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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Chest pains need advice!

jerry1976
jerry1976
Hey, I wanted to ask the community what you think about what I've been feeling the past four days. I have been experiencing a lot of pain in my lungs since Tuesday morning. I had to go grocery shopping today and I felt really sluggish. I got so tired from walking "winded" that I had to sit down in the car for 5 minutes to catch my breath. Then I had to unload the groceries and clean up the kitchen very slowly. I honestly feel like I might have new clots in my lungs. I'm not sure what to do.

I don't really want to go to the ER and end up looking like a fool if there are no new clots in my lungs. I've been having a lot of chest pains for the past year since my DVT/PE diagnosis, but this time it feels like a new clot. I don't generally panic about getting a new clot so I'm not really panicking. I'm just not sure what to do about it.

Also I haven't had my INR level checked in a month which could be part of the problem. I don't have any way to get to the blood clinic before it closes. Do you guys think I should bother my physician with this? I mean there isn't mush more they are going to do any how aside from giving me some Lovinox injections. I doubt they'll be willing to do another MRI of my lungs due to the risk of more exposure to radiation. What would you guys do? Thanks for your advice!
TossNTurn
TossNTurn
When in doubt, go to the ER. I never mess around with possible clots. I mean, sure, maybe you're wrong, but then at least you'd know for sure.
jerry1976
jerry1976
Thanks for the reply Toss. Please don't get excited. It might just be residual pains. The big thing that worries me is that I had almost no symptoms before I was diagnosed with the PE's. I never felt much pain or discomfort. I'll give it another day or two and see if I feel any better. If not I may go in to the my hematologist. I think they can do a D-diameter test without having to scan the lungs.
rmb
rmb
If you say you got so winded from grocery shopping that you needed to sit down for 5 minutes (that's a long time) to catch your breath, to me that's abnormal unless you're just really out of shape or have another health issue that would cause that. Plus you have to stay on top of your INR and test at least every 30 days. Maybe look into getting your INR checked somewhere else.

You don't look like a fool if you go to the ER. That's just perception. Many of us have gone to the ER because we thought we had another clot and it ended up not being a clot. Who cares what anyone else thinks? I don't think Toss was getting excited but being matter of fact: if YOU'RE concerned, get it checked out.
jerry1976
jerry1976
I may go to the doctors on Monday and get it checked out. Right now most of the discomfort is in my left lung. I feel a real fullness, tightness when I breathe. At the store my actual windpipe felt like it was getting smaller, or constricting. I just didn't feel right and had to sit down for a few minutes.

I'm still kind of sluggish today, but I feel somewhat better now that I've rested up. I'll keep a close eye on the situation and talk to one of my doctors Monday. I really don't want to go back into the hospital. Any how, the most they are going to do is check INR and give me Lovinox. Any how, I appreciate the advice.
jerry1976
jerry1976
I am feeling a little bit better today. I'll probably just skip the doctors and try and get a ride down to the blood clinic so that I can check my INR levels. I never meant to alarm anyone with my post. I just wanted some advice about the situation. I tend to get a little bit obsessive with my problems if I don't keep myself in check.
tifconaway
tifconaway
Always best to call doctor and ask!! You need to get INR checked!! I read on this site a few years ago that you start to feel better then you wake up one day and feel right back where you started. Seemed to be a pretty common thing, but please call doctor if only to let them know!!
tula1970
tula1970
Hi, I have been lurking on this board for a week or so after I just had a PE on 5-29-13. I was hospitalized for three days and sent home on warfarin and Lovenox injections. I have been having the same kind of pain you describe. I am heading to the doctor tomorrow morning. I just called and asked what to do.

I know I am new to all this, but my doctor told me that there is a home INR tester, similar to a blood glucose monitor. They said that some insurance companies will pay for it.

I hope that you get some answers and relief from the pain. I know I am looking for that too.
jerry1976
jerry1976
I feel a little bit better than I did last Friday. I still have some slight trouble breathing and pain in the left lung. I decided not to go to the emergency room unless it gets really bad. I don't want to sound off any false alarms. I hope you feel better after your visit with the docs.
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