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 have been home from the hospital for 12 days today. I decided this morning to go see the new movie "Tower Heist". I left at 9 and went to get my blood drawn. Went to the movie. Had a coumadin friendly lunch and got home around 2. Was still short of breath walking into the lab. And walking to the theater. Which told me that there is no way, I'm ready to be back at work. If I can't walk the short distance from the car to the theater which is a lot closer than my car at work to inside the building and to my desk. Also, I talk on the phone 8 hours a day and as my son pointed out, I still get short of breath holding small conversations. It was good to get out and also good to know I'm not ready. I just wonder if I will pay the price tomorrow for all the activity today. I am trying to be guided by the pain. For me, some of the pain is between my shoulder blades. So, when they begins...I stop. I am trying to learn patient, but not very good at it. Just like I need to get off this darn computer and lay down.
Sometimes I find my DVT leg starts tingling while I'm working on the computer, which tells me I need to either get up and move or put it up for a bit. Do what you can and rest when you need to.
KS