I have been having what I think are small blood clots in my fingers off and on for a few years now. I had open heart surgery 2 years ago and right after the surgery, the blood clots seemed to stop, now they are back in force... with about 1 every day or every other day. It takes about 3 days for my body to disolve them, but any tiny trauma to my hand causes it. I am NOT SURE it's a blood clot.... but I have also a disease called Systemic Sclerosis and it's beginning to affect my hands. - I wake up every day with painfully swollen hands and had to receive a cortizone injection in my finger because somehow the tendon sheath on that finger became damaged. I am sure the swelling and sheath damage can come from the ScS, but I'm not sure about blood clots. Anyone have any advice? I've gone to the doctor when I had a blood clot on the back of my hand in a large vein (when it had been there for a week or more) which came from an I.V. site that wasn't tended properly. I lost that vein and the doctor said it was no big deal - not to fret that my other veins would take over. Was he wrong? Was he perhaps just a bad doctor who should have perhaps taken this more seriously? Any responses would be GREATLY appreciated. I can be e-mailed at mariagmoffett@yahoo.com THANKS!