Blood clot on lung?

[Appin]

Looking for some advice/insight, thanks.

I've been ill for months now, coughing and chest pain and breathlessness. Have just been struggling on, at work most of the time but finding it difficult. Last month I was in so much pain with the cough that my gp gave me antibiotics for a chest infection. This made me feel better, but not completely, and then symptoms crept back, leading me to go back to gp last week.

I was so breathless at the appointment that I was seeing white flashes in my eyes when she was asking me to take deep breaths, and had to lie down. She sent me to the MAU at the local hospital straight away for bloods and an xray, saying they would want to rule out pneumonia.

I spent a day at hospital having various tests. Xray clear. Most bloods fine, but at end of the day they said one test had raised markers which indicated a blood clot on my lung. Gave me an injection of blood thinners and wanted to scan me but wait would have been long at that time of night, so they sent me home to sleep. I went back in the next day and they did CT scan, which they said was clear. To rest and get back in touch with gp if symptoms worsened.

Does this mean I had a blood clot, and thinners helped? Or is this unlikely? I've been googling this weekend since I'm feeling slightly better, and everything I read says that blood clot would need further treatment? But I haven't been given anything else.

Just trying to make sense of what's been a fairly worrying few days, and obviously can't phone GP to ask as it's the weekend now.

Thanks for reading, and for any advice.

Sorry to hear you have been so unwell.
I would go back to your GP and ask for answers.
I had a PE in September while I was on holiday in France. Treatment was amazing. Since I returned to the UK I have had to make a big fuss to get anything done.
I honestly think I would have died if I had been in the UK, the health service has been so dismissive.
You have had thinners so you are not at any risk currently, just to reassure you! But you need investigations.
Out of interest, have you had Covid or the vaccine? I'm researching the link between the AZ vaccine and blood clots.

Thanks for replying! I just feel rotten because all my family who I was updating from the hospital were so worried when they heard blood clot. And I feel worried myself too, in terms of what it means for my health.

I haven't had covid, have had numerous pcr tests over the course of this illness and twice weekly lfts for work. I've had two doses of Pfizer, the last one in July.

Sounds like they took a D-dimmer test which if raised can signify a blood clot, however, it can also be raised with infection and if they can’t scan immediately to confirm this, they will start you on blood thinners straight away to be on the safe side. These can always be stopped if it turns out not to be a clot.

In my case I had a blood test in the morning at my GP’s and was called late afternoon to say that my D-dimmer had come back raised. They sent a prescription of blood thinners over to the pharmacy instantly which I started and then went up to the hospital first thing the following morning for a CT scan, which confirmed PE’s and long term blood thinners were prescribed.

It sounds to me like you had a bad infection which raised the result of the test but no evidence of a clot was found, but I would definitely give your GP a call next week and talk it through for your own peace of mind. Glad you’re feeling slightly better and I hope it continues.

Sorry Appin, just re-read your OP and can see that you don’t currently have an infection.

I would just reiterate to call the GP first thing next week and if the breathlessness continues or gets worse, don’t be afraid of making a fuss!

Bumping this old thread to ask OP @Appin whether you’re better now, and what happened? Just asking because I’ve (rather spookily) had almost exactly the same thing happen to me. Currently awaiting further test results, and hoping you’re OK, OP!

I’ve had a large one, only treatment was 6 months blood thinners. Weird they done a CT scan as usually not the scan of choice for suspected PE!

The hospital should have explained what the CT scan showed and told you if you have a blood clot on the lung or not. They will usually write this on your discharge summary and hospital notes. You can ring up the hospital to clarify what exactly the scan showed - ie blood clot or no blood clot (they can check it on the computer - ring the ward or department where you were seen). If there is a reasonably-sized blood clot, then you should still be on blood thinners (probably for a few weeks).

Thanks, both. I was sent home with blood thinners to take while awaiting the CT scan - I suspect that as it’s a v busy bank hol weekend, it wasn’t possible to do the scan immediately, and the blood test levels were only slightly raised so it’s not looking like a certainty, but they wanted to check. So I haven’t had the scan yet, will have it as early as possible next week.

Ah - so you have not had Ct scan yet? Basically, IF you did have a blood clot, you are on the treatment for it (and treatment would usually continue for months). The body clears the blood clot over that time (like a bruise it breaks down and the blood vessel won’t be blocked anymore). If it is a blood clot, afterwards they may do some tests on you to see if you need low level blood thinners to prevent a future blood clot.

You might not have a blood clot - in which case they will stop blood thinners after the scan.

right now their main concern is ruling out blood clot. If it is not a blood clot, but you are breathless still, then gp may need to do further investigations/referrals. If you get a worsening of your breathing over the weekend - then seek medical attention (whether you go to a&e or ask for out of hours gp depends on how bad it is and how quickly it has got worse - seek advice from 111 if in doubt).

Yes, that’s right - thanks @Namenic. On blood thinners for now and under instructions to keep taking them until the scan is done and results known - then re-assess. Feels a bit scary, especially the A&E doc's insistence on me returning immediately if I cut myself or (especially) hit my head….although obviously I’m very relieved to have had it picked up and to be on treatment. It’s a shock when you’re previously totally well then this happens out of the blue.