When is Fatigue a Symptom of Something Serious?

Classic symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) include sudden onset pain, swelling, shortness of breath, and even discolored skin in the area of the blood clot.  However, sometimes the symptoms are easy to pass off as something else. Fatigue is one of those times. Knowing when fatigue might mean a blood clot can save your life.

When Is Fatigue Associated with DVT/PE?

The causes of fatigue range from something as simple as not getting enough sleep to medication side-effects to things that are life-threatening, such as cancer, a pending heart attack, or a blood clot. Without more symptoms or running diagnostic tests, it can be very challenging to determine the cause.

So, when is fatigue a possible symptom of DVT/PE? When it’s joined by:

• Muscle soreness
• Nausea
• Hormone therapy, including birth control
• Joint pain
• Frequent sighing
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain

If you have shortness of breath or chest pain plus fatigue, you should get immediate medical help. That combination can mean heart problems, blood clots (DVT/PE), or other life-threatening conditions.

Other indicators to keep in mind include:

• Time frame within a week of surgery or trauma
• Time frame within a week of extended travel
• Family history of DVT/PE
• Personal history of DVT/PE
• Recent or ongoing dehydration
• Other risk factors

If you think you might be experiencing DVT or PE, get to the emergency room as soon as possible. Quick care limits damage and helps prevent death.

Fatigue After DVT/PE

Some fatigue is common after experiencing DVT/PE, especially if there is lung or muscle damage. Healing the damage takes time.

Coumadin, Warfarin, and other blood thinners can also cause fatigue.

However, if you’re experiencing increasing fatigue, it’s important to tell you doctor instead of assuming it’s related to recovery or your medication.

While another clot isn’t likely while you’re taking blood thinners, it is possible to develop anemia or have another treatable condition causing the fatigue.

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