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.
Hi Everyone
Has anyone had to use an inhaler of any kind following a PE?
I had multiple bilateral PE diagnosed in mMarch this year. I had been doing quite well in terms of my breathlessness but recently have had a real tightness and unable to breath deeply without lots of discomfort in the middle of my chest.Feels as it does when you have done lots of exercise and hurts to take deep breath.
Had a lung function test on Friday and the technician started asking if the doctors had given me any inhalers as the peak flow or brathing out part of the test was really low and compared to an asthmatic. Think probably the inhalers would be bronchodilators.
Advised me to wait for the results to get to my GP then make an appointment when I could.
Just wondering if this is a longer term result/effect of the PE?
Kate
Has anyone had to use an inhaler of any kind following a PE?
I had multiple bilateral PE diagnosed in mMarch this year. I had been doing quite well in terms of my breathlessness but recently have had a real tightness and unable to breath deeply without lots of discomfort in the middle of my chest.Feels as it does when you have done lots of exercise and hurts to take deep breath.
Had a lung function test on Friday and the technician started asking if the doctors had given me any inhalers as the peak flow or brathing out part of the test was really low and compared to an asthmatic. Think probably the inhalers would be bronchodilators.
Advised me to wait for the results to get to my GP then make an appointment when I could.
Just wondering if this is a longer term result/effect of the PE?
Kate
I have an inhaler (Albuterol) for non-chronic, allergy-related asthma (before the PE). Generally, I have only used my inhaler at night and after being exposed to the things to which I have allergies (dust, kitty dander, and sadly sometimes red wine!). For me, it's more of a comfort issue - being able to breathe a little easier - and not a life-threatening condition. I have definitely noticed a more "asthamtic" feeling since the PE ... maybe about 4-5 weeks after I just felt "wheezy" in the morning and for the first time ever I used my inhaler during the day (what I would have normally only done at night before). The only way I can describe it is comparing it to being really thirsty, but only being able to drink water through a swizzle stick with those tiny holes. I know I'll eventualy be able to draw the full breath in, but it just takes longer to do so. Does that sound similar at all? I also from time to time have the feeling like when you were a kid and just got the wind knocked out of you somehow. That really dull sort of ache in the center of the chest. I also sometimes have that tightness you describe - for me, it's a tightness in my throat.
My dad had a fatal PE about 8 years ago, and his inhaler was found next to him. At the time, the coroner said, "To make matters worse, it appears as if he used his inhaler right before he died." I was pretty freaked out to use my inhaler, but my hematologist explained to me that the reason the coroner said that was because inhalers may give a PE sufferer a false sense of comfort and then subsequently ignore the danger signs of a PE. That could be why a doc would be hesitant to prescribe an inhaler to a PE patient? For me, personally ... it is really important that I can make that distinction between a PE and asthma. With the PE, it was just a complete inability to take a deep breath, whereas asthma just feels like labored breathing. I know everyone's experience is different, so I'm not sure if this helps at all?
I also recently had this feeling of only being able to do a lot of upper chest breathing, and not being able to take those deep "belly breaths." Someone on here (I think rmb?) responded and said that, yes - it's normal and comes and goes.
Hope that helps! Take care!