Wow - scary stuff. Indeed, it is great the clot was found before more damage was done.

Having more experience than I'd have liked with blood clots I was on coumadin for 6 months as well. There's a statistically higher chance for me to clot again since I have clotted once already, and I'm quite appropriately paranoid about chest pain these days. If I clot again, it is coumadin for life. I would suspect you're in a similar boat - get through the 6 months and then see how you do off of it. However, with the pacemaker is that enough of an increased risk factor where they might want you on for life?

I got through the 6 months. It was tough but doable. I didn't spend a lot of that time on the forum because I missed riding so much that it made me sad. Though my immediate reaction to the whole thing was similar to how you sound - mad at having to change my exercise routine (for me, I had to miss Death Ride that year). I had to keep reminding myself how very lucky I was that my PEs were diagnosed before they led to a stroke or worse. So try to see the silver lining in it all - though I know that's tough.

Oh - and I didn't have any problems on the coumadin. Get yourself an emergency bracelet, though, so if you are in an accident or something people know why they can't stop you bleeding.