Thank you everyone for the support.

I was able to see the ultrasound and the venogram (I'm an ER doc). There's no doubt about the diagnosis and the treatment. I'm happy that it's a clot and not a tumor obstructing the vein, or some kink in the vein that would require surgery or removal of the pacemaker. It could have been much worse.

Coumadin is just a very scary drug. Being in the ER, I see all of the complications that people get and none of the people who are doing well with it. So I have a skewed view of these things. I understand that, but I'm only human and it's scary.

The new anticlotting drug is still in the works. It's basically an oral form of heparin. Once it's out, it should revolutionize the treatment of blood clots. BUT I don't want to be the first one on it. I'd take it after it's been out a year or 2, after all of the unexpected side effects and other problems have become apparent. It's the same as not buying a new car in it's first model year.