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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

VQ scan at 24 weeks

17 replies

RainbowsAndUnicorns23 · 19/04/2018 22:44

So i was sent to hospital with suspected PE, they did a chest x ray which was clear, started me on blood thinning injections and want to do a vq scan tomorrow.. I've had pain in my calf for 3 weeks now? Started with a cramp however they don't think I have a DVT so won't scan my leg yet want to do a radiation scan with risk to my unborn baby. I have had chest pain and feeling slightly breathless. Also last night the pain went into and down my left arm. ECG was normal also.

Has anyone had one and their baby/child fine?

Would I BU to refuse?

OP posts:

BasilTheCat · 20/04/2018 13:13

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gtg-37b.pdf
These are the guidelines relevant to this condition, if you have signs of DVT you should have the leg scanned first then have a discussion with your team about further scanning if necessary (GP)

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 20/04/2018 13:27

They don’t think you have a DVT even with calf pain? A little odd. I would have expected them to ultrasound the leg.

Did they do a d-dimer (blood) test? That would indicate whether there was a clot somewhere. Are you tachycardic (fast heartbeat) or have your I coughed up any blood?

An X-ray won’t show a PE, only a CT scan with contrast - which they’re avoiding due to you being pregnant, or a VQ scan. I cant really comment on their safety in pregnancy but found [[http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/documents/866/Ventilation%20Perfusion%20Scan%20%28VQ%20Scan%29%20%20in%20Pregnancy.pdf this].

I had a huge bilateral PEs 6 weeks ago - ended up in CCU and was very very sick. So I am all for you getting diagnosed, for yours and your baby’s sake.

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 20/04/2018 13:28

Sorry - link fail here

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 20/04/2018 13:30

Also found this

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 20/04/2018 13:31

And - it’s frightening I know, but you’re being treated now.

Hopingnwishing · 20/04/2018 13:31

PEs can kill.

Depends on how much you value your life.

Galaxyseeker · 20/04/2018 13:32

I had a VQ scan at 28 weeks pregnant due to a horrendous chest infection and they were concerned about clots. My baby was fine (she's 5 years old now). I was more worried about the breast cancer risk but when it was explained it's like doing 5 long haul flights it didn't seem too bad. Hope all is ok x

BadlyParkedRangeRover · 20/04/2018 13:38

D-dimer is always positive in pregnancy (and about a million other things as well as thrombosis, it's a useless test unless the circumstances are exactly right).
Go and speak to the obstetricians looking after you, as a PP pointed out, PEs can kill.

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 20/04/2018 13:42

I know it is Badly but they know the expected levels for different stages of pregnancy.

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 20/04/2018 13:48

There are indeed lots of reasons a d-diner can be elevated but an elevated D-Dimer (above the expected levels for her stage of pregnancy) plus calf pain and shortness of breath (and being pregnant being a risk factor for SVTs and PEs) would be indicative of a PE and warrant further investigation and a conclusive diagnosis.

Yep - they can kill, I know this all too well.

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 20/04/2018 13:49

DVTs not SVTs! and d-dimer not d-diner!

Original poster

RainbowsAndUnicorns23 · 20/04/2018 19:16

I had the scan as if i didn't I would of had to stay on blood thinning injections and any future pregnancies would be on them from 12 weeks as would be treated as if i had a clot.

The scan was clear.

Thanks for the replies.

OP posts:

jacks11 · 20/04/2018 19:34

Cuppa

No, they wouldn't do a d-dimer as this is raised in pregnancy anyway. Therefore, it would be absolutely pointless to do this blood test as it wouldn't rule it in or out.

Having pain in your calf can be a DVT but it may not be. If OP has symptoms of a PE- a clot in the lung- then the DVT may be the source, but they still need to know if she has a clot in the lungs and where/how big. So a VQ scan is required. So if they think a DVT then a doppler would be indicated, but if a PE then a V/Q scan would also be appropriate.

mumofmany81 · 20/04/2018 19:44

I don't know any hospitals that do a Ddimer on pregnant women because it's a pointless test. Pregnancy will make the result abnormal and it won't have any benefit. It's weighing up the risk of the scan against the risk to your life if you have a PE. I've accompanied plenty of women to these scans and all of them went on to have healthy babies. The thing is that any replies that are given on here mean nothing - you should be discussing this with your obstetrician and any medical doctors involved in your care as they will have your full medical history and be able to explain the risks and benefits of anything.

mumofmany81 · 20/04/2018 19:46

Hmm autocorrected my spelling of d-dimer for some reason. Also I've just seen that you had the scan and it was clear - I'm glad that everything is okay.

Pregnantandworriedx · 26/03/2025 11:23

Hi there. I know this is so old and I’m sorry to bother you but I had a VQ scan recently, at exactly the same gestation and I’m driving myself mad with worry. I just wondered how you and your child are doing now? I think I’m just looking for reassurance that it will be ok as I feel so anxious about it xxxxx

Pregnantandworriedx · 26/03/2025 11:24

Galaxyseeker · 20/04/2018 13:32

Pregnantandworriedx · Today 11:23

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