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Original poster

Pulmonary Embolism

22 replies

SisterFarAway · 07/01/2019 19:10

I've received a call from my aunt earlier saying that my sister has collapsed today with a pulmonary embolism, she is now in intensive care and in an induced coma (as I understood, that's standard procedure).
She is also seven weeks post partum if that plays any role in the whole thing.

No warning sign, she was talking to her mother in law and collapsed mid-sentence. As luck would have it, my brother-in-law has to "get rid" of his overtime this week and was there as well. He caught her and immediately called for help. With the assistance of the phone operator he administered CPR until the ambulance came.
She's usually very fit, eats healthily, doesn't smoke or drink and hasn't been on any hormonal birth control for the last four years.

Essentially I need a hand hold as I am in London and they are in Germany. Not much I can do right now, but will fly over as soon as I receive more news.
Please also send me your positive stories.

Just to say, I've name changed for this as I could be identified by my previous screen name

OP posts:

acatcalledjohn · 07/01/2019 19:36

Didn't want to read and run.

I have no knowledge or experience of pulmonary embolisms, but offering a hopefully helpful bump, and a handhold.

Original poster

SisterFarAway · 07/01/2019 19:38

Thank you sooo much. I'm in complete shock and would give anything to trade places. My sister shouldn't have to go through that. Ever!

OP posts:

umberellaonesie · 07/01/2019 19:39

The fact she is post partum puts her at higher risk of blood clots.
Sounds like she is in the right place.

Jimjamjooney · 07/01/2019 19:40

So sorry to hear about your sister. She's in the best place for treatment and had CPR/ medical attention straight away so she's in a better position than others would have been. I hope she recovers swiftly.

PurpleWithRed · 07/01/2019 19:43

Hand holding from me, truly terrifying, and awful to be waiting in limbo for news. If she had a cardiac arrest she will likely be kept in an induced coma for a few days to relieve stress on her system. It may be that she is brought out of her coma as a ‘trial’ to assess her progress then taken back in again. to you and to all her family

greenelephantscarf · 07/01/2019 19:44

sorry to hear that.
she is a lucky lady and in a good place.
she will receive very strong medications whilst in her coma and I hope she will recover quickly.

acatcalledjohn · 07/01/2019 19:46

I think it's quite normal to want to trade places when something like that happens to a loved one. It sounds like the right people were there at the right time to get her the help she needed as quickly as possible.

Hoping for good news and a speedy recovery.

tubspreciousthings · 07/01/2019 19:49

My dad had a PE they believe was caused by a long flight. No induced coma for him but he might have preferred it as he was in a lot of pain for a few days.

They'll be giving her blood thinners and potentially scans to check the number/size/location of clots. It sounds like she's in the right place getting good care - thank goodness her husband was there.

Hope she improves each day OP.

MaFleur · 07/01/2019 19:50

FiL had one around 17 years ago, and although it was horrific at the time, he is still fairly well (and now in his 80s). He has medication to take, and regular check ups, but is still very much with us.

namechange01Z · 07/01/2019 19:57

my husband had a pulmonary embolism in 2014. he is now on warfarin for life as he has a blood clotting disorder factor v leiden. he has further complications as it was undetected for a while so im not sure if the warfarin is usual treatment ongoing. sending best wishes.

Impicciona · 07/01/2019 20:00

My sister had a PE postpartum 16 years ago. She was treated in a similar way without the coma and she fully recovered. She's been on warfarin ever since. Sending hugs, she's in the best place and they'll take good care of her.

Original poster

SisterFarAway · 07/01/2019 20:14

Thank you all. I wish I could do more right now, but I am 500 miles away and my aunt has asked me to "stay put" for now. This is not helped by the fact that I'm a natural worrier.

OP posts:

EdgesWedges · 07/01/2019 20:23

I had two PE around 10 years ago caused by the pill. I didn't collapse or get put in a coma so I can't relate there but I was in hospital for over a week. I was on warfarin for 6 months and had my blood tested each week to monitor dose. After that then never did anything else, both pregnancies I was put on blood thinner injections and aspirin from 6 weeks pregnant to 12 weeks post partum.

I hope your sister is ok

3out · 07/01/2019 20:27

What a horrible shock for all of you. What a relief she wasn’t alone at the time. I hope she is better very soon. So very hard when you’re in different countries too.

acatcalledjohn · 09/01/2019 14:44

Hi OP, I hope your sister is doing well.

CherryBlossom23 · 09/01/2019 14:54

What an awful shock. My uncle (60s) had a PE last year. He didn't collapse but came close. He was a lot less healthy than your sister sounds and it was touch and go a few times while he was in hospital but he has now made a full recovery so fingers crossed for her too.
Don't Google too much - you'll drive yourself crazy with worse case scenarios. I'm a worrier too so I know how it is but just try and resist! She is in good hands.

Original poster

SisterFarAway · 09/01/2019 14:55

Thanks for asking, she's woken up on her own devices and immediately asked after the children. Not out of the woods yet, but encouraging signs. Still in the ICU for a few more days, though.
Let's hope she improves some more over the coming days so she can be moved to a regular ward.

OP posts:

acatcalledjohn · 09/01/2019 15:24

That is wonderful news! Hopefully she'll be up and about again soon.

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 09/01/2019 15:58

Oh how unbelievably scary for all of you.

Yes post-partum does put you at risk for a PE.

I had a very large saddle pulmonary embolism in March after leg surgery. it was classified as sub-massive as, although my heart was enlarged and complaining quite a lot, I managed to maintain my BP and didn't lose consciousness (although was in resus for a long time being asked such things as "do you want us to take extraordinary measures if you go into arrest" - which wasn't a barrel of laughs), you may hear your DSis' referred to as "massive" which doesn't refer to the size of it but how her body responded to it.

I was in CCU (cardiopulmonary ICU) for a few days and then downgraded to a normal ward for a couple of weeks - initially pumped with loads of heparin and then having daily injections of unfragmented heparin which doesn't break the clot down but stops the formation of any additional ones and thus gives your body a chance to break the clot(s) down. I was put on oral blood thinners for some months after, although I became severely anaemic so they took me off them before the standard 6 months they usually prescribe - plus it was provoked (i.e. happened for a reason - the surgery - as was most likely your sister's case due to giving birth so recently) rather than being as a result of a blood clotting disorder.

Did they administer a clot-busting drug? I would have imagined so considering she was unconscious/required CPR.

I also had a filter put into my inferior vena cava (biggest vein in your body which takes blood back up to your heart) once they'd located the original DVT (behind my operated on knee) to stop any more of it travelling up to my heart/lungs - not that there was much left I don't think! If your DSis had the clot buster I would imagine she would have no need for one of these as the drug should have broken down any residual clot as well.

Anyway - I am almost a year from when I had mine, I'm still having therapy for PTSD but physically (apart from my bloody leg, which is still causing me trouble) I think I'm OK. I've had my heart checked (Echo) and it seems to have come out the other side relatively unscathed. You can have longer-term issues such as CTEPH (a form of pulmonary hypertension) but this is very rare, and she will always be at a higher risk of having another one but this is only slightly higher than the general population if it was provoked (which, as I said above, sounds likely) - but she is young (obvs as just given birth) and if she's usually healthy then I think (from my limited but more than the man-on-the-street knowledge of PEs) she's likely she'll recover well.

Be aware that she will probably be very emotionally scarred by the event - she may seem OK now but she's in survival mode at the moment - when she eventually gets home she will most likely need a hell of a lot of support. She may also end up having quite a few more visits to hospital - not just for checkups but also to A&E if/when she feels something isn't quite right. My A&E dept. got to know me quite well (took them a huge hamper of chocolates after about my 4th visit!) - the docs and nurses were always bloody lovely.

Happy to answer any more questions you might have.

Sending lots of positive thoughts your Dsis' way.

Original poster

SisterFarAway · 10/01/2019 08:37

Thank you so much. I already said to my aunt that I could go over for a week or so (if needed) at a later stage. But would wait for their say so as I don't want to impose.
Of course, if anything deteriorates rather badly, I would fly out on the next plane.
No news overnight, so I hope this is a positive sign.

OP posts:

Original poster

SisterFarAway · 10/01/2019 14:27

Just wanted to say thanks once again.
I was quite anxious earlier when my aunt share something along the lines of "The love between an aunt and a niece is never ending" so texted her.
Turns out she just liked that and wanted to share not taking into account the amount of anxiety it would cause the rest of the family . Honestly, a grown woman should know better.

But my sister is improving, almost all machines have been removed and, on doctor's request, the children came to hospital as well.
Seems like she needed the interaction with my nephew and niece. Some things she remembers quite clearly, others are quite fuzzy, but it is only the start of her journey to recovery and it will take time.

OP posts:

HumptyNumptyNooNoo · 11/01/2019 20:45

So pleased your Sister is on the mend . It's very scary for the people who were there too ( and you as well ) as it's quite a shock when someone so fit and well collapses in front of you.

You might find it a comfort to them, if you ask how they ( the people who were there ) are doing too. It takes a few days to sink in, you may find they will relive the moment or just be quieter than normal.

Everyone is different, but I felt it helped to talk it through with someone. Perhaps you could offer support from afar to them too?

I was the only person here to deal with the situation when my DH collapsed with a PE. It's all still fresh for me too and I can't quite believe it happened but it did. The paramedics said I did everything right and I was so thankful that I remembered my brief first aid course . It's been a week, he's home again but I worry about leaving him on his own incase it happens again . I can't get the image out of my head. I guess it will just take time.

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