Pulmonary embolism investigations pregnancy

[Lou19851]

Hi ladies, I’m feeling rather alone and stressed I have to have investigations for. P.E I am 6 months pregnant and need to have a VQ scan which they say is a low dose of radiation to the baby, they have told me it’s really important for me to have this scan and the benefits outweighs the risks etc but I can’t help feeling so scared, has anyone any experience of this in pregnancy? How was your baby? Are they ok now etc - thanks for listening x

Hey, I had exactly this at exactly the same stage in pregnancy. I went ahead with specialist blood thinners and a scan where they injected radioactive dye.
The baby is now 11 and outstanding at maths. I credit the radioactive dye 😉
Flippancy aside, sometimes you have to trust the doctors but make sure you ask all the questions you want to.

@Chocolatecoatedkettlebell aw thank you so much for replying, it’s so good to hear from someone else who has experienced this, glad all worked out x

I had to have this and I remember bursting into tears as I was so terrified but it was all fine and baby was fine. Hope you're ok. As pp said, just make sure you ask all the questions you need to. I remember on the day the person doing the scan told me they do several every day which helped reassure me

@frillseeking thanks so much, wow I didn’t think I’d find anyone else who’d had this done as I’d never even heard of it! That’s reassuring that they do so many of them then x

Lou19851 I had a pulmonary embolism whilst pregnant too, I was about 30wks when it was discovered by the scans. I went on to have blood thinners and both myself and baby were fine! I remember being so scared but my doctors and midwives were all so lovely and i had complete trust in them.

interestingly Chocolatecoveredkettlebell my son is now also 11 and great at maths! 😊🤔

@Notjustamum28 aw thanks for replying so glad to hear all went well x

I had this in tue first trimester. No adverse effects for either me or baby.

@PolytheneRam thank you for replying, glad all was well x

I had bilateral PEs in my third pregnancy and suspected PEs in my fourth. I had the VQ scan both times. Both babies were unaffected. DC3 is nearly 5, bright as a button and sassy beyond belief. DC4 is 9 months and fabulous.

The radiation dose is very low. This leaflet has some comparison stats at the end that might be interesting and hopefully reassuring: www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflets/medical%20physics%20having%20a%20vq%20lung%20scan%20as%20an%20outpatient

@Hibiscusroses thank you so much and so glad to hear all was well with both pregnancies, hope you are ok now x

Hi @Lou19851 how did you get on, hope everything was ok xx

@Ellycook thanks for thinking about me hun, all was clear with the scan so being sent for a echo heart scan next, thanks all again xx

Hi- I had the same fear about the VQ scan. I did it two days ago after fainting on Wednesday and being very breathless. Unfortunately I have PE (two clots in my lungs).
I am now taking two Clexane injections daily.
Despite this I am really worried I may faint again, or the clots may travel to my heart or brain. I am also worried about the birth.
It would be really helpful to hear how anyone got on with the treatment (if breathlessness continued or they fainted) and if there were changes to their birthing plans?
Thanks so much

@RPS19 hi there, really sorry you are going through this, it is a terrifying time, I didn't have a p.e I am undergoing cardiac related tests, hope somebody who was positive for p.e responds and gives you their experience, hugs, I know how scary it all is xx

@RPS19 if I was you I’d start a new post as people will be more likely to reply on a new one xx

@Lou19851 thanks for your message, I will do just that xxx