Anyone else had a D Dimer test (for embolism) during pregnancy?

[Maviyildiz]

If you have I would love to hear about yours.

I just had one today and my test came out with abnormal values, but my doctor didn't want to do any further testing. He said they weren't too high. I am pretty upset about it and hope to get a second opinion, but in the mean time, I have been trying to reassure myself by looking at the studies showing that pregnant women have higher D-dimer values. However, there is very conflicting information about people who are as far along as me (16 weeks)

Some info says people at 16 weeks are about the same as non-pregnant women. Others say the new normal is 36% higher!

So if you had one, how many weeks were you? And what did YOUR doctor say?

Oh, and if you know where there is good info available on this, I would love to hear that too!

 

[Honeyblossom]

Lots of things cause a slightly elevated d dimer. what was yours? If you have a dvt/ p.e it is usually stonking high.
Do you have marked leg swelling/pain and raised collaterral veins around the swelling??? If not I wouldnt worry.
IF you have a real worry- go back to ER. And step away from the ddimer studies( Ive been doing that about every thing btw)

 

[Maviyildiz]

Mine was .34 DDU (which I believe is equal to .68 of the more common unit, FEU)

I got the test because of shortness of breath that has been going on for 6 months. They keep giving me asthma meds even though the spirometry test is negative for asthma and the medicine makes no difference.

Oh, and the best part: they are sending me to a cardiologist now instead of a lung doctor because I had a high heart rate today, despite a normal EKG AND despite the fact that I had just done a spirometry test. (They give you a drug for this test that makes your heart rate really high--they warn you beforehand, so I don't understand the concern over my pulse...I would like some concern over my lungs though!)

 

[loverguts]

I had a D Dimer test when i was about 7 months pregnant last time due to severe leg pain and swelling. I was told it was extremely high, they said not to worry too much as pregnancy makes it go a lot higher but then they found that i had a DVT in my leg so i think it was mainly high from that.

I don't think you need to worry if your doctor isnt concerned (unless you have other symptoms that you think need checking out)

 

[Issie]

Hi,
I know you post was form a long time ago, but I am 25 weeks and have had my d-dimer tested twice, over 4000 both times. They have done a CT scan and ultrasound of my legs. I wish I knew what was causing it to be so high.

 

[numommy2b]

Hi,
I know you post was form a long time ago, but I am 25 weeks and have had my d-dimer tested twice, over 4000 both times. They have done a CT scan and ultrasound of my legs. I wish I knew what was causing it to be so high.

Was the CT of the chest or were both tests just done on the lower region?

 

[Unexpected212]

I coughd up blood and had one. It was elevated. They said it is normal when your pregnant and didnt do further tests.

THey reckon it was just my chest infection and the amount of coughing had ruptured something in my throat/etc made me cough up a bit of blood and as it was a one off they weren't worried.