Help....My sister who is 4 months pregnant has been diagnosed with what they belive is a blood clot in her lungs. She had plurasy(?? spelling??) but now they think it is this...Since she is 4 months pregnant (and also has a 5 month old at home) they said there is nothing they can do about it and sent her home with some antibiotics. Does anyone have any information about this?
Thanks everyone for the responses I was really worried and it seemed weird to just let her go. I talked to her some more about it and she said they only did a chest xray since she was pregnant. They didn't want to do a cat scan or stick her on blood thinners. She said the Z-pac and the tylenol with codiene seem to be helping. Also she is getting ALOT more help with her 5 month old. No picking up or anything. She said she was feeling a little better yesterday when I talked to her and she sounded ALOT better. She said if she wasn't all better by the time she was done with the meds she was going to go to Houston and see a specialist up there. No one around here will see her since she is pregnant. Thanks again for the replies!!!! Helps a worrier like me...and she is my "baby" sister. :-)
She needs to see a MFM or maternal fetal medicine specialist who receive extra training in high risk pregnancies. http://www.smfm.org/
They need to find out exactly why she had the blood clot. Pregnancy is a hyper-coagulable state, and sometimes it unmasks a blood-clotting disorder that can be dangerous if left untreated. If she goes back to the hospital I would insist on seeing a MFM before being released.
I would get a second opinion ASAP.
I am a former Respiratory Therapist and now a midwife. A blood clot in her lungs is very dangerous. She needs to be on a blood thinner to get rid of it. She needs to get a second opinion, and she should see a pulmonologist which is a doctor that specializes in lungs.
Lisa
Here's are some links with general info:
http://www.healthcare.com/topic/pleurisy-during-pregnancy/
http://www.medicinenet.com/pleurisy/article.htm
Who sent her home with antibiotics--The ER or her OB/GYN? Are they sure she has a blood clot or does she simply have inflammation of lung tissue? Pregnancy pleurisy can be common, however if she actually has a blood clot in her lung, that's something else... then I'd be worried. And if it is a clot, was it from an injury or infection (e.g., bacterial infection or exposure to chemical fumes) or was it due to a blood clot somewhere else, like in her leg, that broke off and logged in her lung? How did they diagnose the blood clot, because they probably did not x-ray her while pregnant.... (perhaps its just pleurisy and not a blood clot?)
Wow... I'd involve my OB as soon as possible. Not even mentioning the risk of an embolism or stroke, I would think that just having a clot in the lung could decrease the oxygen supply available to the fetus... And low oxygen levels could also cause heart distress for her. What kind of monitoring should she be doing at home? Does she need to be referred to a pregnancy specialist?
Below is a blurb that explains how it could be a secondary effect from a clog elsewhere. Just thinking in terms of how late pregnancy blood flow interferes with circulation in the legs, if she does have a blood clot elsewhere, then her and her doctor need to know...
http://www.medicinenet.com/deep_vein_thrombosis/article.htm
A blood clot (thrombus) in the deep venous system of the leg is not dangerous in itself. The situation becomes life-threatening when a piece of the blood clot breaks off (embolus, pleural=emboli), travels downstream through the heart into the pulmonary circulation system, and becomes lodged in the lung. Diagnosis and treatment of a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is meant to prevent pulmonary embolism.
There are a lot of questions that she needs answered. Hopefully it turns out being just pregnancy pleurisy and the inflammation will subside with tylonal, antibiotics and rest.
HI A.,
If what they say she has is accurate it is called pulmonary embolism. Did they do x-rays or MRI? At first my doctor thought I had pulled a muscle until they did x-rays and immediately sent me to the hospita. I had the same thing happen after delivery of both of my daughters....and was admitted to the hospital both times and put on heperin (a blood thinner). I also had pleuresy..which can be quite painful. I would strongly suggest your sister go to another doctor or emergency room because antibiotics is not the normal treatment for pulmonary embolism. (blood clots in the lungs). It is considered a serious condition and she would not be sent home. They put me on a blood thinner throughout the last trimester of my pregnancy with my second daughter...and even my daughter (who the ob/gyn thought was also at risk for a blood clot) when she was pregnant with my granddaughter was put on a blood thinner throughout her pregnancy and delivery. Thank God, she did not have any abnormal blood clotting. Tell you sister to go to a different doctor or emergency room immediately!!
I would have her make an appointment with Dr. David Berry. He's a perinatologist (high risk OBGYN) and versed in dealing with these issues. I was on blood thinners throughout my entire pregnancy and then post-partum for 6 weeks. Both Lovenox and Heparin.
He's a TERRIFIC doctor - and he's here in Austin in the Fertility Center building off Mopac. I trusted him with my life and my babies!! He does not fool around when it comes to taking risks with the Mom's health. Not to mention, having two pregnany's so close might really be putting a strain on her body.
I would urge your sister to have make an appointment with him right away!
By the way... who's her scary doctor to be giving her such a diagnosis and then offering her no help??!!! That's awful bedside manner!!
Hi A.,
They should have her on some type of blood thinner while she is pregnant. I have to give myself heparin everyday while pregnant twice a day to prevent clots. I did this with my son because with my first pregnancy there were clots in the placenta. She should be seeing a high risk doctor.
T.
Hi A.,
I have never heard of antibotics clearing a blood clot. I have had experience with clots in my legs and antibotiace were not the answer- she should see a specialist immediately.
blessings and prayers
I believe she needs to get to the ER asap. If it is the Er that sent her home, then she can call her dr. and have him/her get involved with the ER. They thought I had this when I was prego and kept me overnight doing all kinds of tests, what they thought I had was a plural embolism. It is extremely dangerous and I believe if that is what she has she would need to be put on bed rest. This is definitely a big deal because they told me it was possibly life threatening. I am not at all wanting to scare you, but see if you can't get her to pursue this a little further to be sure everything is ok. Hang in there and I will be praying for you guys!!
I have not heard of it...But giving her antibiotics and sending her home doesnt sound right??? I think I would get a second opinion!
