AboutHillarie Speziale Expertise I can answer general questions about ICU care, the frequently used medications, procedures, and life supports. I can also explain many of the diagnoses and supportive measures used for patients with that particular illness. I am familiar with the infectious, cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and gastric problems that can land you in the ICU. I can not tell you exactly how long the patient stay will be, diagnosis your symptoms, or tell you with any certainty that the care you (or your loved one) received was wrong. I can also answer career questions regarding RRT and RN fields. Please note: neurology is not a field I have a great deal of familiarity with..
Experience I have 17 yrs experience as a Respiratory Therapist, and 9 yrs as a critical care nurse. I am familiar with infectious, cardiac, respiratory, renal and gastric diagnoses that can land you in the ICU.
Education/Credentials Assoc. Degree in Respiratory Therapy, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of science in psychiatric nurse practitioning.
Question I had a blood clot in my leg from an injury and it broke loose .I finally had 2 saddle PEs and a clot the length of my leg.I am now on coumadin.About how long before these clots reabsorb.Thank you very much.
Answer Hi Morris,
I am assuming that initially you were hospitalized and placed on some form of Heparin. A lot of the break down & reabsorption occurs while on the Heparin. Coumadin, to my knowledge, is more to prevent further thrombus development, while the body does it's work to clean up the rest of the emboli and thrombus. I'm not sure there is any hard fast rule about the length of time it takes to complete this. I would surmise that much of the clean up will be completed in the first few weeks, with some additional clean up and remodeling occurring at a slow rate over the first month or so. There is a web support group you might be interested in: http://dailystrength.org/c/Pulmonary-Embolism/forum It is other people who have been through your experience, and offers a place to talk about it.
Hope this is of some help, Hillarie
