March 15th of 2010 I sat in the ER. I had not been feeling well, all weekend, but walked on that Sat. because my leg was cramping, and I wanted to work it out. But that Monday morning, I could not climb the three steps to my porch. What the heck I work in a building that has no elevator and have to climb steps every day. And much of the time I walk the mile from home to work. I climb two flights of stairs every work day, and only doing it once it odd. The office, and copy machine are a floor down. If I have recess duty, it is up and down I go. I called my sister and told her I need to go to the ER. Please come and get me. I meet her at the door, with I have to lay down or I'm going to pass out. After a minute or two of my not moving, she told me to get in her van or she was calling the ambulance. My friend's husband is a fire fight who was working would of be the first crew her, and I was not having John see me in my Mickey Mouse PJ's. She quickly took me to one of our local ER's. Unlike many here, it did not take a long time for the doctor to figure out what was one. The hospital is one of the best heart centers in the NE. I still was thinking that this was an asthma attack that had gotten way out of control. At one point the dr asked me if I got myself up and dressed every day. To that I answered, "If I didn't do it the little doggie wasn't going to do it for me". The doctor quickly questioned me with a different questions.
I then was in a world of blood thinners, and high blood pressure,dizzy spells and fatigue.
It was much slower recovering that I would of expected. I came home and expected to walk the dog, like I do every day....WRONG. I did start walking her almost right away. For a while it was just around the block, but I did it. I don't like depending on anyone so I did what I could. I quickly returned to work with the help of my coworkers who covered duties, and made copies for me so I only had to do the stairs once a day. I also returned to my beloved volunteer work. I have been at the animal shelter for all most 10 years now and don't miss my walking dog times often. I walked the dogs that I could. I was not about to let a PE put an end to what I love to do.
I live in NE so it was hot and humid this summer, so breathing at it's best was awful. My INR was OK, but did run amuck at times..It appeared to have a mind of its own. Fall, came and the breathing at last got better. My time on the rat poison ended. I was tested for clotting factors, and that came back negative. So I get to enjoy life with out fear of bleeding.
Winter hit, my breathing was now more or less normal, and the dizzy spells had slowed to a dull roar. However, the fatigue was still there..
My doctor told me to push the fatigue. I still get wiped out easy, but it is much better.
I'm one of the lucky ones!! I lived!! My PE was due to birth control so I didn't have to heal from anything else beyond the PE.
My advice for those of you who are new is not to let the PE take over your life,...Yes, I had a PE, however, my life is about so much more than a PE.
Carolyn