I feel the same, I was diagnosed later then you = its been about 3 weeks and I didn't go to the gym all the time, but i WAS quite fit... I'm 22 so I'd like to know what is okay and isn't. I would ask your doctor to check you out or maybe start some yoga/pilates

I would ask your doc if it's ok to exercise, and if so, go for it. Start slow though, as you'll need a little time to get your conditioning back. I started with walking and riding a stationary bike at first. Then once I felt fairly decent, I was doing back to my regular routine. Just try not to over do it initially.

The doctor has just said to me not to expect to be as fit as I was, which I understand, and just to do what my body allows. However, it's not really answering my question.. I agree with you Shauna221 in that I would like to know what is ok and what is not. Obviously no contact sports but I did and do love spinning so much and would like to go back doing that. Also it would be nice to know how many days a week is also advised.

Same... I wonder is swimming okay? I'm out of breath just walking still BUT i would like to get back into everything. I think we're so used to just jumping straight into things its very hard to not do anything.

I'm 7 days behind you. I was diagnosed June 18, 2013. I just had my first follow up visit with my pulmonary doctor. I mentioned to him that my primary care doctor told me NOT to ride my bike. The pulmonary doctor said that he wanted me to ride my bike, walk, run and do everything except contact sports that my body would allow. He said it would be very hard at first. I had a very bad night last night but by noon the pain and swelling was a little better so I got on my bike on a trainer. I only did a quarter mile because I've overdone it a few times and paid for it. My leg feels better after the very short ride. I think that I'll ramp up slowly every day. If your doctor allows it, this might be a good time for you to start working out again.

You can always go back and ask your doc, but when I was discharged from the hospital, I was told light exercise initially, like walking, swimming, stationary bike. That was it. The only specific restriction I was given was to not do any heaving free weight lifting, but I think that was just precautionary so I wouldn't hurt myself while being on warfarin. But I still think that's a personal call.

Spinning sounds great. It just may kick your ass initially. May not want to jump into that all out right away, but I see no reason as you recover that you won't get your stamina back to start doing it again.

I think not being active as soon as you're able is a detriment. So just do what you can. and use common sense. If you're tired, rest. If it hurts, stop. How many days you want to work out a week is your call.

One thing. Fatigue will sneak up on you. One day you'll free great and the next you may feel like you can't do anything. Very common. That gets better with time.

I think swimming is ok as it works the whole body. Unfortunately swimming is not my forte. That is very true that we jump straight into things and it doesn't help that I am particularly impatient anyway. I'm really quite nervous about starting back as I'm not sure what my fitness level will be like. I was thinking of starting back with some weights as I'm quite nervous about doing cardio straight away.

That's why you gooooo sloooowwwwww. Walk 5 minutes on the treadmill slow and see how you feel. If you feel like you can do more, do. If not,don't. It's not a race.

I started exercising 5 months after my PE. I thought I had been feeling great, but the most I was doing was walking. It was a rude awakening to not be able to even do a situp and to have to catch my breath between every rep. But I went as slow as I needed to and kept with it and it paid off.

I do recommend starting some sort of exercise while still on warfarin. I experienced some lung pain at first. It was comforting to know I was still protected and it wasn't a new clot, but rather my body still obviously healing. If I was no longer on Warfarin, this would have scared me. I quickly learned how to slowly progress my intensity level and to stay within a range that didn't cause lung pain.

Thank you all for your replies. I'm going to give it a go slowly this weekend and see what my body allows me to do. After all I've got to start somewhere and every little bit will hopefully build my fitness back up to what it used to be. Will post back here and let you know how it goes.

Obviously, each person's recovery is different. I was diagnosed on March 4th. I started walking in May, by mid May I was at the gym and at the end of May I went back to my boot camp. . When I first went back I had shortness of breath and pain in my lungs. Everyday I could feel I was getting stronger. My doctor encouraged the exercise. The cardio is so important and yet so hard, but don't give up just take it easy.

I agree though you need to first speak to your doctor because each person is different.

That is the one thing they had me up and doing while still in the hospital was walking laps around the floor! My doctor encouraged me to walk and to walk more laps each day while I was there. I started walking laps on like the 4th day of my 6 day stay.

Since I have been home, my 5 yr old gd IS my exercise program!! Doctor released me with orders to go home and exercise. I don't think he released I had a 5 yr old at home. Since I was released ( May 26,2013) there have been very few days I haven't had to run her here or there. For me that means, showering, dressing, getting out of the house, and driving somewhere in town and then getting out to take her to whatever is on the agenda. Only to repeat at the end of the activity and the next day. So most of my exercise is usually done in the mornings when it is a little cooler.

Since it has gotten so warm outside, it is hard for me to do much outside exercise. But I am up and moving in the house doing most of the normal chores I did before the PE/DVT. Late afternoons/evenings are my weak times so I try not to do a whole lot then as I get tired still pretty easily.

Like everyone else has said, if in doubt, check with your doctor. With my being older and with other health issues, my exercise will be a lot different then yours! Being active does help keep your mind off of things and helps with anxiety about the situation I have found.

Same here, kslady43. I was in the ICU for 3 days, but once moved out of intensive care my doc insisted that I start walking. So for another 4 days in the hospital, I'd get up and periodically walk up and down the hallways. Once I got home, I started walking in my yard and then down the block, and then around the block. Sop if you doctor gave you the ok, you have to start somewhere and I really believe better to not sit around and wait until you feel back to a 100% as that's not something that happens over night.

@ rmb.................isn't that the truth (wait until you feel back to a 100% as that's not something that happens over night.).

I was asked why I didn't attend a convention this summer and I had to explain about the PE/DVT and hospital stay. The lady just looked at me and said ...."well you are fine now, right?" I told her " I am getting there but it takes time!"

I think for being only 8 weeks post PE, I am doing pretty good. It is strange how people just assume since we aren't sick in bed or the hospital that we are suddenly well again with no problems whatsoever! I may look okay but my body is still healing.

So just an update since I've been to the gym. Took it real easy on the cross-trainer for 30 minutes and 10 minutes on a stationary bike - didn't add too much resistance as I wanted to take it easy.
Did a spinning class today to see how that would go.. Again, I took it easy and just enjoyed being back in the class. Although I did get a strange sensation in both my calves.. It was like a tingling sensation/electric pulse when doing a hill climb during the class. They didn't hurt and were only there for maybe 2-3 minutes and then went away. Not sure if that was just because I've had no exercise in last 6 weeks and just my muscles getting used to exercise again. I feel ok now and as I'm still on warfarin.. Have checked my calves and they are not swollen or warm to touch. Anybody experience this before?
Apart from this, everything went well - no pain in my lungs/chest or right arm. A great feeling that it went ok and to work out a little after 6 weeks :)