Scared- pulmonary embolism.

[squishyegg]

Hello.

I had my little girl on the 11th July- emergency c sec.

Since then it's been one thing after another. I lost a lot of blood and was then treated for sepsis. Yesterday I had 2 units of blood as my hb was low.

Last few nights I've not been able to sleep due to shortness of breath and a pressure feeling on my chest.

I went to a&e two days ago where they did a chest x ray, heart scan and bloods. All was okay.

Last night and this morning my breathlessness got worse so I went back in.

I had bloods done and my d dimer came back high which indicates blood clots.

I am panicking like mad as I know they can be fatal.

They discharged me to come back in tomorrow for a ct scan. They haven't given me a time but told me to listen out for my phone for an appointment.

In the meanwhile she has given me anticoagulant injections 3 days worth. I was already taking clexane anyway post op.

Has anyone any positive stories with PE? I'm so scared of dying anyway. My little one is in NICU and due to come home but obviously can't come until I'm better.

I should add the breathlessness is worst when laying down and weirdly around 3am I start to have a crackle on my chest.

Any advice would be great please.

If not blood clot- what else could this be? I feel so lousy.

Have they given you a higher dose of Clexane, @squishyegg?

It's usually higher for treatment that for preventative measures.

I've had a DVT/PE, and yes it's scary. Did they tell you to call 999 if you feel worse? Definitely do this.

Yes they have given me something different to the clexane and it's of a higher dose too

D-diners can be raised for a whole load of reasons, including having just had an operation. It’s quite possible you don’t have a PE still. The CTPA will give the definitive answer.

Dimers! D-dimers! Flipping autocorrect!

Did they mention pulse rate and blood pressure? Mine was all over the shop after my c section, had low iron and blood loss too. I was exhausted and further exhausted myself with worry. I mention it because you sound exhausted and very anxious. Are you able to rest and sleep? It will really help. An emcs is a really scary thing to go for and you’re still recovering mentally and physically. It’s really common to not feel safe and not feel in control. If you find this is causing you more anxiety than expected please get some support. Getting your head in the right place will help your body heal. And to reassure you, you’re getting the medicine and a priority ct scan, so things are in hand to keep you safe, just try not to drive yourself to further exhaustion worrying about embolisms. Call 999 if you feel worse, if there someone at home who can support you and look after the baby so you can rest?

An emergency c section is a massive op. We minimise it because it's a common op but if you said to a bloke that they were going to have an abdominal incision big enough to fit a person through, the removal of a good stone or more of 'stuff' PLUS bleeding I think you'd find they'd take to their beds for a month.
So that's reason number 1 that you feel lousy.
Reason number 2, you e got a baby in nicu so I'm betting you haven't been eating and drinking to the optimum and part if you is constantly waiting for the phone to ring
Reason number 3, you had sepsis so your whole system has been under strain
Reason number 4 you needed two units of blood this week, you must be seriously anaemic. Which can cause breathless type symptoms. As can anxiety actually. And if it is anxiety that doesn't mean it's not real, it's really real!

You are not going to die, you are getting the right treatment and this will get better soon.

I do have a friend who survived pe in pregnancy, prem delivery and icu. She's just become a grandma.

You will be ok op.

Please don't worry but it must be hard as you have been through so much already. You are having extra treatments to thin your blood so the hospital are on the right track. Your breathlessness could be stress and worry and over thinking things.

I had a pulmonary embollism a couple of days after I gave birth to my third child 23 years ago. Up until I gave birth I had been fit and healthy, on the go looking after two other children under 5. Hours after I gave birth I developed a terrible pain in my groin which midwives said were probably afterpains . Discharged the next day but then developed trouble breathing and coughing up blood. I knew something wasn't right and spent the next 10 days in hospital after going to A&E. I had a blood clot which had travelled from my leg and then to my groin and then to my lung! I wasn't able to have my baby with me as I had to go to a general ward where babies were not allowed so my dear Mum looked after my daughter for me.

I was discharged with warfarin tablets to thin my blood for the next 6 months and had to attend regular 2 weekly appointments to check my blood thinning levels but I felt back to normal when I came home.
You will get through this uncertain time.

Could it be covid?

I’m sure you wouldn’t be sent home if they were unsure.

Hope you feel better very soon.

So sorry to hear you are going through this, just wanted to hopefully provide some reassurance that I had an emergency c section in Feb, hemorrhage and sepsis, both kept in for IV antibiotics and then subsequently delevoped a PE. To cut a long story short I am now fine, and the clot has resolved. I've been taking fragmin (aka daltaparin) injections since and like you was put on the treatment dose before the scan.

Just to warn you in case it hasn't come up, I was advised to pump and dump for up to 48hrs after the ct scan but a min of 2hrs, because of the dye they use - not sure how relevant given your little one is poorly in NICU but worth asking.

Really hope all is OK on the scan and you and your little one are both well on the road to recovery. Please feel free to pm me if you want to know any more x

@MorgenMuffel hello, thanks so much for replying.

Yes they told me to pump and dump for 12 hours after but I reckon I'll do it for a little longer. Which is annoying as we are due to 'room in' tomorrow to establish breastfeeding ready to come home! But I know it has to be done.

Your story sound similar to mine! I hope you are okay now?

I actually slept okay last night, better than I have done in a while. Not sure if I slept well because I've been exhausted though! My breathing was slightly better last night and only woke me up a couple times.

I still have this crackle on my chest when I lay flat too.

My d dimer was 770, but I know this can be elevated due to surgery and infection too.

If I'm honest I am just hoping I have a chest infection of some sort....

I will get a call today for an appointment time to have my scan. Hopefully I won't have to wait too long as I feel very anxious xx

Hello- no blood clots but slight fluid between lungs and chest wall.... they aren't doing anything about it though and can't stop worrying!

You've had a very rough road! I'm sorry you're experiencing this. I had a terrible time with my only pregnancy and spent twelve days in hospital, my child six weeks. Gallstone, pancreatitis,ARDS, sepsis, MRSA, blood clot,kidney infection, emergency c section.I went home on the injections as well. Later had hernia repair in gallbladder incision.
Take care of yourself, rest, eat well and follow your discharge instructions. Attend your follow up appointments and accept help from family/friends for cooking and cleaning or get a cleaner if possible. Best of luck

@squishyegg so glad to read your update that there is no clot. Hopefully the fluid will resolve itself soon but don't be afraid to keep pushing pushing be reviewed if you don't feel any better. Hope you and your little one can get home soon