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.
Soo... Um third time in the ER since getting off coumadin 2 months ago.
I think my anxiety is really getting the best of me.
I went to the ER last night! My leg had been aching on and off for 3 days, and then i felt an old sensation in my chest, not pain but just weird. So i freaked out thinking I had a dvt and it had traveled.
I went to the ER at 9:00 pm last night... histerically crying to the ER dr who was in fact one of the most wonderful drs I have ever encountered, and in the ER no less... I was just letting it all out on how I just was so tired of worrying and being on guard... so scared that my body was going to attack me at any moment. So tired of running to the er over and over about 6 times since my PE 11.5 months ago. He talked to me.. wow a dr actually talked to me... like a dialog... an understanding one!! weird right??? So he really calmed me and told me he seriously doubted that I had a clot in my chest or my leg by my vitals and looks of my leg but that he would check me out and make sure. he had a short conversation with me on what to look out for, and really explained to me the signs in which i should resort to the er. He reassured me that according to my records as long as do not take the birth control i shouldnt encounter any more clots at my age and health. I looked at him with reluctant mascara stained eyes!!!! He said something very simple... If you take the variable that created your clotting issue away ( in my case birth control) there would be no reason for my body to clot. So I am happy to have had a great dr at my side, and he even told me "look even if u do have another clot, we are going to take care of you and you will be just fine!!!" Unlike the first er dr i saw when i was admitted who told me i could die.... jeez.
So 1 EKG, Chest x ray, ct scan, bloodwork, ultrasound of the legs later
( oh yeh and one big fat shot of adavan later ...anti anxiety med)
No clot... no issues sent home once again with a clean bill of health!
another $100.00 co pay added to the stack ( I owe 300 so far)
The dr seriously advised me seeking further treatment to my anxiety disorder... I am seeing a therapist and taking meds as needed but maybee theres more i need ...
Anyways Im ok... great d-dimer and negative tests....
The lady who put my iv in put it in my wrist which really hurt!!!! and now its swollen grrrr this is the worst iv experience I have had... left with a slighten swollen and sore wrist but not dvt pe or other issues...
I can only hope my aches and anxiety lesson as time goes by.... I have come a long way but obviously not done!!! Almost at my 1 yr !
I think my anxiety is really getting the best of me.
I went to the ER last night! My leg had been aching on and off for 3 days, and then i felt an old sensation in my chest, not pain but just weird. So i freaked out thinking I had a dvt and it had traveled.
I went to the ER at 9:00 pm last night... histerically crying to the ER dr who was in fact one of the most wonderful drs I have ever encountered, and in the ER no less... I was just letting it all out on how I just was so tired of worrying and being on guard... so scared that my body was going to attack me at any moment. So tired of running to the er over and over about 6 times since my PE 11.5 months ago. He talked to me.. wow a dr actually talked to me... like a dialog... an understanding one!! weird right??? So he really calmed me and told me he seriously doubted that I had a clot in my chest or my leg by my vitals and looks of my leg but that he would check me out and make sure. he had a short conversation with me on what to look out for, and really explained to me the signs in which i should resort to the er. He reassured me that according to my records as long as do not take the birth control i shouldnt encounter any more clots at my age and health. I looked at him with reluctant mascara stained eyes!!!! He said something very simple... If you take the variable that created your clotting issue away ( in my case birth control) there would be no reason for my body to clot. So I am happy to have had a great dr at my side, and he even told me "look even if u do have another clot, we are going to take care of you and you will be just fine!!!" Unlike the first er dr i saw when i was admitted who told me i could die.... jeez.
So 1 EKG, Chest x ray, ct scan, bloodwork, ultrasound of the legs later
( oh yeh and one big fat shot of adavan later ...anti anxiety med)
No clot... no issues sent home once again with a clean bill of health!
another $100.00 co pay added to the stack ( I owe 300 so far)
The dr seriously advised me seeking further treatment to my anxiety disorder... I am seeing a therapist and taking meds as needed but maybee theres more i need ...
Anyways Im ok... great d-dimer and negative tests....
The lady who put my iv in put it in my wrist which really hurt!!!! and now its swollen grrrr this is the worst iv experience I have had... left with a slighten swollen and sore wrist but not dvt pe or other issues...
I can only hope my aches and anxiety lesson as time goes by.... I have come a long way but obviously not done!!! Almost at my 1 yr !
Any way, it is great that there were no clots and you could go home. However anxiety is debilitating and really really hard to overcome and come through. I understand though, not impossible. Be patient with yourself. There is a really good internet course, that has apparently been quite successful, as it is ran by a person who has suffered panic attacks. http://www.panicattacks.com.au/
I have read her book, very interesting concepts, I would encourage you to make contact, I do believe it may be helpful to you.
Keep on top of it, and remember you are supported!!!!
Erin
I'm so pleased that you got the all clear though...and the doctor sounds amazing! I totally understand just how important it is to have a doctor who listens to you, and actually talks to you in language you can understand!
You are doing so well honey! You know, if I was off warfarin I know I'd be exactly the same as you - infact I'd be much worse and probably going to the ER every single week! You will get through this, and you will learn to trust your body again! You've just got to stay strong - but of course, if you are worried, get yourself checked out. As time goes on, and when you are feeling better and better, you will start to believe that you will be ok...'coz I promise you honey, you will be! Sending you lots of love and hugs x x x
I just went in to take another d-dimer today (I take them monthly). I find that a normal result with this test is giving me some reassurance...I like to be monitored in some way on a fairly regular basis. It is currently a horrible allergy season in Arizona..and so I have struggled with using my inhaler some and some coughing and shortness of breath. I knew that that would be the tough part of coming off warfarin...differentiating between allergy problems vs. symptoms of a new PE.
I don't know what to tell you about the anxiety....I think it will just get better the longer we are off of the warfarin. I certainly have some moments of it too.....I drink wine :)...maybe not the best medicine, but it works.
Take care of yourself :)
Nancy
Glad to hear that you got an all clear and I hope that the visit helped to relieve some of your anxiety!
This is a very difficult situation, and im so happy to have people who get it!
I honestly think there has to be a happy medium somewhere lol.
It seems as though there are those of us who ride something out for a long time before getting checked out, and then there is people like me who run to the dr or er with the slightest hint of a possible issue.
I am going to focus on letting things ride for the appropriate time. I cannot run to the ER bc i feel something for a few minutes and then a few min later ( er is 2 miles down the road) in walking through those doors again...
This ER dr helped me to learn the signs that mean "wait it out" or "time to get some help" situations... after unloading on him about not knowing what to do when i feel slight pain or odd sensations in my chest or leg...
This is definately a process... and a difficult one at that. But Ive grown so much as a person... im barely 22 ( as of march) and i feel like ive been through so much. My life has never been easy... ive had a lot of issues with my mom and a cruddy childhood... and then when everything started looking up when i had just turned 21 and i had been out of the house and living my life... BOOM PE ... what a bomb. But I can say the PE has been a great starting off point to get on with the "first day of the rest of my life" ... lol cheesy.
Ive joined weight watchers and im on my third week... ive loose 8 lbs so far yay! and im planning on going back to school most likley in august... im really determined to make my life all it can be now that i know how easily it can go... no matter how young or how healthy u are....
Thanks friends MAUH
No seriously, I know life has not been a piece of cake(no pun intended)
but you know what I\'m about to say, so I won\'t say it...
;)
Just do it, stop trying to do it.
Be good!!!
You really do remind me of myself!!!
However, it is normal to feel anxiety after having a clot and PE and being off Warfarin. However, you are young, do not have a clotting disorder and are not taking birth control pills anymore. I really think the doctor was right. By the same token though, you had some unusual symptoms and it was not wrong to check them. Alot of people here, including myself, have gone to the ER after our original visit.
I wish there was an easier way to check symptoms...
Pam
Hugs
Ferr