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Just out of the hospital - my story

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tom_45424
tom_45424

About 4 weeks ago or so I had some pain in my right calf. I thought I pulled a muscle but after about 5 days it was gone. The following week I had pain in my left calf. So I thought it was maybe my shoes. It never went away and after googling my symptoms and doing the “tests” I didn’t think I had dvt. It felt like a mild sprain that was it! Well 2 nights ago I went to just have it checked because  I was sick of the sprained feeling. I had an ultra sound of my left leg, then a CT of my chest. Then another ultra sound of my right leg. Turned out my left leg had a clot from my ankle into my buttocks, the nurse said it was the largest she ever saw! I also had a small one in my right calf. The CT showed I had 3 PE’s. I was put on a heparin (I think) IV. The next day ( last night) I was released! I was given Eliquis to take twice daily. I’m kinda of surprised I am out and home. I feel kind of worried being filled with all these clots. Next week I have an appointment with a lung doctor. She has also already scheduled me a PET scan next week. I just don’t know what to do next, feeling lost. 

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Sway
    Sway tom_45424

    Posted

    I had bilateral pes in November of 2016. I was out the next day and put on eliquis. Mine where small I was told. 6 months later in April may had a ct no more clots came off thinners have not had a problem since. Hopefully it stays that way. Mine may have been due to kicking a door not 100% sure docs say. Do you know how you got yours? Sitting long times. Surgery. Clotting disorder anything?
    • tom_45424
      tom_45424 Sway

      Posted

      I am not sure why to be honest. No surgery, I did get laid off from work about 2 months ago and defiantly wasn’t as active.  
    • Sway
      Sway tom_45424

      Posted

      How old are you if you don't mind me asking? My brothers 45 when he was 42 I think he got a dvt in his calf because he sits a lot for work.

  • Evee1
    Evee1 tom_45424

    Posted

    When you see the doctor please make sure he orders blood tests to check for any blood clotting disorders like Factor V Leiden. If you have one of them you should be ordered to take blood thinners for life.

    Take care.

    • tom_45424
      tom_45424 Evee1

      Posted

      I guess I have another question, I don’t know if anyone knows this but I wear an Apple Watch and it tracks my heart rate. Today I took a couple hour nap, and I noticed my resting heart rate is around 100 when I’m asleep. That seems high to me not sure if I should be concerned or not. 
    • Evee1
      Evee1 tom_45424

      Posted

      Apparently one of the result of PE is an elevated heart rate, though mine was normal even though I had multiple bilateral PE (I also didn't have a single symptom of DVT though I had two large clots in my calf).

      Blood clots actually may damage a heart muscle and I also had a heart echo to check whether it was not the case. But having a higher heart rate does not mean that you had any heart damage, so don't panic ;-).

      Some people have higher pulse because of the anxiety which is quite common after PE, but yours was probably not because of that since it was during sleep.

    • Evee1
      Evee1

      Posted

      But definitely mention to your doc about higher heart rate, if it happens regularly.
  • HH85
    HH85 tom_45424

    Posted

    Just take your meds till next appt and be alert to any changes you feel.
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