VQ scan for suspected blood clot - 28 weeks pregnant - posting for traffic

[looktothewesternsky]

Hi all

Have been in A&E most of day due to suspected pulmonary embolism; have high d-dimer markers and have coughed up clots / shortness of breath. Am 28/40 with an otherwise unremarkable pregnancy; X-ray taken this eve was inconclusive so have to go back for a VQ scan. Has anyone had one? Can you talk me through the process?

Thanks in advance; it's all pretty scary & I am very tired and not thinking at my most straight!!

Mean to post in chat - will ask for it to be moved!

Hi

You are injected with a small amount of radiation and then sent to the procedure room. You lie down and breathe through a mask on your face in a huge scanning machine. It takes around 15 minutes. I had one and was worried about the radiation but my baby is perfectly fine. Procedure is uncomfortable but not painful

Thank you so much. Am worried as have already had x rays & several jabs; they haven't offered a scan / Doppler etc so just wanted to know what will happen. Thanks again.

Anyone been diagnosed with a Pulmonary embolism in pregnancy?

Not in pregnancy but I had a PE four months ago if I can help in any way.

The VQ scan isn't too bad at all and I'm terribly claustrophobic and couldn't have an MRI etc.

I didn't have an injection I just breathed in some gas - they did tell me to stay away from children and pregnant women for 24 hours though so I'm not sure what they will do different for you or if you do have a clot how they will treat as the bloodthinners I'm on aren't safe in pregnancy. I know being pregnant is a common trigger for a PE though so I'm sure they have different ways of treating.

It is really scary but the thing is they've caught it - it's when they are undiagnosed they are dangerous so they're going to sort you out now.

Thank you! Not the chilled relaxing weekend I had planned