About The Author The Author, Lena Welch
The Clot Spot started out as a quest for knowledge after I had a pulmonary embolism. On July 18, 2008 I found myself in the emergency room for only the second time in my life. By the end of the visit I was diagnosed with multiple, bilateral (both lungs), large pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs). I spent 11 days in the hospital undergoing tests and getting my warfarin levels therapeutic. I spent the next two months off of work and then the next two years recovering. I quickly found out that there is little information available for pulmonary embolism survivors. I looked to the Internet and my doctors for information. All that I was able to discover was that I was lucky to be alive and that recovery takes a long time. There is a lot of information available about symptoms, causes, and treatment but no information about pulmonary embolism recovery. I joined a number of online support groups and through their wisdom I began to learn how to be a survivor. As time passed I began to be one of the ones cheering on new survivors. I decided to write down what I had learned. My work can be found at Hubpages or by searching Google for pulmonary embolism recovery. This website is the next step in helping others in their own pulmonary embolism recovery journeys.
It has been a number of years since my pulmonary embolism hospitalization. I spent a year on warfarin (Coumadin). At the end of the year I chose to see a hematologist. I was tested for a number of conditions that can increase the risk of blood clots. I tested positive for a common condition known as Factor V Leiden. Despite the diagnosis, My doctor and I agreed that it was an acceptable risk to discontinue anticoagulation. While I am not a doctor, I feel that what I have learned will be useful to other pulmonary embolism survivors. When a new victim is peering down the long tunnel of recovery, I want there to be light. Best wishes to each of you in your own personal recovery journey, Lena Welch |
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