I experienced a blood clot in my right leg after undergoing VAD therapy in 1995.  Upon diagnosing my blood clot I spent four days in the hospital and was put on heparin.  After leaving the hospital I was told that the clot had resolved.  About four years later I discovered that the clot had become "chronic."  It had sort of skinned over in my vein. I experienced mild pain and swelling.

I've posted before on the long term side effects of coumadin.  This study is a specific example.  After a chronic blood clot was identified in my leg my pcp prescribed coumadin.  After being on coumadin for about 18 months, it became clear to me that my pcp intended the coumadin to be a permanent therapy.

Though my pcp strongly disagreed, I took myself off coumadin and began supplementing with broad spectrum enzymes, nattokinase, vit e and fish oil- all of which have blood thinning effects in addition to a host of beneficial properties.  David