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I woke with upper left chest & shoulder tip pain 4 weeks

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Guest
Guest

I woke with upper left chest & shoulder tip pain 4 weeks ago. I thought it was a chest infection. When the pain worsened throughout the day I called my out of hours Doc (it was a Sunday). As I was complaining of chest pain they automatically called an ambulance & first response unit. Having been administered oxygen it was decided I should be checked in hospital as paramedics could not detect chest infection. By the time I reached local A&E pain had eased as I had been administered Morphine. ECG was fine. Sent home with Co-codamol. Didn't sleep or even rest throughout the night due to pain returning. Saw my GP in morning who said I had Myalgea (cold in muscles). Called NHS direct on Monday evening, who put me through to another out of hours doctor. He thought I possibly has Plurracy and asked to see me. On examination he then suspected stomach ulcer or something similar and admitted me to hospital. Pain was unbearable on admission and breathing very difficult. ECG still clear, D-Dimer ok, Chest X-Ray fine - finally on day 4 (Wednesday) a CT scan was undertaken. This showed multiple clots on both lungs. Heparin had already been given as precaution and Warfarin was started. This has been a very scary experience and my INR is still very low with very little response to increased Warfarin dosage. Have tried to return to part-time work, but this exhausted me and have been signed off for a further two weeks. I am struggling to find any information on post-PE, what happens next or when I'm likely to feel human again and put this experience behind me. I'm 27 years old, have two very yound children, am fit & have a healthy diet - have no idea why this happened to me! Looking to forward to life-long warfarin & no alcohol.

[i:dd6e9341f1]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:dd6e9341f1]

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I know this is some time after the event but hope you are doing OK. I was admitted to A&E late June after I collapsed, couldn't make it up a flight of stairs. Struggled to catch my breath and resting heart rate was 145 BPM. Was told initially it was a panic attack - I got quite stroppy and told them it definitely wasn't! They then said it was an infection but they wanted to keep me in overnight for observation. Luckily a specialist took interest in my case and advised an infection shouldn't have such an effect. Heart rate would not settle so had VQ scan and found multiple clots in both lungs. Had about 20% function. Was very poorly. In hospital for 10 days. I too face warfarin for the rest of my life and my INR is still very low. On warfarin 5mg daily and still no where near within range (should be 3-3.5 and I'm currently 1.6). I've been signed off work until October and it's very difficult to deal with (I'm getting married in 3 weeks!) as I still don't feel like myself. So frustrating. Desperatly want to start a family but have been told this is not an option for forseeable future and pregnancy will be difficult for me. But above all I feel so lucky to still be here. I was told when it gets to the stage where someone collapses 90% of P.E. is discovered in the morgue. The wedding will no doubt tire me out but at least it's still on! Also, I have been told that alcohol in moderation is OK - four units a day (about 2 bottles of beer).
  • Deborave
    Deborave

    Posted

    I just wanted to add my bit too, I had a PE 7 days after my daughter was born felt like i'd been winded in the middle of the night and got gradually worse. Went to doctors and was told they were only seeing emergency patients. i knew something was majorly wrong as in pain and unable to breathe so rang emergency midwives - put through to emergency services who took me in immediately. Given an ECG then given heparin. On Heparin for 6 months while breastfeeding then on warfarin. Took ages to stabilise. My question is I would like to try for another baby but am being given mixed messages. I was told under no circumstances should i get pregnant without having discussed it with the unit at hospital first and was told i would be on heparin for all pregnancy plus 6 months after. I had genetic testing and was diagnosed with Leiden factor v mutation. But when i asked Gp he said once pregnant they'll treat me. I thought i was supposed to be treated while trying to get pregnant too... am asking for a referal back to the clinic so hopefully that will help. I'm 28 and otherwise healthy, i just want to know where i stand. So sorry to hear that you have to be on treatment forever. i was lucky that after a year i stopped but its scary knowing you have something like a bomb in you that could blow at any given time. Please get in touch if you have any experience of trying for a baby after a PE. I will update once i've been to see consultant.
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I know last post was a while ago but any update?

    I'm 27, trying for a baby, had multiple clots in lungs in 2007. Have been told i'll have to inject with heparin from 14 weeks but thats all i know so far. Would be grateful for more info. Does it really have no side effects on the babys growth & development etc?

    I have used clexane before so i know what it is like.

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