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

Hiya I had this at around the same time, I was 28 weeks, I posted the same sort of message on here a few months back, all turned out fine for me, I had a c section but totally unrelated and everything went fine, baby is now 3 months and currently snoring away happily, I didn't have a PE though in the end, but I know if you are diagnosed with one you'll be put on blood thinners ( I'm sure you already are on them) but you'll continue them postpartum until you are recovered, the actual VQ scan is nothing to worry about, mine took around 40 mins this is longer than usual, but they use a lower dose so it takes longer in pregnancy to acquire the images, it's just like lying on a table with a couple of camera plates that come close to you and a little injection at the start of the pharmaceutical, if I can help anymore just let me know, good luck and I hope all is clear xx

I had a vq scan around 33 weeks, I'm still pregnant but baby is fine, active and all looks well. I didn't have a clot in the end, but they were very insistent that the scan was necessary and the risks, although scary sounding, are still very small. Hope everything is ok for you as above, the scan itself is fine and painless :)

Thank you so much for replying, I’m glad everything was well with the scan, hope all goes well with the rest of the pregnancy and birth x

@Ellycook thank you for replying, that’s really helpful and reassuring and congrats on baby x

I don't have personal experience but I work in Radiation Protection in the NHS and just wanted to reassure you that the risks from the radiation exposure are tiny, even more so at this stage of your pregnancy. Your baby (and you) would be at far greater risk from an undiagnosed PE, so as they said, the benefits outweigh the small risks (in fact it's a legal requirement that the benefits outweigh the risks!).

Yes I had one and everything was fine.
Perfectly fine and healthy child!
It is important to rule out embolism so they are doing the right thing

@SpamIAm thank you that’s so reassuring x @DGFB thank you I’m so glad to hear everything was positive x

I forgot to add that I didn't have the ventilation portion of the VQ! This is where you breathe in the dye, you may also not have to have this part xx

Thank you, I wasn’t told about this but I’ll ask today thank you x