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.
I think I fear a car accident more than another PE.
This morning, I was almost rear-ended. The person behind me had to slam on her brakes and swerve not to hit me.
I was only sitting there with my turn signal on, trying to turn into my neighborhood.
I am wondering if anyone has been in an accident while on coumadin?
I am guessing that even a minor accident would warrant a trip to the ER to be checked for internal bleeding?
People not on coumadin bruise from seatbelts and airbags. What happens to people on coumadin? And what if you hit your head on the steering wheel?
Would you call an ambulance for yourself, even if you felt fine, just to be safe?
I don't want to over-react, but I don't want to ever had undiagnosed internal bleeding either!
This morning, I was almost rear-ended. The person behind me had to slam on her brakes and swerve not to hit me.
I was only sitting there with my turn signal on, trying to turn into my neighborhood.
I am wondering if anyone has been in an accident while on coumadin?
I am guessing that even a minor accident would warrant a trip to the ER to be checked for internal bleeding?
People not on coumadin bruise from seatbelts and airbags. What happens to people on coumadin? And what if you hit your head on the steering wheel?
Would you call an ambulance for yourself, even if you felt fine, just to be safe?
I don't want to over-react, but I don't want to ever had undiagnosed internal bleeding either!
I am sooooo glad you came out OK and with a sense of humor about it all!!
(I hope I didn't jinx you by starting this discussion...)
Wishing blow up sumo suits for all... whether we are in snowy spots, among crazy Atlanta drivers or wherever!
Thanks so much for posting this question. I was a complete basket case in November when I finally got behind the wheel again for the first time in 3 months due to my major abdominal surgery that led to the PE/DVTs. I live just outside Washington DC and work in the city and had to actually do a practice run on the Beltway here with my husband in the car coaching me because I was petrified to drive again and just sure that someone would hit me or that I was too stressed out to keep up the pace in traffic. But, now its been two more months and I no longer have the death grip on the steering wheel and try not to think too much about it. Which I guess is a good thing now that I'm reading here that I could have caused myself an accident from letting my fear take over.
Anyway, thanks again for asking. I learned so much from all of you!! :)
Can't win with just a good defensive...
hats off to the Cardinal.
Now who do I cheer for, the Cardinals or the Steelers?
Or the Raven???
If the same thing happened to me, I would want to know as oppose to wonder until your next Dr's appt.
Wait!!!!!
That did happen to me and I ended up having an hematoma below my knee and because of that, I was told by my hematologist to stop taking my anticoagulants for two weeks while she had me on antibiotics.
If you chose to go to the hospital, as soon as you get there, tell the nurse in ER," that you have a history of BLOOD CLOT/ DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS and then tell her what has happened."
A drunk driver ran a red light, right in front of me. I tried to brake or swerve, but there was no time...I hit him then my van slid on the wet pavement and I hit a pole. I wasn't wearing my seatbelt (no lectures please, I have definately learned my lesson! I've been 100% faithful in wearing my seatbelt since the accident).
I hit my head and my knee. The bruising is not as bad as you would expect with Warfarin. Probably because I have a blood clotting disorder, my blood likes to clot apparently, and my INR was 1.6 at the time of the accident.
I called a 'consulting nurse' after the accident and told her what had happened. I wanted to know if there was anything other than the obvious that I should be looking for. She talked to her consulting doctor and told me that I should be seen right away because of the Warfarin. The doctor said the impact alone was enough reason to be seen, even if I hadn't hit my head. And since I did hit my head..."
So I went to Urgent Care...(I'm sure I am now what medical people call a "frequent flyer"...it's so embarrassing when you start to recognize the staff at Urgent Care and they know you too.)
Anyway, I'm fine. Sore but fine.
I'm posting because I hope it will be reassuring. Yes, Warfarin does make car accidents more scary, and you should be sure to be checked out by a doctor...but that doesn't mean that every car accident will become an "warfarin emergency".