My grandmother has a blood clot and wont go to the doctor, should we be concerned? hello, my grandmother had a blood clot that traveled to her lungs in 2002. yesterday she discovered that she is having the same symptoms and therefore thinks that she has

If : If grandma has a history of a DVT with a pulmonary embolus, and she seems to have a recurrence of the same symptoms, especially if she's short of breath or having chest pain, yes, a DVT is a medical emergency! she was lucky to have survived her last pulmonary embolus. If you can convince her, please bring her to an er now. One medical-legal note, however: if grandma is alert, oriented and otherwise competent to make medical decisions for herself, you can't legally "force" her to get medical care. As upsetting as it is, she does have every right to refuse medical care, even life-saving medical care. But please try your best to convince her, and bring up reasons for her to stay healthy and alive. Good luck.

I : I agree with the previous author: a blood clot in the leg, especially in someone who has already had a pulmonary embolism, is something that needs urgent treatment. High doses of Aspirin will not give the same protection as true blood thinners, and could very well cause an ulcer. I understand that your grandmother does not want to take coumadin (warfarin). There is a new drug now available that offers similar protection without the need for regular blood tests. It's called pradaxa, and she should ask her doctor about it. Another option would be to place a device in the vein that drains the legs that would capture any clots that are on their way to the lungs. That device is called a vena cava filter and, while not a cure for clots, can significantly reduce the risk of the worst complication (death by pulmonary embolism).