Three months after a surgical procedure, I went to urgent care as my leg was turning colors and I couldn’t walk. I was told that I had plantar fasciitis on the top of my foot.
That was so off track, so I went to a sports medicine doctor who diagnosed me with tendonitis just by touching my big toe. Then I was sent to a pain management center.
I thought it was a blood clot, but no one listened.
Finally, I went to a vascular surgeon. He found that I had blood clots everywhere and sent me to the hospital. As they were admitting me, I had a stroke and then was out of it for six days. They tried to save my leg, but it was too far gone. My right leg and knee were removed and I underwent dialysis for my kidney, which had shut down.
When they all gave up, a brand new doctor came in while I was having dialysis, picked up my chart and knew what was wrong. My diagnosis is catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, which is a life-threatening form of APS.
I got started on plasmapheresis right away to address my catastrophic APS. This is a procedure that removes antibodies from the plasma portion of the blood. My numbers got better and I was released to a rehab center and then home.
Two members of my family also experience blood clots, but no one has been tested for clotting disorders.
My advice to others? Never give up!
Resources
Hospitalization and Surgery
Signs and Symptoms
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
