elevated d-dimere?

[sarah]

Hello,
Had an odema in neck, sent to emergency because they thought thrombrosis due to catheter (same side, left side). did sonogram, x-ray, scan everything fine but blood test d-dimere was 1200 when it should be less than 500. so kept over 2 nights and will soon have a Petscan.
d-dimere is an indication of a possible blood clot but.....they couldn't find one so.....
I had an odema in neck in 2004 while having taxol and herceptin weekly and back then they did tests and found nothing. I have fibrosis in my right lung and had a blocked artery and a stent put in all due to radiation for the bc.
so wondering could this just be due to breathing and lack of oxygen? it's winter and because of the fibrosis, etc I do have some breathing issues although I walk daily and go to gym 3 times weekly.
Is it possible to just have 1200 d-dimere and it be normal for you? could it be an indication of cancer - inflamation?
Anyone had this problem? solved it?
thanks
sarah