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.

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Still on Oxygen 6 weeks after PE

lapopessa
lapopessa
I was only in the hospital for 2 days. When I got out I didn't feel like I needed oxygen except for walking outside the apartment (going to/from work essentially). But I've had ups and downs and basically I'm still on oxygen six weeks after the PE.

Very frustrating. Any advice is welcome!
rmb
rmb
What are your oxygen levels without it?
lapopessa
lapopessa
I'm ok when sitting or laying down. But when I walk more than a few feet, I end up in the low 80s.
rmb
rmb
I don't think it's that crazy for it to be low only being 6 weeks out but are you addressing it with your doc still?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was on O2 for seven weeks after my PE -- just went off last week. My PE was very severe and I ended up having an infarction. Once my clots dissolved, the blood could now flow through that part of my lung. This caused fluid to be released into the lining of my lungs, which caused pain and shortness of breath. It sucks being hooked up to a machine! (My dog would often step on my "leash" and pull it off my face.) :)
Try to be patient! Even now I can't do much -- grocery shopping does me in. But my lungs are healing and I no longer need the O2.
Keep talking to your doctor and hopefully you will be off the oxygen soon!

(my pulse ox was also low 80s all the time without oxygen... now it's in the high 90s without)
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