Hi, I think what you're feeling is completely normal. I was super anxious too. It started like a month or so after my diagnosis. I actually saw a therapist briefly after my PE because I started having panic attacks. I found it really helpful, so don't feel weird about getting some help if you feel you need it.

I'm on warfarin so can't speak to the side effects of the other anticoagulants, but I've seen other posts here and on the DVT board about some people experiencing body aches and pains from Xarelto. So hopefully you'll feel better after making the switch.

Hang in there. It's going to get better. Sometimes it can just take time for things to fall back into place.

Gotta echo what @rmb said ... I'm also on warfarin, so I don't have experience with Xarelto or Pradaxa. I've heard of the aches/pain with Xarelto, so hopefully the switch will work for you.

For me, really, the emotional recovery from PEs was a lot harder than the physical recovery. It took longer and the anxiety was more insidious. I didn't sleep well (convinced if I went to sleep I wouldn't wake up), I couldn't even try to fall asleep in a room by myself. Every ache or pain made me wonder if I needed to go to the ER (I actually did two repeat trips, but they both wound up being anxiety.) I was nervous and afraid and it was really hard to get out of that.

Definitely attack the anxiety like the medical problem that it is. SO many survivors deal with this and I don't think every doctor really warns about it. Try to figure out what will help you cope with this ... if it is therapy, meds, journaling, meditation, hot baths, whatever. Just make a plan and start working on it.

For me, I started therapy about three months after my PEs (and did it for 3-4 months). I also started anti-anxiety meds about six months after (and took them for two years). I'll tell you that I wish I'd tackled the anxiety sooner, but I thought I could handle it. All that energy I spent worrying about things could have been used on healing or getting back to life.

From what I've seen here, and from my own experience, it seems like the anxiety/paranoia can become a habit for a lot of people. For the most part, I'd say the anxiety/paranoia was a lot less for me after about a year and a half, but it took some work and some time to get there. Some folks bounce back a lot faster, but some don't.

Now is really the time to baby yourself. It's the time to ask for help if you need it. Consider therapy, only because then you can say everything you feel like you need to say without stressing out your husband. Consider whatever makes you feel the most comfortable and confident. PEs can really pack an emotional wallop ... but it does get better!

just my 2 cents - when i started rivaroxaban i got muscle pain. It is a listed side effect.

It is very random for me, especially in legs and neck muscles, comes and goes for no reason. Still get it from time to time, been on rivaroxaban for 1 year,.

Hey, you sound totally normal. I had a preexisting anxiety disorder prior to my PE in July of last year so the PE pushed me into nearly home bound with fear. Thankfully, I had already been seeing a therapist regularly so I had that to lean on. I found getting back into real life (work and such) helped to distract me from my fear a bit but it does take time...and a little extra anxiety meds for me too. ;) be gentle with yourself and do whatever you do to relax on a regular basis. As you feel more able, push yourself a little to return to "normal." For me that meant walking down the driveway, then down the street partway, then all the way down the block, etc. I needed to build my confidence in myself again to help beat down the anxiety. Stick it out, you can get back to normal, or mostly normal. I still thank God every day for giving me another here on earth. :)

I have been on Xarelto since my PE on June 6th. Also blamed on 20 years of Apri birth control. I started having leg pain about 2 weeks after I started taking the Xarelto. It flares up with any exercise I do. Even a twenty minute walk or gentle yoga. Have you had better luck with Pradaxa?

Yes what you are experiencing is normal. It seems like because it is a life threatening illness that now every time I get a little shortness of breath or chest pain, the anxiety increases! It helps to try not to over think things and to keep your mind busy with other things. Otherwise you can drive yourself crazy. I was taking xarelto and didn't have problems but there are other agents out there so see how the others make you feel. Everyone reacts differently to medications..