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.

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How long before clot dissolves?

lapopessa
lapopessa
How long has it taken folks for their PE clot/s to dissolve? (or become part of the artery wall?)
TossNTurn
TossNTurn
I was rescanned at five weeks out because of other symptoms and they were gone at that point. However, I'd say I still had pretty acute recovery symptoms for up to eleven months.

When your clots are gone and when you start to feel better are two totally different things.
rmb
rmb
It varies. There's no set time frame:

Here's an FAQ topic from ClotConnect that addresses the question in general, for both DVTs and PEs

http://patientblog.clotconnect.org/2012/07/26/faq-when-will-my-clot-and-pain-go-away/#more-1719
deleted_user
deleted_user
Good article rmb. My clots took over two years to dissolve and I am on warfariin for life. At the same time I was diagnosed with COPD which has progressed to moderate to severe stage. I have to think there is a connection although no one can tell me what it is.

So, if your clot seems to be taking forever to disappear, don't give up hope.

Hugs, Cindy
rmb
rmb
Aw Cindy, I'm sorry your COPD is worsening. This article discusses how PEs can lead to severe COPD exacerbations so I'm wondering if it's at all possible that you had undiagnosed COPD prior to the PE,and the PE just triggered exacerbations of the disease.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pulmonology/SmokingCOPD/13164
deleted_user
deleted_user
Folllow up CT scan two months later and mine were gone. Doc said about six weeks.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was diagnosed in September 2013, followed up with pulmonary doctor this past Tuesday he said I was good and didn't have to come back, had CT scan on Thursday. My scan showed the clots were not fully dissolved so I follow up in 3 months.
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