Blood clots and pulmonary embolism gradual and small?

[gottaprayandbestrong]

Hello. I have had several attacks of shorntess of breath over the last 8 months that last a couple of hours, and sometimes days, (mixed with palpiations, tight chest, cant take a deep breath) and have had ekg, chest x-ray, oximeter, pulmonary function test (which was below average since was having shortness of breath and tight chest, but dr. said it was non conclusive of asthma and prescribed me inhalers to try)i am due for a chest CT in a week.

after researching the internet about my symptoms, i found out about pulmonary embolism and blood clotting.  i do remember last month and a half ago that there were 2 days where my left thigh had a slight ache for 2 days. A couple of days after that, i would notice it again for a bit if i was sitting with my legs crossed (so i uncross them and it goes away).  I then checked my leg the other day and noticed that the vein behind my knee sticks out. i do remember seeing it once early january like this when i was wearing shorts, but it seems to have gotten longer (it now squiggles above and below the 4" length of the vein)so now i am freaked out and have called to set up an urgent care appt.  my questions are:

could it be possible that all these months i have had tiny blood clots and multiple pulmonary embolisms build up? even now i feel i have to breath manually and i cant take a full breath when trying. and have experienced a lot of palpitations yesterday and this morning.

when i go to urgent car should i ask for a doppler? would that rule out clots currently in my leg?

would clots show up on my chest CT?

thanks

[sandy552]

A related discussion, PE was started.

[pebbles804]

A related discussion, recovery time was started.

[dougmonahan]

I have chronic PEs. I've had them for 7 years and all of the doctors that I have spoken to are surprised that I am even alive. I am trying to find anybody who has had 5+ years of PEs and thus far - it seems pretty slim pickings - from what I have gathered thus far - nobody with PEs - (chronic) ever lives that long. I can probably answer any question that you may have regarding PEs and DVTs - my brother died from both. I have been hospitalized so many times that I have my own personal nurse with my healthcare provider - so, email me with any question that you may have - and I will try to provide a realistic answer vs. one which is glossed over by the doctors or those that have no idea what they are really talking about - and if you know of anybody who has 5+ years of chronic PEs and is still alive - I would appreciate you asking them to get in touch with me. ***@****

[hallandquinby]

Hang in there  - I have had a P.E. (2003) and if you were going to have one , you would have had it by now!  It is strong, powerful and (at times) deadly. Every time I go into the dr. that is one of the first things they check for.  Here is what they do:

1. Check my legs(s) to make sure there is no swelling;
2. check the pulse at the top of my foot;
3. make sure the skin is not "hot" to the touch - this would indicate that something is going on;
4. that there is no rash appearing on the skin.

What you are feeling right now ( I would be) is anxiety over this. . .not that I blame you, but I seriuosly doubt that you are having a dvt/P.e.

Health Anxiety is a powerful enemy to us.  My P.E. happened after about 10 days of a low grade (99.5ish) fever.

Hope this helps - good luck!
John

[gottaprayandbestrong]

anyone please? lastly, if lung/chest CT scan doesnt show blood clots, what can a lung/chest CT show?

[gottaprayandbestrong]

anyone please? lastly, if lung/chest CT scan doesnt show blood clots, what can a lung/chest CT show?

[gottaprayandbestrong]

also, ive noticed that when i use to get nosebleeds, a pretty big clot forms and comes out after the bleeding stops, could this be a sign of blood disorders?

[gottaprayandbestrong]

Im just scared that a might have a massive embolism all of a sudden......please help, its going to be a stressful wait to see the doctors......

[National Jewish]

Your symptoms are typical with recurrent blood clots but could be due to some other problem.  If the urgent care doctor believes there is something wrong with your leg a doppler study would most likely be recommended.  If there are clots, they would be found by the doppler.  Clots could also show up on a specific type of chest CT called a spiral CT.