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.
Hi all. Haven't been back for awhile. Suffered my first PE in October, 3 years ago. My second episode occurred last week.
I went off Warfarin for only about 6 to 8 weeks before unbeknownst to me, I developed blood clots in my right leg and suffered a PE 2 Saturdays ago. I did not know it happened but I couldn't walk more than 10 feet without getting out of breath. I went to ER and they diagnosed me and transferred me to a hospital with a pulmonary department.
I am home now after 4 days in hospital where I was given a Vena Cava filter and told I was now a life time Warfarin user, but my question is this.
My leg is still VERY VERY swollen and as of last blood test, I was not therapeutic. I am not wearing a compression stocking because I was not fitted for one before I left the hospital.
My leg is twice the size of the other. I am going to the doctor on Wednesday. Have any you had the swelling from DVT's that persisted like this? I am going to ask for a compression stocking but the swelling worries me even with the filter. I am worried my leg will be badly damaged.
Also, I question my NP's dosing method. When I am low, like 1.52, instead of giving me a strong dose to boost me therapeutic, she is doing a gradual approach. For instance, I am taking 3 mg a day, and after being 1.52, she simply prescribes 4 mg a day. My last doctor gave me a big dose, like 7.5 mgs for 2 days and then down to 4mg, or something like that. This gradual approach is worrisome because with my leg swollen, I want to get my level up FAST, and now rather than later.
Thanks for any insight guys. I can't say it's good to be back, but I'm glad you are here.
I went off Warfarin for only about 6 to 8 weeks before unbeknownst to me, I developed blood clots in my right leg and suffered a PE 2 Saturdays ago. I did not know it happened but I couldn't walk more than 10 feet without getting out of breath. I went to ER and they diagnosed me and transferred me to a hospital with a pulmonary department.
I am home now after 4 days in hospital where I was given a Vena Cava filter and told I was now a life time Warfarin user, but my question is this.
My leg is still VERY VERY swollen and as of last blood test, I was not therapeutic. I am not wearing a compression stocking because I was not fitted for one before I left the hospital.
My leg is twice the size of the other. I am going to the doctor on Wednesday. Have any you had the swelling from DVT's that persisted like this? I am going to ask for a compression stocking but the swelling worries me even with the filter. I am worried my leg will be badly damaged.
Also, I question my NP's dosing method. When I am low, like 1.52, instead of giving me a strong dose to boost me therapeutic, she is doing a gradual approach. For instance, I am taking 3 mg a day, and after being 1.52, she simply prescribes 4 mg a day. My last doctor gave me a big dose, like 7.5 mgs for 2 days and then down to 4mg, or something like that. This gradual approach is worrisome because with my leg swollen, I want to get my level up FAST, and now rather than later.
Thanks for any insight guys. I can't say it's good to be back, but I'm glad you are here.
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Look at what my best friend did with my picture!
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We all have 24 hours in a day. How we spend these hours is important. Watching a little bit of a video about how sitting affects us made me aware of how much sitting and laying down I do. Gonna have to work on that.Your turn. Tell me another truth.
Hang in there!
The swelling in a DVT leg is usually pretty bad for a while, in my experience. My right leg is still an extra inch around from my DVT in 2005, although it was worse near diagnosis. Keep it elevated as much as possible until you can talk to the doc about compression stockings. (Also, most drug stores do carry compression stockings that might tide you over until you can get customs made--check with your doc on whether you should wear them at all first, though.)
That said, though, you are still on shots, right? Make sure they're keeping you on the shots until your INR is stable. If so, you're doubly covered and you don't need to stress about your INR getting into range quickly. (The effectiveness of the shots isn't measured by INR.)
I'm also a big fan of the slow approach to warfarin dosage adjustments. Doubling doses and then dropping back down tends to cause my INR to go all over the place. I mean, if it isn't moving for weeks, my doc has occasionally given one big dose, but that is usually after the number isn't budging for a while. My doc and I have been quite successful with small adjustments here and there as needed to get into range.