I am so sorry you are going through this. I know first hand anxiety/stress/panic can cause many symptoms. However, because you already had one major event it just makes everything worse. I think you need to error on the side of caution and go to the ER just to make sure everything is okay. When I had my PEs I thought it was just anxiety, but i was WRONG. stay strong and go with your gut!!!

Hi,

So much of what you're describing could be from the stress and anxiety, but definitely see his doc to make sure everything is normal. If his INR is therapeutic then the chances of having a new PE is low. Since having my PE five years ago, my blood pressure is on the low end of normal. I can't speak to what's normal though for a person who's had a cardiac arrest so get some answers from his doc to feel more assured.

It really takes the wind out of you when you go back to work, whether you go back a few weeks after your clot, or months after you clot. Im sure he was exhausted and overwhelmed. And I am sure youre exhausted and overwhelmed too. I dont think you were being mean at all. This type of thing is hard on us, but its hard on our spouses too.

Its hard to know when to go to the doctor or the emergency room. That was something I struggled with the first 6 months and even on and off for a year or so after my PE. Eventually, you get back in touch with your body, and are better able to assess whats what. All you can do is pay attention to symptoms and react. One thing I found that really helped me was when I started to feel uncertain, like maybe I had chest pain, or shortness of breath or dizziness, Id lay down on my back, slow down my breathing, slow down my thinking, and took a second to do a mental body scan, and assessing everything, what I was feeling, where I was feeling it. By doing that, I was able to figure out, ok, chest pain, thats from stress, or that doesnt feel like I felt when I had my PE, and then my thoughts would start to calm down. I swear, if the PE didnt kill you, you feel like the anxiety will because it can be so intense mentally and physically.

He really needs to get the anxiety under control because when you are able to think a bit more clearly, sometimes you actually start to feel better, and are better able to assess whats happening in your body.

And you need to take care of yourself in all of this too. Rest, step away, do something for yourself, have lunch with friends, go to a movie, anything to give yourself a break as well

Boy! Sounds like you two have really been through the wringer this week. Going back to work was probably incredibly draining for him and quite overwhelming. Sounds like he should have tried reduced days for a while and worked up...something to think about for the future.

I can't say what symptoms are normal following a cardiac arrest, so you might want to check with his doctor.

But, I have dealt with low blood pressure and dizziness quite a bit. Make sure he's staying hydrated (especially with all the sweating going on!) and getting enough electrolytes. Maybe keep him on sports drinks for a while and see if that helps. If he likes bananas, get him to eat at least one a day and see if that helps.

I developed orthostatic hypotension a few months after my PEs. My blood pressure would drop whenever I was up and active, although I felt fine while sitting. As a result, the more active I was the worse I felt. Once we figured out what it was, I increased my liquid and electrolyte intake and felt like a new girl in a few days.

And RMB is right that it could all be anxiety and stress. That stuff can totally take over your life and make you feel like crud too.

I think in the early part of recovery, sometimes you just bite the bullet and go get checked out. Once you start to get medical feedback and what is (and is not) happening to you, it is easier to make decisions in the future about what warrants a trip in. If the stress is going to keep one or both of you up all night, just go get checked out.

Please hang in there and try to do something to treat yourself a little. These have been dark days for you both, but I'm hoping things will start to look up soon.

I want to thank you all for the replies. They were all very helpful to both of us. He is going to see his GP on Monday. One last question. He always perspired a lot but now it seems much more. It's Sunday so we are not going to go to the emergency for that, but it is unsettling. What could it be? I have become so paranoid, I don't think I can think straight. He had a 20 minute walk and he was drenched..... Sorry to bother you just feel nervous.

I'm not sure. I know the day I had my PE, I was sweating excessively, but I've not done so since (except for some hot flashes which is a different topic entirely). It could be stress, it could be from the heart thing, could be he's just out of shape from recovery. I honestly don't know. Just be sure to ask his doc about it at his appointment.

I have been trying to keep a record of when I am experiencing things so I can bring them up at doctor's appointments. So easy to get caught and then remember to ask once you're out the office door. I would do the same for him.

Thank everyone for your support. We have a week of doctors appointments. Lung scan on Oct 15th. Cardiology today and INR of course and an appt. at the GP. Last week was probably the hardest week since the cardiac arrest. I am so curious if there is anyone out there that has had a cardiac arrest due to PE. I am praying that the right ventricle is ok. It is hard because one never expects these things and it makes you feel so vulnerable. Transitioning back to a full life obviously takes a lot of time. For those out there in a rush, my advice would be to slow down and take everything one day at a time. This community is precious to me and I have never been let down when I turned to DS for support. Thank everyone for making what is so hard a little bit easier.

usually the cardiac arrest comes before the PE as the clots have to pass through the heart to get to the lungs.

He could be sweating because his body needs lots of rest to heal and mend, therefore when he does too much he sweats and gets dizzy.....

Oh Dear, that sounds so scary. Nobody explained it that way. I did not think about it like that. So how did they get through the heart and not get stuck there? Obviously there are a lot of things that we are still learning. But we were told that the clots to his lungs were the cause of the cardiac arrest. It is a bit confusing. His heart stopped for 12 minutes.

The PE itself CAN be the cause cardiac arrest., or other heart issues.

Heart arrhythmias or anything that churns the blood can cause clotting, so yes the heart can cause the clots. But also clots that clog the lungs can cause the heart to strain to push the blood through and actually tire out from over use, just like any other muscle. So it sounds like your doctors are trying to sort it out. Also if the clotting limits oxygenation of the blood, or the o2 level gets to low the heart will suffer from to little oxygen. That's the low o2, why you see here so many of us get faint or even pass out from the PE. A lot of the oxygenated blood actually is used up by the heart itself.