Argh...

Well, I went to the doctor on January 8th to discuss my options. We made a plan to do another Venogram and remove the IVC Filter immediately if the blood clot was gone, which the doctor was convinced it would be.

I went to the hospital last Thursday (the 17th) afternoon ready to be finally finished with all of this business. The thought of the clot still being there and not being able to remove the filter absolutely never crossed my mind.

They rolled me into the operating room and got everything ready...cleaned and sterilized my neck area and my leg. I was laying there under all the surgical drapes for an awkward amount of time while we waited for some last minute blood work to come back. When it finally came back they got busy! I'm convinced they were so eager that they didn't give the Lidocaine enough time to take effect before they cut my leg open!!

Within just a few minutes they were taking the first pictures and then they were done. The clot was still there...this time bigger and more solid than it looked last time. It was also no longer attached to the filter. The filter is actually completely clear!! So apparently my blood clots are super clots that are not deterred by a titanium claw!!

Another interesting thing...my filter has tilted and is now sticking out of the vein!! Awesome!! Here's my attempt at a picture....

Just another exciting day in the life of me!! It looks like we'll be doing that experimental procedure after all sometime in the next few weeks! My friends and family say I keep downplaying the seriousness of this, but I'm choosing to take every moment as it comes and live every day to its fullest. I try not to take anything or myself too seriously. I know that God is in control and every tomorrow is a gift. In the end, my hope is in Him and if I meet Him sooner rather than later, that really is OK!! Blood clot or not, that's a good way to live!