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.
So, I'm three years out from being diagnosed with multiple bilateral PEs in both lungs. I gotta say, it has been a long haul, but I'm really feeling like I'm back to normal at this point. When I huff and puff now, it is usually because I'm hiking at 9700 feet altitude in cold air and I'm just in lousy shape (but I'm working on it!).
There is still a little anxiety in the back of my head. A persistent pain in my shoulder blades that I don't know the cause of can freak me out, but episodes like that are rare and I can usually just laugh at myself for being over-anxious and go on with my day. Spending all day mired in anxiety just takes up too much energy and I've got better things to do.
I am also a lifer and I have a home INR tester and for the most part managing my INR takes up about two minutes of my life a week. It is totally manageable and doesn't cause stress or anxiety or anything else. On top of that, I've got a great receptive doctor who will help me out if something goes wonky.
I'm not one of the folks out running marathons or going mountain biking, but I will say my quality of life is not impacted by my PEs or by the warfarin. I'm just living my life ... and I wouldn't even have remembered this clotiversary if I hadn't written it on my calendar.
For folks who are just starting out with the healing ... this time will come to you too! There ARE better things in your future and your days will not always revolve around mysterious pains, INRs, and anxiety. I wish healing was a quick and easy process, but it takes time and there is no easy way around that.
To quote "Shadowlands": The pain now is part of the happiness then.
The future and the past both are so much sweeter, just because you've been here, right now. Hold out for that, because it is waiting for you.
There is still a little anxiety in the back of my head. A persistent pain in my shoulder blades that I don't know the cause of can freak me out, but episodes like that are rare and I can usually just laugh at myself for being over-anxious and go on with my day. Spending all day mired in anxiety just takes up too much energy and I've got better things to do.
I am also a lifer and I have a home INR tester and for the most part managing my INR takes up about two minutes of my life a week. It is totally manageable and doesn't cause stress or anxiety or anything else. On top of that, I've got a great receptive doctor who will help me out if something goes wonky.
I'm not one of the folks out running marathons or going mountain biking, but I will say my quality of life is not impacted by my PEs or by the warfarin. I'm just living my life ... and I wouldn't even have remembered this clotiversary if I hadn't written it on my calendar.
For folks who are just starting out with the healing ... this time will come to you too! There ARE better things in your future and your days will not always revolve around mysterious pains, INRs, and anxiety. I wish healing was a quick and easy process, but it takes time and there is no easy way around that.
To quote "Shadowlands": The pain now is part of the happiness then.
The future and the past both are so much sweeter, just because you've been here, right now. Hold out for that, because it is waiting for you.
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Look at what my best friend did with my picture!
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We all have 24 hours in a day. How we spend these hours is important. Watching a little bit of a video about how sitting affects us made me aware of how much sitting and laying down I do. Gonna have to work on that.Your turn. Tell me another truth.
R/Tom
The only way out of it is through it, I think. That's kind of where I landed after my PE. I had to go through the recovery to be recovered. And you do. The future is bright indeed!
Just out living your life. Well, hell, that's what it is to be recovered, body mind and spirit, isn't it? I get that weird stabbing pain in my upper right shoulder still, 5 years out. I've learned to just think of it as an old battle scar.
And the only reason I even remember my PE date so specifically is because it fell on 9/11/07, so that 9/11 date sort of stands out. But yeah, as much as you really never forget having the PE, time sure has a way of smoothing out the edges. I can't even remember my wedding anniversary date for crying out loud.
Enjoy today, and many many many more!
As insurmountable as it all seems in the beginning, we alway find a way through it, right?
Congratulations.
Heather
Congrats on reaching this milestone.
Did you go to dinner and celebrate?