Sub-acute PE possibilities
Greetings all,
In January I threw my 2nd PE. It is a major PE in that there are multiple emboli in each lung. Yet in spite of this I do not need O2 on a continual basis. My first sign of symptoms was when I was taking the garbage out, which tired me out to the point where I had to take a break walking back to the house. Of course my male ego had me saying "I'm okay" when my wife consistently asked me if I'm okay. I got to work and found my self tiring to the same level walking in from the parking lot and walking around at work. After a call to my General Practitioner after hours I was advised to follow up with an appointment. I then left work and drove myself home, and when I got to the Dr. office my O2 level bottomed out at 86% walking in. I was in the hospital for a couple of days. Genetic tests were normal. I proceeded to work on improving my lungs. I swim once a week as my main form of exercise, supplementing it with a recumbant bike during the week. Pre-PE I was doing 20 minutes easily, post-PE one length tired me to the point where I had to rest briefly before continuing. So I backed up a step and did walking in the swimming pool for my exercise. After several weeks I was back up to swimming and matching my pre-PE levels.
2 Weekends ago a friend helped me carry the air conditioner up, and my reaction was normal, being moderately winded. I was getting winded prior to that picking up the house, but contributed it to normal activity. Later that day I got in the pool and found myself seriously winded after one length. I did exactly 4 lengths and quit. When my wife saw me (sitting down) she said I looked pale. We called an ambulance and ended up in ER. Tests for a heart attack were normal. CT scan (which was sub optimal) did not indicate any new clots, but did not have sufficient resolution for anything more accurate.
This past weekend when I woke up I got out of bed, went to the bathroom and then to the couch. My O2 was below 90%, and my wife said I looked pale. Another ambulance ride and I'm in ER again. Walking around ER my O2 dropped below 90%. A CT scan was not repeated. Following up with my PCP his suspicion is I may be having sub-acute PEs, which means I am throwing small clots while on blood thinners. After some intervention from my PCP I am seeing a pulmonologist at 1:00 PM today.
I am understandably concerned. Time for some meditation.
Mike
In January I threw my 2nd PE. It is a major PE in that there are multiple emboli in each lung. Yet in spite of this I do not need O2 on a continual basis. My first sign of symptoms was when I was taking the garbage out, which tired me out to the point where I had to take a break walking back to the house. Of course my male ego had me saying "I'm okay" when my wife consistently asked me if I'm okay. I got to work and found my self tiring to the same level walking in from the parking lot and walking around at work. After a call to my General Practitioner after hours I was advised to follow up with an appointment. I then left work and drove myself home, and when I got to the Dr. office my O2 level bottomed out at 86% walking in. I was in the hospital for a couple of days. Genetic tests were normal. I proceeded to work on improving my lungs. I swim once a week as my main form of exercise, supplementing it with a recumbant bike during the week. Pre-PE I was doing 20 minutes easily, post-PE one length tired me to the point where I had to rest briefly before continuing. So I backed up a step and did walking in the swimming pool for my exercise. After several weeks I was back up to swimming and matching my pre-PE levels.
2 Weekends ago a friend helped me carry the air conditioner up, and my reaction was normal, being moderately winded. I was getting winded prior to that picking up the house, but contributed it to normal activity. Later that day I got in the pool and found myself seriously winded after one length. I did exactly 4 lengths and quit. When my wife saw me (sitting down) she said I looked pale. We called an ambulance and ended up in ER. Tests for a heart attack were normal. CT scan (which was sub optimal) did not indicate any new clots, but did not have sufficient resolution for anything more accurate.
This past weekend when I woke up I got out of bed, went to the bathroom and then to the couch. My O2 was below 90%, and my wife said I looked pale. Another ambulance ride and I'm in ER again. Walking around ER my O2 dropped below 90%. A CT scan was not repeated. Following up with my PCP his suspicion is I may be having sub-acute PEs, which means I am throwing small clots while on blood thinners. After some intervention from my PCP I am seeing a pulmonologist at 1:00 PM today.
I am understandably concerned. Time for some meditation.
Mike
Replies