There is no way to know how long it will take clots in the lungs to dissolve--it can be different for everyone. There is also no guarantee that they will dissolve ... some clots do wind up as chronic.

I'm not sure about the lungs, but I know that they have been able to tell in the past which DVTs were chronic and which were new.

I have two DVTs in my leg (one from 2005 and one from 2009) that have never dissolved. But, my PEs (from 2010) were gone after five weeks. Go figure. Even my own body does different stuff when it comes to the clots within.

I would get someone to compare the two CT scans from your two clotting incidents. Should be easy enough to tell if the "new" clots are in the same or in different places from the older ones.

Oh, and I've had two rounds of genetic tests and been negative for everything ... even after three clotting events. Maybe they'll figure out what we have when they finally identify it!

Best wishes!

Thanks for the reply----- and it's sort of what I expected---- no way to really tell. (grin) I'm in the process of sending off for my two CT scans and should have them fairly soon, if more glitches in the ordering process don't arise.

My PCP was able to see both of them, of course. He didn't comment but that's his M.O.---- doesn't comment on much of anything! I have to assume that he's a fairly competent doc but I really would like a hematologist to take over and I'll need a referral from him I guess.

You said that after 5 weeks the clots in your lungs were gone. Does that mean that you had another CT of your lungs that showed none?

They don't always do a second CT scan. Just depends on the extent of the PEs and stuff. The radiology report might tell the story about interpreting whether a clot is old or new.

Yeah, my hematologist ordered a second CT at five weeks out because I had developed pain and exhaustion, neither of which I'd had up to that point or at diagnosis. The clots were gone and it turned out that I had just been pushing myself too hard ... hence the increase in symptoms. My poor lungs hadn't healed yet!

rmb----I'll have to wait for the CDs of my PE CTs and hope that the radiologist report is in there. And rummage through my medical charts more thoroughly.

TnT----- there was no question of me 'pushing myself too hard' after the stay in the hospital. Think: couch potato. Having Lyme disease with it's attendant fatigue, for me, and then Coumadin, which is well known among patients (but not doctors) for causing fatigue I was forced to take it easy.

Thanks to you both for your replies.

Hi, in my situation my clots haven't dissolved 3 months out. Had a repeat VQ scan yesterday and there is still 50% non-perfusion. Should have cleared in 2-6 weeks according to my respiratory specialist. I'm not sure what the next step is, they have put me on steroids for 3 weeks to try to reduce the inflammation in my lungs to help breathing.

They are taking a bit of a guess re: that they are the old PE's as they almost match 1st VQ. Because they wouldn't do a CT initially on me due to having lots of CT's over the past 2 years they at this stage won't do a standard CT as there is no baseline comparison with the original. The next step is apparently a CT pulmonary angiogram which would give detail on exactly the blockages are. I think he may make that decision when I see him in a couple of weeks. So in my case they can only make am educated assumption that they ate the original clots.

Typo: meant to read - are the old clots, not - ate the old clots...

survivor------ I rather liked the 'ate the old clots' better! LOL

Thanks for another bit of information----- it all adds up.

I hope to be able to see a hematologist.
Then I imagine that the hema. and a radiologist can confer on the two CDs that I had and see if they can come up with an answer as to whether they're old or new or 'can't even begin to guess'.