Newly diagnosed... again
I was diagnosed with a PE in Oct 22 during my pregnancy. 6 months of blood thinning injections, heamotologist checked clotting factors, given all clear and discharged. Had an echo 3 months postpartum and told I had postpartum cardiomyopathy. This recovered on its own without medication and again I was discharged from cardiologist.
Three weeks ago, I started with headaches every day, increased heart rate, and then I started to notice the shortness of breath. By Friday, I felt like I was sometime struggling to finish sentences and I noticed on my fitbit my resting heart rate had increased by 13 bpm over the 3 week period the symptoms had started. I'd visiting my GP about 1.5 weeks in to this and he told me it was probably stress or tension headaches and to reduce my chocolate and cheese. Friday night I just had a feeling that I wasn't right, and that it couldn't be just stress making me feel this way.
Went to Primary Care 24 and after a bit of a wait my D-Dimer result came back at 1120. At this point I'm trying to convince myself this surely isn't happening again and it's probably just a false positive. Unfortunately, after some time in A&E, an x-ray and a CT scan later, the doctor came back and told me I had a blood clot in my right lung, an enlarged heart and an enlarged spleen. I was started on Apixaban, told I would be referred for an echo, and sent on my way.
I'd forgotten how vague the guidance is on dealing with this. How active should I be trying to be? Is there anything I can and can't do? Should or shouldn't be eating?
I'm really struggling with waiting for appointments for the echo and a follow up in the respiratory clinic. I want to know now. Am I going to have to be on blood thinners for life? The first one was considered provoked but they're saying this one is unprovoked. I'm worried about the enlarged heart alongside the PE.
I just can't believe it is happening again!
Anyway, you lot were very reassuring 3 years ago so hopefully you can put my mind at rest again