Pulmonary Embolism Support Group

By far the most common form of pulmonary embolism is a thromboembolism, which occurs when a blood clot, generally a venous thrombus, becomes dislodged from its site of formation and embolizes to the arterial blood supply of one of the lungs. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, pain during breathing, and more rarely circulatory instability and death.

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Another Blood clot whilst on Waferin

Annie46
Annie46
I recently started to feel breathless again whilst walking; nothing too bad as I still swam and played badminton (without moving much!). I went for a repeat echocardigram and my levels (whatever they are!) had dropped back to how they were before I had my massive and bialateral PEs over two years ago. The doctor thought it might be another clot on the lung and is sending me for another CT scan. I have also been told to up my inr from 2 - 3 to 3 - 4.

Obviously I am dead depressed, worried and scared. They haven't rushed me in or anything and I am still working, walking (with a bit of stopping!) and playing badminton. Has anyone else experienced this? Can you give me some positive feedback to stop me worrying?

Anything would be welcomed!!
rmb
rmb
So you didn't have the CT yet? I don't know why they're dilly dallying around with the CT scan if they're that worried it's a clot but it may be because they're already raising your INR should it be a clot proactively. I'd wait to get the results of that before getting too worried. I don't know what they mean by "levels" from the Echocardiogram either.

It's possible to clot while on warfarin, but it's unusual if your INR is therapeutic. Had your INR been between 2-3 when you started feeling breathless? Do you have a blood clotting disorder?

I hope it's nothing, but if it is a clot, well, it is what it is, and raising your INR seems appropriate.

I'm keeping a good thought for you.
deleted_user
deleted_user
This happened to me recently as well. I took Coumadin for 6 and 1/2 months after a DVT was discovered on 12/23/2011. My INR stayed in the therapeutic range or occasionally erred on the high side the whole time. But like you, I started to have that feeling of breathlessness on the slightest extertion, so I went in to see my hematologist. On 7/1/2011 we did a chest CT and found that I had thrown a new clot and developed a PE. My hematologist mentioned that there are a few people for whom Coumadin just doesn't work...often those with genetic clotting problems, but occasionally people with no known clotting disorders.

Hopefully it's not a new clot in your case (have you had a CBC? Could you be anemic? This can cause shortness of breath too...) If it is, at least you will have discovered it and you can evaluate next steps. I am Lovenox now, probably indefinitely and I had an IVC filter inserted on 7/2/2011. I'm doing well and already feeling better. I wish you the best.
deleted_user
deleted_user
All of the doctor's and specialists that I have spoken with thus far have all said that developing clots whilst your INR is therapeutic is very rare. Please keep us posted on how you make out. Good luck!
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