“What could be “more critical” than a pulmonary embolism?”
I had a pulmonary embolism about 10 years ago. I recovered in a rather short time after experiencing a reasonable level of pain for 2 to 3 days. A severe embolism can be fatal. The treatment options are limited for severe embolisms that threaten lung function. I was put on blood thinner. I do not believe that the blood thinner breaks up the clot. I think that blood thinner makes future clots less likely. I have been on blood thinner for 10 years due to a genetic mutation that can lead to clots.
As a note, I have factor II and V, and after a provoked blood clot, caused by accident, I was on thinner briefly. A doctor gave me a second opinion, after the first one told me I needed to be on warfarin for life. This doctor is at a large Philadelphia hospital, and told me there is no data to show I need thinner for life after my kind of clot.
What kind did you have?