Still cannot sleep on back after PEs...

[Picklemonkey]

I was diagnosed with PEs last week (so not very long ago, I know!) but while I already feel 90% better during the day, I am still finding that sleeping on my back, even when propped up about as high as possible, I wake up feeling short of breath and with lots of severe rib pain where my infarct is. I know everyone is different, but just wondering how many of you still experience this while on thinners, and if not, how long did it take to start feeling like you could sleep normally? I keep having mini panic attacks because of it every single morning.

[Hidden]

It was the rib pain that got to me (and which caused the diagnosis) rather than the breathlessness, which has never been severe except on exertion and occasionally if I move awkwardly. To be honest, I came home from hospital and after two almost-sleepless nights, just went more-or-less straight to bed and slept the clock round! I did find - and still, very occasionally do - that if my ribs start hurting, just shifting my position in bed helps a great deal.

[Hidden]

Hi, I had p.e's in both lungs which were diagnosed 13 weeks after the first signs.During that time I could not lie on my back at all which was an indication something was really wrong.The dvt clinic nurse specifically asked if I could lie on my back and when I said no ,not for three months she said it was a classic side effect.After 6 months on Apixaban I could still only lie on my right side in bed to sleep and then one night 13 months after my diagnosis in Jan.2018 I was able to lie down on my back.We are all different, but give yourself time and if you cannot lie on your back find your most comfortable position.I hope you feel even better very soon.

[Picklemonkey in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much for this! This eases my anxiety a bit. I've noticed too that if I stand for a while or sit in a non-ergonomic chair, my pleurisy returns and my rib pain is severe again at night. I do think it's getting slightly better and better, but of course it can still be scary wondering if I should return to the ER or not. (Not that they could do much else since I'm already on thinners, but hey...I worry about needing emergency surgery or something!)

[Hidden]

I forgot to say,I have the thought of another p.e in the back of my mind, always, but having survived the experience in 2017/2018 I try to live my life as if I am going to be here for a long time yet.I am 61 now. I occasionally have mild panic attacks but I learned to breathe through more severe ones before my diagnosis.I am also asthmatic which can be the cause for my breathing to play up.

The Apixaban worked quickly for me in the day time and gave me hope too.I am not fully recovered ,lack of stamina mostly, but I will take what I have and build on it.It is glib to say don't panic, so I won't.If you are struggling try to find a qualified person to whom you can express your fears and seek reasurance.