Just breathe Hun.... It's always the hardest at the start and we have all been there and the beginning we all spend alot of time going to the e.r. don't let it get u down try meditation and breathing exercises it has helped me alot and this is my second time with multiple PEs on both my lungs... I am on Warfarin for life now..... If u wanna add me and chat ur more than welcome Hun

A lot of time the anxiety and stress adds to the pain and shortness of breath. I started seeing a therapist about a month or so after being diagnosed. It was the best decision I made.

You will be ok. It will get better.

If today is the darkest day, then you only get to go up from here. The symptoms may come and go for a while, but that doesn't mean you're not recovering.

Take a deep breath ... you will be OK. You have the power within you right now to get your life back. Give the Zoloft time to kick in and consider seeing a therapist ... it can really help you to let the feelings out and have someone give you constructive feedback and guidance.

Hang in there! Keep us posted!

Sometimes our worry causes symptoms again
Be positive. Your 12 year old needs to know you believe that you are going to be okay. If we are anxious our children will be too. Are you pushing yourself? If so, slow down and take one day at a time and build wonderful memories versus living in fear.

I think we've all been there and even if we broke out of it, there are still days where we wonder what's going on in there. I just kept saying "well, I'm on the blood thinners so things can't get worse. They can only get better" The problem is, nobody can tell us how LONG it will take to "get better". As long as we feel short of breath, we're scared. Because it IS scary to be short of breath. When you think about the clots in your lungs and what they could have done to you, that's scary. But when you think that those clots actually moved in a good way -- and DIDN'T cause worse problems, now all you have to do is wait for them to be absorbed by your body. That apparently can take months and months but isn't it cool that our bodies help get rid of them once they're parked in the lungs? I awaken every day, thankful that I do indeed have another day. There's a reason you awaken. You don't have to figure out "why" -- just enjoy it, and hug your 12 year old!

Thank you for all the kind words. It was very validating and reassuring. Today was a bit better. I do think my stress has caused other issues. I have some aches and stomach pain. I'm just going to take it one day at a time and give it to God.

Hi Flove, I hope you're feeling a little better today.
When I saw what you wrote, it was so familiar to me. I too, had gone through a very deep depression with my PE. I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but you can move past the feelings you have right now. It takes around 6 weeks for an antidepressant to start working properly, which is pretty much what happened with me. It did just enough to give me the gumption to get out of bed and focus on other stuff besides the PE.
People on here were very caring and supportive, and that helped as well. The best advice I could give is try to focus on your daughter, and other things that give you happiness. Around week 6, if you don't feel any improvement with the depression, talk to your physician. If you ever need to vent, feel free to PM me. I'm on here only sporadically, but I will do my best to write back at my earliest opportunity.