Blood Thinners

[MissMercury]

Hi there! Looking for information on med release policies. I recently got diagnosed with a 12cm DVT in my calf and was prescribed 3 months of blood thinners by a civilian ER doc. My MO followed up and told me he thought I should be on them indefinitely because there wasn't a clear cause to my DVT (although I tried to tell him that I think my situation that week contributed). He said he's referring me to "Internal Medicine". What does that mean? He said I might get released - which is NOT what I want. I planned to work for the CAF another 20 years. I'm looking for guidance on policy and how to convince the medical staff that I don't need to be on these blood thinners permanently!? TIA for your input.

 

[AmmoTech90]

Hi there! Looking for information on med release policies. I recently got diagnosed with a 12cm DVT in my calf and was prescribed 3 months of blood thinners by a civilian ER doc. My MO followed up and told me he thought I should be on them indefinitely because there wasn't a clear cause to my DVT (although I tried to tell him that I think my situation that week contributed). He said he's referring me to "Internal Medicine". What does that mean? He said I might get released - which is NOT what I want. I planned to work for the CAF another 20 years. I'm looking for guidance on policy and how to convince the medical staff that I don't need to be on these blood thinners permanently!? TIA for your input.

I was referred to internal medicine for an issue I had while serving. They are just a specialist doctor rather than a general practicioner/family doc. Mine was a military MO who had done training in internal medicine.

They can make a better determination of treatment and if you will a permanent or temporary category. In my experience, and talking to others, if you have to go on meds for the rest of your life, you'll get a category.

Depending on what will happen if you can't get them, this may lead to release or it might just mean you need to see a doc before deploying; everyone does, but they will make sure you have access to the meds for the entire deployment. It depends what will happen if you miss a couple of doses.

 

[FJAG]

As @AmmoTech90 states, internists are specialists who look at undifferentiated or multi-system diseases of the internal structure of the body such as the cardiovascular system. I expect the reason is to find out what the cause of the DVT event was, its possibility of recurring and preventing or minimizing the possibility of recurrence.

DVTs can be serious, life-threatening events. I wouldn't fool around arguing with a doctor about it. Get a second opinion if you wish, and an internist would be the guy to consult, but I wouldn't leave it unexplored or untreated.

 

[ModlrMike]

Yes, the term internal medicine can be used to describe most specialists. Typical DVT treatment is anti-coagulation for three months, then if you develop another DVT, you stay on it for life. Without knowing your situation, if this is what we call an unprovoked DVT, then you would likely need to see a hematologist at a minimum. This is situation where being over cautious at the start is better than the alternative.

It is likely that the MO is concerned that you have a coagulation disorder, that would require long term anti-coagulation. That would be incompatible with continued service. If there was a reason for your DVT (active cancer, bedridden recently >3 days or major surgery within 12 weeks, immobilization of the lower extremity, etc) then the prognosis is better, but still not certain.

I would close by saying that you do not get to convince the medical folks that you don't need long term anti-coagulation, the investigations and findings will be what makes the decision.

DVT can become pulmonary blood clots (PE), and people die from those. Don't mess around trying to minimize this.

Best of luck, and I hope things turn out well for you.

* the foregoing is not meant as medical advice and is not a substitute for your primary care provider's recommendations