Its more usual for things to improve, but it is possible for your heart to get worse.

I agree with Rosiethecat,but without knowing the specifics behind the question, hard to answer since not everyone is treated exactly the same. If your doc thinks you need another, ask why.

My PE was in 2012. I feel like my recovery was pretty easy, with few lasting effects, but I do get some chest pain (I'm pretty sure it comes from my lungs) at times. When symptoms return or I see a new doctor, I think like to rule out something with my heart. My latest doctor also wanted to encourage me to exercise, but wouldn't do that until he had a stress test done.I think I've had 2 regular EKG tests and one stress test over the last 2 years. All normal (yay!).

I think if things looked good at the time of your diagnosis, then it's unlikely that it would have changed for the worse. Even occasional chest pain is, in my opinion, kind of normal. I am six years out from my PE and I still occasionally get pain around my lungs, and I'm permanently on anticoagulation so I know it's not new clots or anything. I think sometimes the changes in weather, or if it's really humid, whatever things might be an irritant to breathing before PE, can affect us a little more after PE and cause some pain or discomfort.

Most doctors I know of usually will assume recovery rather than do additional testing, unless you're having some specific symptoms of heart issues or something. My doctors encouraged me to get back to exercising slowly and build up, and if you feel alright with what you're doing, then that should be a pretty good indication that things are okay. If you were to have symptoms that feel outside of the normal difficulty of beginning an exercise routine after a period of relative inactivity, then definitely you'd need to talk to your doctor and you both can work from there. However, if there's some specific reason your doctor wants you to have additional testing, then I'd usually go with the doctor's recommendations provided he has a real and solid reason for requesting the tests, and it's not like you feel he just wants to do it unnecessarily to boost profit. So I agree with rmb, ask the doctor why s/he wants the test, what's the benefit of doing it now versus waiting if you feel your recovery has been unremarkable. But I think for most normal situations, there's not really a need to do repeated tests.

All comments are pretty spot on. And I am not trying to scare you, but have them define "normal". I was told my Eco was normal in February in the hospital during my PE/DVT diagnosis and recovery. But just a few weeks ago I visited a Pulmonologist on my own becasue of some shortness of breath/pain. She looked at my echo from Feb, and said my pulmonary artery systolic pressure was 52. I had a massive PE, so it wasn't shocking. So she had another test orddered and my pulmonary artery systolic pressure is 47 this time, which is still very high for 6 months +. It's not great news, becasue it mean I have Pulmonary Hypertension, or CTEPH potentially. The hope is that the pressure goes down over time, and I can get back to normal. But in the meantime I was referred to a Pulmonary Hypertension center for consulation.

So I guess my message is to find out what they meant by "normal" on the echo. If your pressures were fine at the time of the "event", you should be well on your way to recovery.

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies. Dr hasn't asked for one again, I was considering asking for one off my own back.

Indy