Cdiff. Maybe it would kill two birds?
 
kimmidwife said:
Carolin,
They can't give her PO vancomycin?
Caitlyn took that to get rid of the Cdiff. Maybe it would kill two birds?
Click to expand...

The problem with p.o. vancomycin is that it doesn't get systemically absorbed well enough. They need it in the blood to fight the infection in her vein.

They did listen to my concerns and called the infectious disease specialist. She ended up coming home on p.o. cephalexin and no Flagyl. I feel more at peace with this. We are home and thrilled to all be together and healthy for Christmas.
 

Similar threads

C
Your thoughts, please. 10 yr old.
Replies
12
Views
936
wenkren21
W
Catherine
Dont know what to think - imflammatory arthritis
Replies
8
Views
720
Maya142
Maya142
K
This has destroyed my life.
Replies
27
Views
3K
kephra
K
M
7 year old in pain not diagnosed
Replies
4
Views
1K
my little penguin
my little penguin
S
Occasional blood in stool has returned, frequent BM and false alarms persist
Replies
19
Views
3K
Stressedmom
S

Latest posts

Back
Top