Sister with Blood Clot in Lungs While Pregnant

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!

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!!

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

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.

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!!

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.

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.

L.

I would get a second opinion ASAP.