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.
First PE's a few years ago. Tested positive for Leiden Factor V. Have been on Warfarin since. See my doctor for regular blood checks. Mostly stable but there are time where numbers are either too low or too high. More recently I was 1.9, a month later 1.6, and then a week later 3.31. Now a week into the 3.31 I am having that brick on the chest feeling near my neck/throat and some shortness of breathe. Not sure if this is related or from some new medical issues that have come up. It has only been going on for less then 24 hours but I am considering a trip to the ER. I know it's best to be safe then sorry but lately it just seems to be something going on. I am not the type to want my family around in the ER, There's just too much going on in their lives now and well honestly I think they don't realize the seriousness of all this. I guess I just came here to vent and maybe hear from someone who has gone through this.
I personally don't get the brick on the chest feeling but shortness of breathe is very common for me as well as pain in the right rib area up the shoulder and into the neck.
My doctors tell me if I feel anything different and new I need to let them know. I'd at least recommend you tell your doctor and see what they say.
The pain in my rib area is actually the lung. My PE is/was blocking blood flow to my lung, causing the lung tissue to die, causing fluid to build. The fluid around the dead tissue is apparently what hurts and makes it difficult and painful to breathe. As the doc said it feels basically like glass shards tearing at the lung... This pain radiates up through the shoulder and neck... And anxiety adds to that =(
I work for a neurologist chiropractor and I had thought that the rib pain was just a rib subluxation, easily fixed with a few adjustments. How wrong I ended up being. But the PE would not have been found without my bosses help.
With this lung issue and my pain I've had to go and get xrays to make sure the fluid isn't getting worse. I also have to take pain meds to control the pain, so I breathe deeply. If I don't then the lung can collapse. Then I'm in a bigger world of trouble.
Since I tend to think that most doctors are just "practicing" on me, You might want to request an xray of your chest. But definately talk to your doctor.