Back at work after three months

[dizzy412]

I've just returned to work a few days ago.  I had a p e on 25 May and have been in and out of hospital off and on since.

my employer and colleagues are very support, and I know I'm very lucky.  I feel so so tired though. The breathlessness is improving as is the pain...just exhausted.   Drove home tonight and I actually ache from head to toe. Thankfully I have tomorrow off, so only ever work two days in a row, which makes things easier.
is this normal.  I can't get much sense from the medical people I see.  Just get told to increase aerobic exercise.  Just wondering how long this exhaustion is going to last.

so very grateful I survived, will never forget this experience.

just interested whether others are having the same problem with fatigue.

thanks for reading

[ED.]

I had PE in 2010 and again this September 2015. Both Massive PE'S in my Lungs. The first time I was very unstable and I was treated with Clot busting drug in Hospital. I had to sign a disclaimer because this can cause bleeding in your brain. As it happened, this worked very well with me and saved my life without any side affects. I was later released from hospital with the usual Tinzaparin Injections and Warfarin. I was very worried about a recurrence happening and like yourself, the only information I could get, was from the Internet. I found that there was very little information coming from Doctors etc. I was on Warfarin for 6 months. The Tinzaparin is just until the Warfarin gets to it's INR LEVEL of between 2-3. I was unhappy about coming off the Warfarin because I thought this would increase my chance of another PE. However my consultant stopped it anyway which is their normal procedure after first PE. At first I felt that every little pain I had was the onset of another PE. I felt anxious and depressed all of the time. Eventually I had to tell myself that what will be, will be and that it's out of my control. As time went by, I felt better, although I never forgot about it. Just recently I was going to the Shops and I had just got in my Car, when all of a sudden, my breathing become rapid, I felt dizzy and I felt a sense of doom. I managed to return to my House where my partner was and I told her that I was either having a heart attack or I was having another PE? She thought I might be suffering a panic attack. I was sure that I was not, bearing in mind that I don't usually. I told her to phone me an Ambulance. (I have only requested an Ambulance 2 times in my life, and both times were justified because of PE.)I then was submitted to 100 questions from the emergency number Operator, so she could decide if my request for an Ambulance was necessary? I felt in my position, that this was just adding to my problem. I got so annoyed with her questioning that I had to pass the phone to my partner, so she could deal with her. Eventually the Ambulance arrived and they assessed my oxygen levels, my blood pressure and did ECG. All showed normal. By this time my breathing had calmed down and I appeared stable. I wondered to myself if I was just wasting everyone's time? I told them that I had suffered a PE in 2010. They said because of that, they would take me to Hospital, to be further checked. When I got there, they checked me again and found everything normal. I requested my bloods be taken for a D-Dimer test and to see if I had Clot proteins in my blood? When they checked this, it come back positive. I was then admitted to Hospital and told that I would have a Lung scan the next day. The following day, I was told that I had massive Clots in my Lungs and spreading. They started me on Tinzaparing and later Warfarin. The consultant told me that this time I would be on Warfarin for life. (Note: Patients suffering from PE, often present normal vital statistics, blood pressure, oxygen and ECG. This is why PE is the most un-diagnosed illness. Patients should request D-Dimer check as a precaution. In my experience, you will not be offered one. It could save your life.)
It is unknown why I have suffered from PE'S? I can only say that on both occasions and a couple of month before each episode. I had an accident where I fractured different ribs. I have read on the Internet that this could cause a bleed inside that could turn into a DVT but medical staff have told me, this is unlikely. My first PE was due to a DVT in my leg and piece breaking off, traveling to my Lungs. The second I do not know, as my consultant has told me it is pointless looking for any clots in my legs, as I am already on the treatment in order to deal with them. I was in Hospital for 5 days the second time and now I am recovering at home. At first I felt fine but now I am 2-weeks out of hospital and I have been feeling fatigued with chest pains, palpitations, feelings of nausea and light headiness. I have not received my first follow up appointment with my consultant yet. I think there should be more support from Hospitals, more aftercare available etc I see from these blogs and other sites that people feel much the same after a PE. They are left wondering about their future and not known what to expect? I hope you are good now and I wish everyone a pain free recovery.

[melekini49]

Dizzy, don't push yourself. Do what you can. dizzy412,

[dancesilly2]

Just got out of the hospital yesterday. Had a simple meniscus tear repair surgery on my left knee two weeks ago and was doing great. I'm 61 year old female with no health concerns. I was recovering from the surgery very well, had my post surgical check up and started PT. I must have gotten a clot in my leg immediately after the surgery and the PT jarred clots that went to my lung. I started feeling badly last Thursday like I was coming down with the flu. No leg symptoms what so ever. By Saturday I was miserable and at 2:30 am Sunday morning I had such a pain in my back just above the right shoulder blade it took my breath away. I figured something was up, but again I thought it was the flu or shingles. I drove myself to the hospital ER and the ER doctor seemed to know right away. I was admitted and treated immediately. The damage is not clear, though I am very lucky to not have heart damage! It is very difficult to breathe and it is very shallow. I tried doing light housework and barely made that. They were having difficulty getting my INR in the 2-3 range so I am still getting lovinox shots twice a day while on coumadin. Tomorrow they check again so hopefully it will be in the range needed. This is quite a set back for me, as I have never had a life threatening incident before, and according to the book, I should not have gotten a clot from such a simple surgery. But you never know I guess, when God and nature decide to put you in your place. I know the recovery will be long and sometimes difficult. But I'm glad to be here to be able to right this. And my middle daughter is getting married and I would not want to miss that for the world. Good luck to all who are suffering and God bless.

[sandeemac]

dizzy412,I had a PE diagnosed on 17th May this year also. They said there was a large deficit in my left lung and thankfully no damage to my heart. I returned to work full time on 24th June and I have to say that I also experience severe fatigue at times even on rest. It just comes over me all of a sudden and I had put it down to the medication (Apixaban) that I am on for another few months. The only advice I could give you is to listen to you body if you are feeling tired, rest. That is what has helped me.

Now in saying that, over the last five to ten days I have felt even more tired and breathless, I am terrified it is another clot as of course I started googling and found that you can experience a clot even on blood thinners. I think it has freaked me out and that is what is causing the sudden onset breathlessness. I am afraid to return to my doctor in case they think I am over thinking things.