Yeah it might be a conditioning thing combined with residual PE stuff. For me, I'd me more concerned if it was happening when I wasn't exerting myself or if my heart rate sky rocketed with any kind of exercise. If it's worrisome to you, though, check with your doc.

I ran two miles about three months after my pe on the elliptical an my hr was around 198. The doctor said that was ok but doesn't sound ok to me.

I think it's ok for someone who just recently had had a PE. Mine was real high at first too when I started exercising.

I didn't do much exercising during recovery at all (read: none) and what happened was that it became a habit. Last summer, I finally started trying to get more activity in my life.

At that point, I was more than three years out. The clots were gone. Most lung issues gone. Pretty much recovered. But, yeah, exercising definitely made me SOB. I had no conditioning at all and no stamina either. I'm working my way back, but I wish I'd moved past the worry early on and had been more active.... it was just hard to do when I felt like it brought back all the PE symptoms and made me tired.

Also, as some one else here once reminded me, most people get SOB (even those who have never had PE or who are in fantastic shape) when going up a lot of stairs. So, that's not really the best measure.

For me, yeah, I wouldn't worry too much. You're out of shape and your lungs are really out of shape. It'll take a while to work back to being a little more in shape.

And start easy. Meaning, don't start with two miles on the elliptical. Maybe do a half mile and work your way up. Going heavy and hard after not exercising at all for six months would make almost anyone have a high heart rate and SOB ... PE or no.

Good point about the stairs, Toss. I think too it seems worse if you're super focused on your breathing while doing anything more than walking.

We had a fire drill at work the other day and when we went back in the building,I took the stairs up to my floor and thought, sheesh this is killing me.

I was short of breath with even minimal exercise or stair climbing for at least a year post PE. It just took me a really long time to recover. I started to notice pretty significant improvement between 12 and 18 months. Now at just more than 2 years out, I can finally say that I am almost back to "normal", just a little more out of shape than befoe. My HR was also really high for a long time. It finally started to settle down around 18 months out, and is now pretty consistantly in the 60s now as opposed to the 90s it was at 12 months. Oh, and there is absolutely NO WAY I could have possibly run 2 miles 3 months after my PE. I could barely walk around the block at that point, so sounds to me like you're doing just fine!

It wasn't too bad on the elliptical but I run about a block down the street last night and I swim for my job sometimes and it just kills me. I really need to get out there and exercise more. It's hard with school and work though.

When I had my first PE 7 years ago I was working 32 hours week and finishing up my school work, which meant I did not get much exercise, so yes I can understand about lack of exercise.

With my 2nd PE (this January) I was swimming once a week doing laps. I did water walking for 3 or 4 weeks. I tried doing laps but was not ready for that. It really tired me out. I probably still had some clot left. But now 3 months out I am back to where I was, and I am planning on continuing to lose the weight (265 stripped) and get the exercise up where I want it. I just changed my cpap machine, which is having a big effect. Now I can even exercise in the morning when I get up.

Mike