I had experienced shortness of breath for a couple of days, which was very unusual for me because I am very active. My husband and I were walking our dogs and I needed to keep stopping to catch my breath. My Apple Watch had even alerted me that my walking heart rate was higher than normal a few days prior to that.
The day following the dog-walking incident, I called my PCP, who sent me to urgent care to be seen. Urgent care did chest x-rays and an EKG and found nothing causing my shortness of breath and elevated heart rate when walking — so they sent me to the ER.
The ER found a saddle Pulmonary Embolism (PE). They also found multiple Deep Vein Thromboses (DVTs) in my leg. I was admitted to the hospital and placed on a heparin drip for 3 days, and sent home on apixaban.
Putting the Pieces Together
I had started hormone replacement therapy a few months prior to the saddle PE for perimenopause symptoms. My father had also had a PE. Obesity was another factor. I’m still waiting on genetic testing results, but it is believed to have been caused by the HRT, along with other risk factors.
A New Outlook — and an Unexpected Find
It has really messed with my head! I have a total YOLO outlook on life now and have impulse bought a Jeep Wrangler. I am out there with the top down as much as possible. Life is too short to be inside and not living life!!!!
During the CT scan, there was an incidental finding in my breast tissue, so that is being treated now too. I keep up to date with my mammograms, but this is addressing it earlier than normal. Thank God for the PE???
What I Want You to Know
Live life! You only have one!
