Can someone put my mind at rest re blood clots on the lung?

[hocuspontas]

My mum is in hospital with a broken ankle. Yesterday she was all ready to come out and we were waiting for her to be assessed before being discharged.
Today they were concerned that her pulse was high and now the results of an X-ray show some blood clots on her lungs. I'm sitting here in tears. My brother's at the hospital not getting any answers due to a change of shift and he's saying my mum is repeating herself over and over again which isn't like her at all. She's worried she's going to ruin our Christmas
The doctors are going to give her something to thin the blood over the next few days.
I know nothing about anything like this and it sounds serious to me. Why would they have been X-raying her chest in the first place? What would've led them in that direction? If anyone can shed some light I would be so grateful. I can't get to the hospital until tomorrow.

Firstly, don't panic. Lots of people get PEs, and as long as they are found and treated the outlook is great. My dad had 8 clots on his lungs 18 months ago, did the treatment (injections for 2 weeks, then tablets for 6 months) and is OK.
PE most often occurs in people who have been immobile and had surgery, so they'd have been watching your mum for it

Thank you so much! That's what I wanted to hear, I'm a bit of an over-reacter and tend to think the worst. I see now why they would do the X-ray. I'm glad to hear your dad recovered. What does PE stand for?

A relative of mine had blood clots on her lung, only diagnosed after she collapsed in town. The hospital gave her strong medication (a heparin drip), and she was discharged 2.5 weeks later on warfarin, and fully recovered. Be reassured by the fact they have found the clots sufficiently early on. As CMOT says, being immobile is a massive risk factor (think of the DVT risk on long haul flights), so that is why they were checking her out for this.

PE = pulmonary embolism.

PE = pulmonary (anything to do with lungs) embolism (clots)

Try not to worry. She's getting the right treatment and will soon improve I'm sure. The reason she's repeating herself is probably that the clots are temporarily affecting the amount of oxygen in her blood slightly and the body will prioritise where it needs to get the good stuff to. Or it could just be that's she stressed out and worried. Either way - the things with this is detection - now they know what's happening they will be dealing with it.

Thank you very much both of you. I feel much better and able to carry on with Christmas prep!

Hi, for more info you could look at the patient info leaflet on pulmonary embolus on WWW.patient.co.uk. also has information on warfarin which she will probably be on for 6 months. As said above pes are more likely if immobile and it's good it was picked up before she left hospital. The clot will dissolve on its own over time but the clexane/warfarin will stop it getting bigger. Good luck and I hope christmas is ok. If she has to stay in Christmas is actually quite a jovial time in hospital!wierdly;)

My dad had blood clots on his lung 8 years ago. I think he was in hospital for around 2 weeks where they gave him injections. Then he was on tablets (Warfarin) for around 18 months. He's fine now.

Glad to hear more good news. The link gave lots of info (I've ignored the bit where it said 25,000 people in hospital die from a PE each year ). My mum is in good health, apart from high blood pressure, for an 84 year old so hopefully will be ok.

Hocus - that figure is history now. All the time work is being done to reduce it - it's recognised that this is something that can be improved. You're right not to dwell on it. Your mum sounds lovely

Thanks Northernlurker! Good news about the figures. I've just spoken to her and they have reassured her and talked her through what is going to happen but she will be in at least until Wednesday. We are all visiting Christmas Day, but will have our 'Christmas' altogether at a later date.

I've had one (a PE that is), and I'm now in good health. I had mine at christmas as well, Christmas dinner in hospital was actually good fun!

Be prepared for her having lots of blood tests in the coming months, as they will probably put her on Warfarin and it requires constant monitoring to ensure that you are taking the correct dose.

It's good that they caught it (I love our NHS I do!)

I'm glad you're now well Ramble and thank you for sharing. When you say lots of blood tests - is this weekly, more than weekly? I'm thinking I need to get her registered with my local GP/hospital because she will come and stay with me for the 2 months+ while she's recovering from the fracture, just thinking of the logistics. You can tell I'm new to all this!

Need to say, I'm not a medical expert, but just my thoughts.

When I've had actual clots, and when at most risk of clotting (pregnancy and post-pregnancy), I've been put on Clexane/Heparin injections. They are small injections which go under the skin, and I have been able to do these myself at home. No blood testing is usually required.

When the clot has dispersed, then I'm switched onto Warfarin and this needs constant blood testing to check you are on the correct dose. They try to keep my blood at an INR of 2 to 3 (ie. so that it takes 2 to 3 times longer to clot than normal). Sometimes this means blood samples every other day, sometimes only once every 4 weeks, depending on how stable the INR reading is.

As she will probably remain immobile for some time, they may continue her on Clexane/Heparin injections. She may be able to do these herself at home, or have a phlebotomist/nurse come to the house.

I would def check out registering her with a local GP tbh.

Thanks for the info. When the surgery opens next week I will try and get it sorted out.

Hiya- I know this is an old thread but wondered how you got on? My 74 yo is im hospital with blood clot on her lung. The clot is decreasing in size but she is still relying on oxygen 1 week in. Quite worrying! Looking for any hand holding really