Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Pulmonary Embolism?

Last Wednesday, 7 days ago, I woke up feeling bad.  Like I had the flu but I wasn't sick.  Later that night I began having a bad, deep throbbing in my right upper arm/shoulder.  My arm was slightly swollen and cold like ice and felt real tight.  This has happened before, but not accompanied with pain.  I had insurance then and went to the dr and he didn't think or do anything of it. Along with my arm, my left leg was really weird feeling.  I don't know how to describe it.  It was very uncomfortable.  Next day all that stopped and I still felt bad.  The next day I woke up feeling really bad.  Dizzy and could not breathe.  My chest  was tight feeling and I could feel it tighten and then loosen and tighten over and over.   The next day was the same and I laid around most if the day.  Did get up an go to store and was dizzy a confused. Was not a fun time.  The next day,  Sunday, the same thing.  I wake up not being able to breathe.  I went to er.  They did EKG, normal.  Did an enzyme test for heart, normal.  Did a D-Dimer for lung clot, normal.  So, the doctor rushed me out and said it was a panic attack.  I don't agree at all.  Who had a constant panic attack that lays for 6 days?  I no longer have insurance and am eligible for Medicaid under the new healthcare laws, BUT good ole Georgia opted not to expand.  So, I'm out in the cold.  Can't go to the doctor.  My only option is ER.  I'm so afraid I really may have a pulmonary embolism and I'm going to end up dying from it if I can't get diagnosed.  I hope I dont have one, but the doctor sure freaked me out.  What do you think?  I am 38 female btw.  My father died at 51 from a heart attack a few years back.  My grandmother has had strokes and had an uncle die from a PE years ago caused from an injury and my grandmother has had several strokes.  Are those d dimer tests reliable?  Day 7, still can't breathe, chest tight, sharp pain in the side of my chest and tender to touch. Have a random dry cough as well now and dizzy.
2 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
242587 tn?1355424110
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
What you have experienced is very worrisome especially, given your family history validates  your concern about some type of cardio-vascular disease.  Truth is you could be having pulmonary emboli, from veins in your right arm-shoulder and left leg or systemic arterial vascular disease.

You ask “are those d-dimer tests reliable?”  When positive, the testing is fairly sensitive but it should be interpreted in the context of one’s medical history, non-invasive venography and physical findings.  A normal/negative value does not rule out the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism.

To try to put what you describe in perspective, the symptoms you’ve experienced are consistent with anxiety with a panic attack or equally consistent with a quite dangerous situation of venous clot formation and pulmonary embolus.  There is no way that, even given the detailed information you have provided, I can give you assurance about your degree of risk at this time.  We are talking about a potentially life-threatening condition.

I strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor and with friends and family to find a way to get a quality medical evaluation.

Good luck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So I keep getting emails saying I have answers but I'm not seeing anything.  Is there a secret place I'm supposed to look?
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Respiratory Disorders Forum

Popular Resources
Find out what causes asthma, and how to take control of your symptoms.
Healing home remedies for common ailments
Tricks to help you quit for good.
Is your area one of the dirtiest-air cities in the nation?
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.