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Confused about ongoing Pulmonary Embolism
I am a relatively healthy 69 year old man.
In September 2023, I took a cruise. Despite having all my Covid shots, I caught a mild case of Covid. I had a very bad cough and a runny nose for a few days. I continued feeling just kind of crummy and experiencing shortness of breath.
In early November my doctor sent me to the emergency room, where I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Embolism via CT scan which was attributed to Covid as I had no other risk factors. I had no DVT or other issues.
I spent the night in the hospital for a Heperin treatment and was discharged with an Eliquis prescription and told to take it for 6 months which I did.
At about 9 months from my initial diagnosis I complained that my shortness of breath seemed to be getting worse. My doctor sent me for a new CT scan immediately.
As I understand the radiologists report, some of my clots were slightly better, some of my colts were slightly worse and I had clots in new areas.
With that it was back to the emergency room to rule out any other issues. After ruling out any other problems, I was discharged from the ER with a new Eliquis prescription and an expectation that I would have to take it for the rest of my life.
Here are the things I don't understand.
Should I have expected the Heperin and Eliquis treatment to dissolve the original clots if things had gone normally?
Should I expect my clots now to remain forever or will they ever dissolve?
I guess another version of the above, should I just expect the Eliquis to help prevent additional clots or to impact the existing ones?
Do I have any hope for getting over of better from my shortness of breath?
I do feel lucky that this condition is more annoying than debilitating. However, I never felt old before this.
I appreciate any insight you can provide to the ongoing process of my PE.
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“I guess another version of the above, should I just expect the Eliquis to help prevent additional clots or to impact the existing ones?”
Hello. I’ve had two episodes of multiple bi-lateral pulmonary emboli. After the second episode I was put on Eliquis for life. As I understand it, blood thinners do not dissolve clots. They dissolve on their own over time as the Eliquis keeps your body from making new clots. I also seem to remember that clots may not fully dissolve and may damage lung tissue. I’m just sharing what I remember from my experiences (2014 and 2019).
It sounds like the Eliquis did not prevent new clots from forming. Do you have a hematologist in your area? There may be a genetic component, if there is such a thing, in your case. I’d make an appointment or get a referral from your pcp for a review of your scans and reports. Go in with a list of your questions and get a second opinion. Keep the hematologist involved in your care.
My best wishes for answers and recovery.
As Msvjv Suggested------seek out a hemotologist...that can run a multitude of test to diagnosis you clot formation and make recommendations. I'm so biased re Eliquis.........just spent 8 of of the most miserable months of my life on Eliquis after being changed from Warfarin. Tons of case studies re Eliquie vs Warfarin where Eliquis gets the short end of the deal. Physicians like it because there is no monitoring required as is with Warfarin. I spent 8 months with Vertigo, dizzy spells (sometimes 3-4 per day), migraine type auras but no headaches. I finally found a piece of research done in 2023 thru NIH that indicated the pros/cons of Eliquis. Sound like you need to travel to one of the large teaching institutions, Mayo, John Hopkins, Duke for a thorough workup. Something does no sound right! And where may I ask......where was the source of the clot? I say this all as I have been stuck on a blood thinner since 2005 because a young Cardiologist "thought he saw a shadow on my atrial appendage." Now no one has the appetite to be responsible for taking me off "just in case."
Hi. Can you cite the 2023 study? I’d like to review it. I’m looking at possibly moving from 5 mg twice a day to 2.5 mg twice a day.
I can site the article however it will not be what you are looking for. The study is reviewing case studies on the effects of Eliquis vs Warfarin in relationship to having migraine auras and headaches. The jest is that those patients on Eliquis experienced migraine auras more frequently and severely than when they were on Warfarin. The were then switched back to warfarin and the auras/migraine headaches disappeared as well.
My suggestion remains the same.....seek out a hematologist at a large teaching facility to be fully evaluated and treated as needed.
Just to be clear. I have no side effects from Eliquis (except to my wallet). My biggest concerns is understanding what happens to/with the clots and if I can expect improvement in my shortness of breath.