Question: I had a series of pulmonary emboli in 2003. Up until that time I had little or no trouble exercising at fairly rigorous levels with aerobic exercise. During the PE I apparently experienced a MI in the lower left portion of my heart. A greenfield filter was placed and I took about 2 months of rehab and wearing an O2 cannula. I was amazed when trying to exert passed a couple of minutes when I cratered. I still exercise regularly and do "aerobic" for an hour 4-6 times a week. Still I cant proceed at any more than a 4 1/2 MPH pace for more than 2 or three minutes but I recover quickly and can go on with my routine. I am now 72 years old and have always been an exerciser. I quit moderate to lite cigarettes in 1990 and quit alcohol in 1976. I cannot get any physician to say I have had pulmonary damage. I have had exhaustive testing at a med school facility in the SE.

"energy limits" is not a good term. This "breathlessness," except for the few weeks before I had the PE and MI was not present. I was able to run 10 K's at sub 8 minute pace and as a younger man under 7 minute /mile. My cardiologist in XXXXXXX thought I was going to have some sort of stint because I had registered 99.99) on a prelim EBT in 2003 but I went to our vacation home in the NM mountains @ 8000 feet and collapsed and was airlifted back to XXXXXXX The angiogram says I am only 30% occluded in the circumflex and that finding was confirmed by a XXXXXXX in 2007 when the AVS was diagnosed. I had 7 tests run at the U of Va pulmonary clinic and the head hot shot said, "You definitely do not have asthma!" and forwarded the test results to my primary care P. The original AVS was diagnoses as having .8cm patency. After switching cardiologist and having echos for three years, the patency is steady at 1.0 -1.1 cm. I am now on an every two year program with my cardiologist. EKG's are very good. I take Crestor and my HDL is in the 70's and I am right at 118. Crestor (5mg) is the only med I am on other than ASA adult and OTC stuff. Fiber, eye vitamins, benedryl prn for sleep. I am 5'11" 185 pounds 34 inch waist. My big frustration with this is no one seems to want to hazard a guess as to why this sudden change. When it was suggested that it was the smoking that I quit in 1990, I just laughed. The only person who said anything to me was a respiratory therapist at my last function test who suggested that I prolly have some "scarring" as a result of the PE's. I practiced and performed oral surgery for 40 years and have moved to a new town. Frankly, I am about ready to go back home to speak with docs I know and trust, but I shouldn't have to do that. You site is being used as a reality check for me.