Well, I'm out of work at least for the week.

Last week, started getting short of breath during my lunchtime walk Tuesday. Was pretty short of breath Wednesday. Woke up 1.5 hrs late Thursday without ever having hit Snooze. Drove to work, was all groggy, completely out of breath and panting by the time I got to my desk. Left work early to see the doctor, she sent me home with an inhaler - said I had a "lung irritation". Sent me to the lab on Friday to get some blood tests (unrelated to the lung thing). Between my car and the lab (maybe 100 foot journey) I had to stop and rest. Called the doctor from the hospital, got her voicemail. Left a msg describing symptoms. Went home.

3 hours later she had her assistant call me to tell me to go to the ER.

At the ER, they found out that I had multiple blood clots in each lung. They admitted me to the ICU, put me on blood thinners immediately, told me to expect a Tuesday release at the earliest.

Saturday morning they were confident enough to release me, but I've had to go back for injections twice daily. Talked to the doctor today (NEW DOCTOR - not going back to the first one. This one is the wife of the ICU doctor that helped me). She told me to stay away from work for at least a week, can start working from home on Friday. Can't even do light duty at work because I can't move fast and far enough if I need to evacuate. She even gave me a temporary disabled parking placard.

The doctor says I'm recovering very well, and I have several things working in my favor - I'm young, my internal organs are all very healthy and my lungs hold an extra liter more than average. In fact, the respiratory therapist said I had the highest peak flow she had ever seen. Hopefully this means I'll be better quicker, but I don't want to get my hopes up yet. I can't walk to the bathroom now without panting. I'm lucky my house doesn't have stairs.

Has anybody else had Pulmonary Embolism? Anybody you know had it? How long did it take to recover? How long does it suck this bad?

I haven't had Pulmonary Embolism, I just want to say take it easy and good luck.

OK!!

What's your weight, height and age??

I have been told I have spots on my lungs years ago and they never bothered me! I figure they were from a really bad case of "Dust Pneumonia" from when I was a kid working at the Grain Elevator!! Dam near died!!

Anyway, I get pains right at my breast-bone sleeping nowadays but I figure that it is b/c of my ****-y eating habits of eating too much too late at night before I go to sleep!! That and I am right at 40 to 45 pounds overweight for my height, but I seem to be healthy as a horse!! So much so that about 10 miles on my bike riding around town and I feel great!! And also after mowing my yard with a Lawnboy push mower.............

I hope you get everything checked out and it all works out for you!

I figure I am pretty safe b/c I have ALWAYS worked like a HORSE!!

pdq67

Alex,
I too just wanted to wish you good luck and get well soon! :thumbsup:
You've got too many projects listed in your signature to be laying around in some damn hospital.
Take care.

Hope you feel better soon. Take it easy and don't mess around with something like that. Do what the docs tell you and eat right. Do lots of research on the net to get more information.

Not trying to be smite or smug here, but really, find a doctor well versed in that area and work with him/her. Most pulmonary embolisms are lethal the first time. Friend of mines mother died pretty much randomly of one in her mid 40s.

I don't know if its true or not, but, someone I know with alot of health problems that aren't really lifestyle induced says call the doctor by their first name, and see the reaction. If they don't mind it, and they are a good doc, stick with them. A bunch of degree's on the wall doesn't mean everything.

matt

Most of the time a pulmonary embolism has a cause. The blood clot usually starts in the deep veins in the legs. A piece breaks off and shoots up to the lungs. It's possible this is how yours happened (is one leg swollen?). Whether or not you have a clot in your leg, the treatment is the same - blood thinners for 3-6 months. Most people I work with tend to go for six months. If you do well and gradually improve, there is no reason to re-image the lungs (repeat CT scan). The blood thinners are very effective when dosed correctly. How soon you recover will depend in large part on how big of a clot or how much clot was in your lungs.
Blood clots in the legs (and subsequently in the lungs) can happen with increased frequency in smokers (stop smoking if you smoke), females on hormone therapy, people with 1st degree relatives with a history of blood clots, and people who have had periods of immobilization. A person getting off a long flight on a plane or a long car ride are classic stories. Also people who have recently had surgeries, especially orthopedic surgeries. About 10% of people who have DVT or PE without other risk factors will later be diagnosed with a cancer (cancers make your blood hypercoaguable or prone to clotting). Make sure your doctor is keeping you up to date with recommended cancer screening (colonoscopy, psa, mammogram in women, etc). Get well. Take your blood thinners correctly and you'll be fine.

Thanks for the kind words, you guys.

I know that it's not uncommon for this to be fatal, and I shouldn't be whining about being short of breath. I just feel badly for the people at my work who have to pick up my slack, I feel badly for my wife having to take care of me, etc. I definitely plan to take all of my blood thinners. I have GOT to get past this. I'm not usually a couch potato, I walk 1-2 miles almost every day. Now I'm lucky to go 100 feet and I miss being active.

No history of anything like this (or cancer) in my family, I don't smoke, don't drink heavily, in fact, the only risk factor I have is obesity, and my doctor seemed to think that it couldn't even really be pinned on that. I'm working to lose weight anyway, and will continue. It seems like if it were just the weight, it would have happened 30 lbs ago :D

OK, that's enough bitching. It's awesome that I'm still alive and I'll recover eventually. I'm just curious if anybody knows how long it will be before I am able to do stuff for myself.

Hey Alex, Same thing happened to me a year ago in February. I had knee surgery about 3 weeks prior to the problem. I was out of breath just walking (with crutches) to the bathroom, which was less than 50' away. I am in pretty good shape, so I knew something was not right. My heart rate was up around 100-110. My normal rate is about 60. I went to the ER and they shuffled me in pretty quickly. After a CT scan the doctor came in to speak to me. Her exact words were "How did you get here?" I said I drove and walked in, why? She said she was amazed that I did that on my own, as I had quite a few clots in my lungs. Funny thing was, while I was just sitting there you could not tell anything was wrong. As it turned out, I have a blood disorder (thanks Dad) called prothrombin gene mutation. I only have one of the two mutations, so I only have an issue if I have a surgery or serious injury. If I had both, I would be on a blood thinner for life. I was on a blood thinner for 6 months as it was (no playing hockey, mountain biking, etc).

Do yourself a favor, see a specialist as John suggested. This didn't just happen. It happened for a reason. Next time you may not be so lucky.

Alex no need to add to the excellent advice already given. Just wanted to wish you a speedy recovery. You'll be in our prayers. Pete

Take your time in getting well.
Let the others pick up the slack. judging by your attitude, I'm sure you've picked up their slack once or twice.

I had pulminory embolism about 6 years ago. Same thing, very short of breath and tired. After a trip to E.R. I was in the hospitol a week and then on blood thinners for 6 months. I had made a long auto trip from Sacramento to Los Angeles and back in one day and they said that caused it. Went from my legs to my lungs. Makes me wonder how truck drivers survive. I felt better after a month or two. Then I started walking a couple of miles every day to try and stay healthy. When I went to E.R. they thought I was having a heart attack. Scary stuff. Good luck to you. RichF

Thanks a lot, you guys. I guess I can handle a month or two. Doctor says I can work from home starting the end of this week.

As soon as I'm a little better, I will be tested for any abnormal clotting conditions. Doctor says that the tests won't be accurate while I'm still on high doses of blood thinners. My wife is now able to give me my Lovenox injections in my gut, so at least I don't have to go to the hospital. I'm feeling better every day, for sure. My oxygen machine arrived today, so I get to sleep with tubes in my nose :thumbsup:

I have picked up slack at work before - in fact, I got the job by "dead man's boots". I was hired to replace a guy they wanted to fire because he wasn't getting anything done (they waited 7 years for him to pick up the pace). We're really understaffed for IT at the refinery and we regularly have a backlog anyway. I just know that the guy who's covering for me (great guy, worked there for 14 years now) is kind of prone to stress and then internalize. He never blows up at anybody, just swallows it. He'll work his butt off, fall behind anyway and lose sleep over it. I have to say, it's nice to worry about work because you genuinely like the people you work with instead of worrying because your boss is going to get on your case. Everybody at work told me to take it easy.

They really suspected a heart attack when I went to the ER too - but once they had done an EKG, ultrasound, chest Xray and CT scan, they knew better. They said my heart and everything else is in great shape.

So all I have to do now is wait, get rest, take my meds and hang out on the internet!

Thanks for the kind words, you guys.

I just feel badly for the people at my work who have to pick up my slack, I feel badly for my wife having to take care of me, etc.

OK, that's enough bitching. It's awesome that I'm still alive and I'll recover eventually. I'm just curious if anybody knows how long it will be before I am able to do stuff for myself.
Alex. Pulmonary Embolism's are fatal a lot of the time. Don't feel bad for them. I'm sure they would rather do your work and take care of you than attend your funeral. Be glad you beat the odd's and concentrate on getting better. SCOTT

Not to scare you, ;) but a car club member and friend of mine passed away last year from an embolism that went to his brain. Just dropped while mowing the lawn.

Don't fret, but DO put effort into letting medical science be all it can be. Hell, I just dropped about $2k to find out I have IBS (iretable bowel syndrom). but I'm damn happy to know I don't have collen cancer! :) mostly because I can't even spell it.

John C nailed it EXACTLY, along with the fact pointed out by others that P.E.'s are frequently fatal. You didn't say if you have a desk job, but that of course is a contributing factor to DVT which is a frequent cause.

I think you also made an excellent choice in getting away from the first doctor who based on your description very possibly made a life threatening mis-diagnosis.

Sounds like if you're stuck behind a desk you need to find an excuse to get up and move around several times an hour.

I'm glad it wasn't worse and hope you have a speedy recovery.

Well, I've been feeling better every day. Breathing easier, feeling more alert, etc with every Lovenox shot. The shots don't hurt too much, but I'm covered with ugly bruises where I've been getting them. I'm going to see the new doctor on Monday and she'll re-evaluate when I can return to work and what kind of work I can do.

I have a half desk, half dispatch job. Sometimes I can fix problems from my desk, but often I have to go to the user's desk to fix the PC. Any time equipment needs to be replaced/serviced, I'm the one to carry it there and back. Since I'm in a refinery, I have to take it there on a 3-wheel bike, which is not necessarily a good thing when you don't know the source of possible DVT. On top of that, some of the equipment weighs upwards of 75 lbs. I have a feeling it's going to be a long time before my doctor is comfortable with me continuing that type of work. Pretty much exclusively desk work for a while, I think. I'll definitely make sure to get up and walk around often.

A friend came over today who hasn't ridden in the SS yet. The doctor cleared me for driving right away, as long as I could handle it. Haven't taken the new elky out since this happened, as it takes a little more effort than my truck to get into/out of, drive, etc. Was feeling pretty good today, took the elky out to give my friend a ride. I was totally out of breath by the time I got it parked, locked and got back in the house, but it was worth it!

Thanks for all of the kind words, you guys. It makes a big difference when you're stuck in the house going stir crazy. :thumbsup:

some thing that no one's said anything about .... while taking blood thinners beware of your diet !!.... all green vegie's are high in vitamin ( K ) & will play havic with your pro-time levels... Untill you balance out your diet get blood work done once a week as you're levels will be all over the place !!!

Yeah, they told me about the green veggies. What the ICU doctor said is that I don't have to stay away from them, I just have to eat a consistent amount every day, not a pound one day and none the next. Since I'm not good at consistency, I just am not having any right now :D

Yeah, they told me about the green veggies. eat a consistent amount every day, Since I'm not good at consistency,

your really not going to like what I'm going to say to you next ...... if you want your meds to work & your recovery time to be short as posible... stick to the BLAND diet they recomended for you !!! you know the one .... no salt no fat no steak no desert.... I've found oat meal with 2% milk in morring before pills helps keep away sour tummy !!! like I said your diet will be one that you hate.... but stick with it as any time you stray off of it your blood work will bounce all over the place !!! & I'm not kidding !! it reallly is that important !! its not all bad tho just find what you like & stick with it .... as changes are worse then anything else as it mess's up the amount of meds needed to keep you within your base line..... good luck :D

Well, it was my first day back at work today! Everything went really well. There's plenty of work that fits into my restrictions, and the other infrastructure tech even imposed stricter restrictions - he's insisting that I don't leave my office until I'm off light duty, even though the doctor said I could walk 3-4 minutes at a time and carry up to 30 lbs. The head of safety arranged for me to get a vehicle pass to drive through the gate and park right outside my office instead of walking in from the parking lot (even with my temporary disabled parking pass, it's more than a block to my office). A ton of people stopped by my office to welcome me back, and my boss called me from the corporate office to welcome me back and make sure I wasn't overdoing it.

Pretty nice welcome! I'm pretty stoked to go back tomorrow.

As far as recovery goes, I'm feeling awesome. The oxygen at night is making me get a lot more rest from sleep (found out I have severe sleep apnea) and I'm having lots of energy. Hard to keep from doing physical stuff when I have more energy than I'm used to and I was already pretty active before this.

Sounds like a good place to work!

Good luck on the full recovery... but if it's anything like a bad lower back, don't just forget about it until it's too late. :)

I too just wanted to wish you good luck and get well soon!