stilldreamin
Well-known member
I'm back, again.
I was admitted back into the hospital last week, and sent home again on Friday. I had gone to my family doctors clinic on Tuesday complaining of extreme pain breathing, and a very specific spot under my right breast that was very sharp and shooting. No pain on palpation, although I had hoped it would be muscle pain. That had been going on since the previous Friday. The clinic doctor sent me to Emerg because she was worried about a pulmonary embolism. I was examined and watched for about 6 hours after an EKG and blood work, then they allowed me to go home to sleep, but the following morning I had to go back for more tests. They did a VQ test (a lung scan) which came back inconclusive. They were going to do a CT scan, but I had a reaction to the dye during my catherterization, so they did an ultrasound of my legs, which found no blood clots. They considered doing the CT anyways, but decided against it. They're reasoning was that all it would do is confirm a pulmonary embolism, and the treatment for that was Fragmen (sp? the needles in the tummy) and coumadin, which I'm already on.
However, my INR was 1.5, so they admitted me so they could give me the Fragmen and bring my INR up, and get rid of any possible PE. I was released on Friday with an INR of 2.1, and the pain in my chest, and difficulty breathing was gone.
I was having problems with my pain levels before all this, and was intent on stopping my painkillers.... what I wasn't paying attention to was my inability to get active, and I was getting depressed too. They convinced me to stay on my painkillers until my pain became more manageable... and since I've been home this time I've been able to be more active, and actually managed to get out more and enjoy the nice weather we've been having here. and of course that helps with the depression.
My biggest concern right now is my INR levels. I was released from the hospital after my surgery with an INR of 1.8. They said that was right where they wanted it. I thought it was a bit low, but they said because I had an On-X valve, my INR could be lower. I haven't found anything like that about the On-X valves. I would be more comfortable with my INR between 2.5 and 3.5, just from what I've read and have learned here. I've told them that, and also told them I wanted to increase my coumadin. I'll be talking to my surgeon as soon as I can... he's been away for the past couple weeks... to talk to him about this, since he's the one that apparently said my INR was fine at 1.8.
Any thoughts, suggestions, advice.... would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much for listening to me yet again.
jen
I was admitted back into the hospital last week, and sent home again on Friday. I had gone to my family doctors clinic on Tuesday complaining of extreme pain breathing, and a very specific spot under my right breast that was very sharp and shooting. No pain on palpation, although I had hoped it would be muscle pain. That had been going on since the previous Friday. The clinic doctor sent me to Emerg because she was worried about a pulmonary embolism. I was examined and watched for about 6 hours after an EKG and blood work, then they allowed me to go home to sleep, but the following morning I had to go back for more tests. They did a VQ test (a lung scan) which came back inconclusive. They were going to do a CT scan, but I had a reaction to the dye during my catherterization, so they did an ultrasound of my legs, which found no blood clots. They considered doing the CT anyways, but decided against it. They're reasoning was that all it would do is confirm a pulmonary embolism, and the treatment for that was Fragmen (sp? the needles in the tummy) and coumadin, which I'm already on.
However, my INR was 1.5, so they admitted me so they could give me the Fragmen and bring my INR up, and get rid of any possible PE. I was released on Friday with an INR of 2.1, and the pain in my chest, and difficulty breathing was gone.
I was having problems with my pain levels before all this, and was intent on stopping my painkillers.... what I wasn't paying attention to was my inability to get active, and I was getting depressed too. They convinced me to stay on my painkillers until my pain became more manageable... and since I've been home this time I've been able to be more active, and actually managed to get out more and enjoy the nice weather we've been having here. and of course that helps with the depression.
My biggest concern right now is my INR levels. I was released from the hospital after my surgery with an INR of 1.8. They said that was right where they wanted it. I thought it was a bit low, but they said because I had an On-X valve, my INR could be lower. I haven't found anything like that about the On-X valves. I would be more comfortable with my INR between 2.5 and 3.5, just from what I've read and have learned here. I've told them that, and also told them I wanted to increase my coumadin. I'll be talking to my surgeon as soon as I can... he's been away for the past couple weeks... to talk to him about this, since he's the one that apparently said my INR was fine at 1.8.
Any thoughts, suggestions, advice.... would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much for listening to me yet again.
jen
