My mother and I went to the emergency room because she was having severe lower back pain.. the doctors were convinced she had kidney stones. She has a histor of blood clots but the doctors ruled out Pulminary Embolism (when a clot goes up to your lungs) because she has a filter in her vena cava. My mom was discharged and the pain only increased and spread to her back. She was then treated for a pleual infection. Finaly we raced back to the hospital when her leg was swelling and it turns out she has a HUGE clot formaion up and down her leg, and she has sufered a pulminary embolism which destroyed precious lung tissue. We have since switched oncology practices. My mom will have to stay in the hospital for a week or so, but is so lucky to be alive!
Common symptoms of PE:
shortness of breath, abdominal pain, back pain, edema, fever
Risk Factors: carcinoma, history of DVT (blood clot)