Pulmonary Embolism Changed My Life in More Ways Than One

I had a massive bilateral pulmonary embolism ("PE") almost three years ago in December 2004. It was a totally unexpected event that changed my life. My PE occurred just one month after my 30th birthday. I am an active person, and I exercise regularly. In fact, I was running around five miles a day about three or four days a week and lifting weights two to three times a week when it occurred.

The warning signs for PE were definitely present. However, because I was not educated on DVT and PE, I missed the indicators. Further, because of my youth and overall good health, the doctors and medical personnel missed the signs as well. I first realized something might be wrong when my wife and I were on vacation for the Thanksgiving holidays. We were visiting family when I started to feel some discomfort in my left side. I had worked out the day before, so I suspected I might have pulled a muscle or just slept awkwardly. However, as each day passed, the pain became sharper and more intense. I eventually had trouble taking deep breaths, and I realized that I needed to go to the ER.

At the ER, I was diagnosed with pleurisy, or inflammation of the membrane around the lungs usually associated with some kind of infection. I was sent home with a prescription for pain killers and with the instruction to see my doctor when I returned home in a couple of days. After arriving home, I visited my local doctor's office. By that time, the pain had substantially diminished, but I was still having some difficulty breathing, and I broke into fevers during the nighttime. At this point, I was diagnosed with pneumonia and was given a shot along with a prescription for antibiotics. A few days later, I had a follow-up visit, and it appeared that I was recovering. I felt much better, and I was able to register breaths on the stethoscope.

It was while I was at home thinking I was recovering from pneumonia that I had my PE episode. That particular morning I felt a sharp pain in my left hip. I didn't think much about it because I had been resting and trying to recover for several days. I believed the pain might be my muscles adjusting from sudden inactivity. Ironically, because I had been feeling much better, this was the first day that my wife went back to work. I had just finished eating lunch and was walking toward the master bedroom of our home to lay down for a nap. I leaned over the sink to wash my face, when I felt a strange and sudden surge of energy through my body. It was a rush that started at my feet and raced all the way to my head. I remember thinking "what is happening to me?" and "is this my last moment in this world?" I knew that I was in trouble, and instantly, I was seeing yellow and the room was spinning rapidly. I knew I was going to collapse. I blacked out. Somehow, I made it to the bed and had a relatively soft fall.

When I came to my surroundings, I knew something major had happened to me, and I laid there in wonderment. I was having difficulty breathing, and I was experiencing pain in my chest. I remember thinking to myself, "Don't panic; just relax and take deep breaths." After a few minutes, I knew that I was not going to fully catch my breath. While I knew my condition was serious, I felt confident that I was not going to die laying there. We have a phone in the bedroom, but I could not reach it because it is on the other side of the room. Because I was so weak, I was afraid I would lose consciousness if I attempted to move toward the phone. Accordingly, I waited patiently knowing my wife was coming home shortly.

It was during this time that I saw a vision of my late grandfather, who had passed away two years earlier. Grandpa seemed to tell me that it was going to be O.K., and upon seeing him I felt comforted. I felt like Grandpa was watching over me and protecting me, and at the same time, I felt the presence of God.

When my wife arrived, we raced to the emergency room. I was immediately put on oxygen and through a battery of testing. As soon as the scans revealed clots in my lungs, I was moved to the ICU. I stayed in the hospital for 8 days. I received tremendous care there, and I am so thankful for the nurses and doctors who took care of me. I am also thankful for my mother, father and brother who immediately dropped everything and came to visit from out of town. They visited for several days, easing my fears and comforting me.

My wife was amazing through it all. She stayed by my side at the hospital virtually 24 hours a day. There is no way I would have made it through my PE without her strength and love. Once I returned home from the hospital and was in recovery, she cared for me and handled everything going on in our lives. Before the episode I had an incredibly close relationship with her. In fact, I didn't think it was possible to be any closer, but after these events, I have an even deeper intimacy with her.

Now that I have fully recovered, I am taking warfarin indefinitely. In my post-workup, I tested negative for the typical protein deficiencies and other factors that lead to blood clotting or PE. Consequently, the cause of my PE still remains unknown today even three years later.

Of course, hindsight is always 20/20. Now that I am educated on DVT and PE, I realize that some of the major indicators were there: migrating pain, fever, nighttime sweating, and breathing difficulties. In fact, I now connect the fact that a week or so before the pain in my side, I felt pain in the middle of my calf. The pain was at a level that I had made the conscious decision to hold off from running for a few days. I now understand that the pain was most likely DVT, or a blood clot in my calf. At the time, I thought the pain was simply an athletic injury associated with running, and I had no reason to connect it to my other problems.

Even though what I went through was traumatic and extremely stressful for me and those around me, I really don't view my PE as necessarily a bad event in my life. Because of the events, I feel much closer to my wife, family and friends. I believe I also have a greater sense of perspective and purpose in my life. Matters that used to seem impossible or stressful suddenly don't seem so critical anymore. Further, a year after my PE, my wife and I experienced the miracle and joy of the birth of our son - a moment that I treasure even more after my recent near-death experience.

Importantly, because I had a PE, my family is aware of DVT, PE and their symptoms and signs, and future generations will be monitored closely for susceptibility to these problems. If you want to know more about DVT or PE, please check out the website for the Coalition to Prevent DVT at www.preventdvt.org.

I hope that by sharing my story with you, you will have a greater awareness on the risks and symptoms associated with the deadly problems of DVT and PE. I also hope that for you - unlike me - it doesn't take a traumatic or painful event to realize how great your life amongst family and friends is and to enjoy each day to its fullest.