Hi There! I'm not sure. I've read several articles (within reason... there's so much info out there and hard to tell what's factual or what's got some spin) that a lot of people who have COVID are hyper coagulating for some reason so they're having blood clotting events. But I'm not sure if have had PEs a while ago increases the risk becoming severely ill if we should get COVID if we are otherwise healthy now.

I do think now if someone very recently had a PE, that they may be at a higher risk for complications from COVID just because your body is in recovery mode.

Thanks! Rmb you are always so helpful to this group. I haven't been on it in a while. Glad to see your still here.

Ha! I can't leave. I don't know why! Hope you are doing well! Glad to see you here too!

My question to you would be how are your lungs already compromised? Did the PE actually damage the lining of your lungs so that you no longer breathe normally? Are you on oxygen? One can get a pulse oximeter and check how much oxygen one is bringing in. Make sure your Vitamin D level is up, I have read that studies in Europe showed low Vitamin D levels in the older folks who died - but don't know if this is now "established science." This might be a good question for your doctor.

Urbangardener. even though my doctor said I would have no lasting complications, I have follow up CT's that show scar tissue in my Lower Lobes. Plus in general, I have small lungs. so knowing my lungs have had some trauma, was just putting the question out there,

I have no assurance in our community that the spread is being controlled.

I had an infarction so some of my lung tissue is dead. I assume that's technically a complication, but I've never had long term ill-effects from having tissue death. I breath normally, my lungs function fine etc. So it doesn't feel like a complication, know what I mean? I do think it may depend on one's lung function in and of itself, independent of having scarring, tissue death, etc.

According to the CDC website, it says that people with damaged lungs MIGHT be at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html

I think because there's not enough data to suggest one way or another, they have to say "might." And of course, like everything else COVID related, this could completely change within 48 hours!

I've been wrestling with the same question. I'm 4 years post-PE and just don't know. I'm a public school teacher, so I reached out to my hematologist (who oversees my post-PE health) to ask for his opinion on possibly being "increased risk" due to scar tissue in the lungs (per CDC). I can let you know what he says. I came to this group after I messaged him to see if anyone was talking about it, so thanks for raising the question!

8gBla. thanks! let us know what he says.

My hematologist said that having a history of PEs doesn't put me at an increased risk! I know this could be case-by-case, but that's the word I received.

Thanks for sharing that!