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.
OK I went to the doctor yesterday to find out what all the weird symptoms were. The excessive sweating, legs cramps, mood swings and the results of all my tests. I was told my heart apparently has the hick ups once in awhile and when it hick ups it throws a clot. Interesting huh? The doctor called it A-fib of the left ventricle or something like that ? I'm still kind of stunned. How he determined this I have no clue but him and the cardiologist put their heads together and came up with this answer. I know it didn;t show up on my echo because it would have had to hick up exactly while the echo was being performed. I asked him so what do we do about this? His reply was I take Coumadin for the rest of my life and test my INR every week, I also take Metropherol to control my heart rate, to make sure my HR stays below 99 so am I suppose to walk around with a BP cuff and stethoscope to check my heart rate and BP often. LOL I think I'm going to invest in one of those cool handy dandy wrist BP cuffs.I also have to keep track of my O2 and make sure it doesn't drop below 90%. This is getting extremely expensive. Ok so the sweating, mood swings and cramping legs are caused from the fact that I am probably going through menopause again, or still. When I asked him what we do for that his reply was. I could give you a hormone shot but then that would probably kill you so I don't think I'll do that. In the meantime he gave me some meds called Mirapex which is suppose to help control the cramping in my legs. Which are caused from a deficiency of dopamine, which is caused from all the other medications I am currently taking. Good grief what a vicious circle. Anyway to help control the mood swings he put me on a different kind of anti depressant since the one I was on wasn't working. And for the excessive sweating and hot flashes I just have to suffer. We'll see how things go in about a month. In the meantime pray for me to have the strength not to kill my husband or any other male that comes within 100 yards of me. Oh and in about a month I am taking a trip down to California to visit my husbands mother. Normally a 13 hour drive which will take probably 18 hours since I am going to make him stop every now and then so I can get out and walk around.
Anyway, the heart thing is interesting to me, even though I know the source of my PE's but I was diagnosed a long time ago with paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, which basically means like that my atria has little fits and beats faster than it should for brief periods of time and isn't really dangerous. My aunt has a problem in which they said her heart throws in extra beats once in awhile, it sounds like maybe kind of like what you have. In her case she only got diagnosed because by chance it DID happen while she was on a monitor. The doctor had told her that if they hadn't found it she likely just would have dropped over dead one day and no one know why. But she's on her medication now and everything is fine. Hopefully it will be that way for you too, although I know it's such a pain to know you have to stay on medication. I'm glad you got your answer anyway. Seems like it's better to know that have all the mystery....
Well I'm glad in a way that you now know the cause of the clots - but - if you're anything like me - half of you doesn't believe a word the docs say anyhow but what choice do we have!!!!
I've been told that my heart does an extra ventricular beat sometimes but I don't know if that's connected to the clots and haven't got any meds for it.
We're all heartily sick of hospitals and tests so I'm sure you'll sympathise that I got another appointment today - not connected with the clots at all - my 3 yearly mammogram is due !!! I know that the screening is necessary and does save lives but OMG it still hurts doesn't it ladies ???
love Sandi xx
You definitely have been through a lot with all of this. Please know you are in my prayers. You are such a strong person with such a great outlook on life! By the way, I have a wrist BP and I like it a lot better than the other ones. A nurse at the clinic I go to says opposite, that she doesn't like the wrists ones.
Hugs and blessings,
Tabby
In a way, it is good to find out the reason why you have PE. My thoughts are with you. You have an incredible strength to have gone through so much. I hope you will have a good trip to California. Take care.
Luv,
Zalia.
Blessings and HUGS
Ferr
Wow, you're doctor sounds amazing! I'm so pleased for you that you finally have some answers - that goes a long way in helping you come to terms with all that's happened hey! Good ol' medication hey...I guess we all have to be thankful for it in one way or another!
It's facinating about your heart...I am seeing a Cardiologist tomorrow with the hope of getting some answers about my heart - as no-one seems to know what's going on with it, although something isn't right! I'm feeling hopeful now I've seen that you've got some answers, thanks for that!
You take care of yourself x x x
P.S. great chocolate cake recipe...think I'll have to try that! I do think chocolate does brighten up the day!