In July 2017, I was walking from the parking garage to my office, and by the time I got to my desk, I was completely out of breath. This continued for three days. By the third day, I was scared and I actually thought maybe I had a heart attack.
I made an appointment with my doctor that day and she instructed me to go to the emergency room immediately because she felt I had a pulmonary embolism.
After eight hours and lots of testing, I was diagnosed with multiple bilateral pulmonary emboli. I was put on Coumadin, a heparin drip, and received Lovenox injections that continued after I left the hospital. The Lovenox injections left huge, eggplant-sized and colored bruises on my stomach and arms.
My anxiety has increased since that time and it continues to remain constant. I will be a lifer on Coumadin and I am still struggling with my INR levels, which go up and down. I was told that I was lucky to be alive after this event.
I didn’t have any risk factors for blood clots. Now I have increased anxiety coupled with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and spinal stenosis, and I struggle every day. I still don’t feel I’m receiving the right care for my condition.
My advice is to listen to your body and find a doctor that listens to you.
Resources
Living Your Best Life on Blood Thinners
Psychological Impact of Blood Clots
Know Your Risk
