How one man almost waited too long to get help for potentially fatal pulmonary embolism

Dr. Tara Narula meets a New York man whose severe shortness of breath indicated a serious medical condition. He almost waited too long to get help, and his doctor says he's very lucky to be alive.

Each weekday morning, "CBS Mornings” co-hosts Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson bring you the latest breaking news, smart conversation and in-depth feature reporting. "CBS Mornings" airs weekdays at 7 a.m. on CBS and 8 a.m. ET on CBSN.

[Empathicveteran]

I had a massive pulmonary embolism and ischemic stroke as I was being prepped for surgery on the operating table. It several tries to bring me back. To keep my heart from exploding, they opened up my chest and removed the clots. I was put in a coma for a week. It was a miracle that I came through.

[jessicamartin]

I have a pulmonary embolism, very scary. In my left lung very painful. Glad he's okay.

[carolperry]

I suffered from 2 DVT's to my Left Leg and Bilateral Pulmonary emboli that extended into the branches of my Lungs. I certainly had shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat. My Left Leg was very painful. By the time I went to the ER, my Heart was under great strain and I was admitted, immediately. I am a Nurse of 17 years! I ignored symptoms that I would have recognized as very serious in other people! I honestly don't know what I was thinking and could have lost my life! Please don't ignore your body trying to tell you that something is wrong and get checked out, immediately!!

[edmfyio]

i had a pulmonary embolism on both lungs and I have to say the pain was excruciating it felt like my ribs were broken and when you coughed it was worse and struggling to breathe when I went to the hospital I was given a powerful blood thinner injected into my vein it works straight away and now I am on Anticoagulant medicine for the rest of my life

[butwhytho]

God bless u sir. I hope ur still doin good out there.

[eighmie]

It doesn't even take major surgery. I had sinus surgery and developed pneumonia afterwards. That combined with estrogen allowed a saddle pulmonary embolism to form. It very nearly killed me. Blood clots are not something to mess around with.

[AugustTwentyNinth]

I'm in the same boat. I'm 27 weeks pregnant. I just got released from the hospital 🏥 those spasms are no joke. I don't know how I will be able to afford this surgery 😢 it's a dead clot in my left lung and I was told it killed a piece of my left lung as well. I am on blood thinners and steroids for the next 9 weeks until they can take my baby out and then I have to go another 3 months on blood thinners.

[firefox]

I was diagnosed with covid a week later diagnosed with DVT left leg and saddle PE both lungs. Very traumatic experience..

[joannesaltfleet]

I went through this back in 2017 when I was 41 and with me it had built up over time and things came to a head and I had dragged myself into a and e and my friends had asked me how the blazes did you walk into a and e seriously ill?

They kept me in overnight to keep an eye on me and the following morning they rushed a lady in who is my age who had collapsed and had to go in an ambulance as she was in such a bad state.

Myself and the lady rushed in by ambulance to the ward have become great friends!

[terenasimons]

My mother just passed away from this. She had many chest infections before and said she wasn't feeling that we'll, was just resting. Went to the doctors four days before and they didn't pick up on it???? She did have lung issues and a cancer scare, years ago but supposedly it was being monitored. ???

[heartofglass]

i had a saddle pulmonary embolism at 47. V factor Lieden which I had no idea about it and was on the pill for 25 years

[gabriellebyczek]

My dad is skinny, doesnt eat bad food, and is very active, He also has had strokes because of his accident at 19, I think more so related. I just want to figure out why, he exercises a lot

[mflynn]

I think the surgeon is the one that saved him

[frombigisland]

Yeah GDM cancer since 2017’
I can’t get know GDM FKN help