It's different for everyone. For some people it's brief and for others they have issues on and off for a few months.

The only thing that's definite about recovery is that it takes longer than you think it will, and much longer than you want it to.

I had some SOB every day for the first 2 to 3 months, then it gradually got less frequent and not as bad. But even after a year I will still get occasional bouts of SOB, especially when its really hot or really cold.

For the initial SOB it took me a week or two to feel some relief. But, I've had about 3-4 "relapses". That is, weather, anxiety, allergies - have set off more SOB than might have previously (which in turn ramped up my anxiety). For awhile, I used an albuterol inhaler frequently. But haven't required it for the last few months. My PE was in August '13

i had my 2nd PE in January, and I got quite a bit better. I spent the weekends of May 17 and 24 in the hospital with SOB. In my case the pulmonologist is suspecting a shunt. A shunt is a short cut or short circuit between the arteries and veins. The other possibility is a hole in my heart. The important thing is I started getting short of breath and I sought treatment.

Moral of the story: everyone is different and have a good working relationship with your Doctor.

Mike

I had shortness of breath to some degree for almost a year, although the worst probably lasted about 3 months. I still (2+ years later) will have trouble with cold and humidity, and I still have to use an inhaler occasionally, particularly with really cold weather.

Yes it is different for each person. A lot depends on how bad the clots were, how active the person was before the clots and if their was any lung damage (Infarcts-scar tissue). My last clot was about 3 years ago and I still find it difficult to breathe sometimes when I get over weight. And sometimes i suffer from Pleurisy which also causes SOB.
HUGS Ferr

I am 5 months out and i still get it sporadically.

I have had 1 month without any, but the high pollen count in the UK at present (at least that is what i think) gave me an up and down 2 week period of SOB. I tend to get it for a week or two then it disappears for a month or so. Hopefully it will get less frequent over time.