Scenario 3 PE in Clinic -Patient
1 month ago: You are a 37 yo woman with a PMHx of DVT associated with a broken leg in your 20s who presented to a new clinic for contraceptive management. You have a new boyfriend and 2 children and do not want to get pregnant again. You were on the pill years ago and it really helped your acne, so you would like to do a pill again. You are not up-to-date on your pap smears and last had a PCP over 5 years ago. You were seen at planned parenthood for chlamydia about 2 years ago but have not been seen since. You also want STD testing since you are in a new relationship. The doctor very nicely is able to do your pap/STD testing and prescribe you birth control this visit!
Today: Yesterday you went back to your PCP’s office because you had become so short of breath. You first noticed this out of nowhere 2 days before when you got short of breath walking up a flight of stairs to your apartment. Typically, you are very active and this isn’t an issue. Since then you feel like your chest is tight, you are very winded and feel like your heart is racing. You were admitted to the hospital last night after your PCP was worried about you. The hospital doctor told you that you have a pulmonary embolism. They say this is like the DVT you had in your leg but now it’s in your lung. You don’t understand why you would all of a sudden get a blood clot. Last time when you had a DVT it was because you broke your leg. But you haven’t broken anything this time. You are very confused.