I started walking right after my PE which help my lung conditioning and helped with getting my strength back just from laying in a hospital for 7 days. I had a DVT too so that actually was the hardest part of walking, but I just started small, like a walk around the block, and then built up my stamina to go faster and longer. I also rode my bike. That's actually one of the few exercises that doesn't cause my DVT leg to swell. I just got on the treadmill the other day and it caused a lot of calf pain and swelling, but walking outside doesn't seem to cause me issues so I'm laying off he treadmill. I was doing group cardio work outs for a while, but that too caused leg swelling and pain, so now I just stick to riding the bike and hiking outside.

I think any physical activity will help build back up lung strength, and it doesn't have to be balls to the wall workouts, so people shouldn't be intimidated by exercising after a PE. Of course, the the extent of exercise is probably going to hinge on your physical conditioning prior to the PE. But I really think if a doctor gives you the ok to exercise, you aren't doing yourself any favors by not doing it. Sometimes it's hard and you have to just do what you can do, but I think the longer you do nothing the longer your overall recovery.

Your exercise plan is awesome. Just be aware that fatigue can sneak up on you after a PE and you can hit a wall, so if that happens, please don't think of it as a set back. It's just part of the ebb and flow of recovery.

Man, I get tired just reading your list and I'm two years out. Although, at this point, I really think I'm just in bad shape... doesn't have much to do with the PEs at all.

Seriously considering getting back into swimming soon. Summer is around the corner and I love the water anyway, so...

I've been trying to walk more recently, just to get out of the house and get the blood moving. I work at home and the risk of just sitting inside all day is very real!

Yeah, I'd definitely rather be outside exercising. I recently went back to the gym for those crappy weather days, but now that spring is here, I love just being outside doing stuff. For whatever reason, fresh air clears out all the nuttiness going on in my head. Going to the gym just makes me want to beat people up. Clean those machines after using them you sweaty bastards!

oh dear - you put me to shame! It took me all my time to walk my wee girl to school in the mornings and its really not that far - im six months out from my pe and just this week i had my first walk with my dog, i am now able to walk much further and be on my feet for a gentle stroll for a couple of hours now - to start with i couldnt even do 5 mins. I have been using the lift at work since i went back 6 weeks ago but this week (only once) i used the stairs to climb 3 floors - i was literally hanging on to the bannister by the time i got to the top so didnt takle it again the rest of the week but i have decided to use the stairs each morning until i can tackle them easier - work have given me a parking space so that i dont have to walk the half mile up hill to work (i would have needed to lie down by the time i got there if i was having to walk that) I intend in the next couple of months to start doing that walk again but will just concentrate on getting back to work 5 days a week first of all. Exercise has been low on my list recently - i have mainly just tried to function normally., housework, school runs, shopping etc. My recovery has been slow and when i have pushed myself too much i have suffered as a result but i am stretching myself gradually - the key thing about this is that everyone is definitely different - some seem to get up and get on with it - others really are not able to do so for quite some time.

Did you guys have a thombolisis treatment such as altoplase when you were initially treated for your PEs or just heparin then warfarin. I had the altoplase despite the significant risks associated with the treatment, because i was told the recovery would be much faster and the clot was so large that it was the recommended option. I have to say that they must've been correct about the faster recovery time, i have little or no pain and my fitness is improving heaps already (after only 3 weeks), my only problems are fatigue and a heavy chest in the mornings which is alleviated by exercise - hence the hectic fitness regime. But i guess if I'd been in the 3% that die of catastrophic brain hemorrhage during the treatment I wouldn't be as happy!

I did, when I was in the ER. It was very affective for me. So while the clots busted up and resolved quickly, I still had a lot of fatigue and pain during recovery.

I really do believe some of that was being in the hospital for a week. You don't sleep, you're not moving much, you're body is putting all its energy into overcoming this tremendous trauma. I also had a filter inserted and a blood transfusion while in the hospital. I don't think we often consider how that all can really be hard on your body as well and affect one's recovery.

Congrats! That's great!

I do various stuff, mostly swimming, biking and running. It took a while to get back to full strength, several months

Chris