I had knee surgery and everything felt fine. The next evening, my calf started feeling very tight with severe cramps and light chest pain all night. Thought it was after effect of anesthesia, but next day calf was extremely sore, felt like something wrapped tight around it, so I went to ER. The ultrasound done on my leg found nothing, so they did a chest scan and found two small clots in my lung. I was admitted and kept in hospital all weekend. I didn't think this could happen to me; I don't smoke or drink; I eat healthy, and exercise. I'm 52 years old, weigh 127 pounds and other than sports injuries, no health issues.

My husband has clots in both lungs and the only symptoms that he has had is one very sharp pain in his side that took his breath away for about ten seconds.

It started with what I thought was a cramp or the like in my left leg. I used the normal over-the-counter muscle rubs with no help at all. After 2 weeks with no pain relief, the pain had gone up my calf to my thigh. As I began to massage the area, I immediately started to sweat profusely, had tremendous shortness of breath, vision was very blurred, and almost passed out several times through this 40 minute event. Living alone, off the grid, with no cell or landline phone, it took me 2 days to feel well enough to go to the doctor. It was deep vein thrombosis, which led to pulmonary embolism on both sides of lungs. One should never wait as long as I did to get the initial test of what the pain was in my leg. Don't delay having the cramps in your legs checked out. It saved my life.

emedicinehealth.com was so much more helpful than the nurses and doctors during the hospital stay!!! THANK YOU!

I have a confirmed pulmonary embolism. I wonder if there is any risk if I travel by air.

I have just been diagnosed with angina. During the past week I presented to the emergency room and was diagnosed with a suspected pulmonary embolism. I was discharged and referred back to my doctor for further assessment. He wasn't very helpful so I have made another appointment with my cardiologist. I have been experiencing the following symptoms: burning pain across the chest which gravitates to either side; a feeling that I can feel my heart in my throat; a dry cough and pains in my back both sides at lower lung level. A couple of times thought that I was going to pass out. When I breathe in, I feel that I am not getting full breath. I also have a gurgling sound around my left lung. My appointment with my doctor is tomorrow.

I am a female, 49 years old, non-smoker, on oral contraceptives since age 16 for family planning and long heavy menses and gradually worsening shortness of breath. I excercise almost daily, but found I could not do the easiest of my step videos without my heart racing to over 150bpm. As I have gained almost 30 lbs over the year, I thought I was just "out of shape," but then could not walk up stairs without heavy breathing and my heart racing. Bloodwork, chest x-ray showed to be normal and pulmonary function tests were normal except for slightly decreased diffusing capacity (oxygen not transferring to the blood like it should). A CT scan yesterday showed multiple emboli.

45-year old male. Non smoker, non-drinker. Office job. Clinically obese, but six foot six muscular ex-athlete. Infrequent long-distance walker. No classic pre-conditions (no long distance flying, surgery, trauma etc). Diagnosed PEs to both lungs. Onset for me was very rapid - over 2-3 days before collapse. First sign: uncomfortable getting to sleep - required extra pillows to raise head/chest. Breathlessness walking up stairs. Briefcase became heavy to carry. Unable to walk fast. General fatigue. Finally, 2 days later, upon even minor exertion - shortness of breath, rapid shallow breathing, very rapid heart rate, weakness in legs and arms, pains in chest, arms, back and head. Dizzy episodes. Collapse.

In 2000 I became very short winded. I went to four different doctors with the same prognosis and they couldn't find anything wrong.I had nuclear stress test, EKG (electrocardiogram), a stress test, and a Doppler of the heart. I was told I was all right, even though I knew better. December 2, 2008 all of a sudden, I couldn't get my breath and had some of the worst pain I have ever had on the left side of my chest. I thought it was a heart attack. A test showed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the right lower extremity, with a pulmonary embolism (PE) in both lungs. I am now on warfarin for the rest of my life. My lung doctor told me I was very lucky to be alive. Being a wild land firefighter I had to walk a lot so I stayed in shape. If you come down with shortness of breath and they can't find a reason, get them to check for blood clots in your lungs. I am very blessed to be alive and hope this will help someone. They can do blood work and if you have anti-platelet syndrome (also called Hughes Syndrome) you will need to be on warfarin.