After walking up five flights of stairs to a friend’s Manhattan apartment, I rested at the top of the staircase. It took me almost 15 minutes to gain control of my breathing. I chalked it up to the extra pounds I had gained.
A few days later, my bottom lower right extremity began to swell up during my work shift. I noticed it through my jeans. My skin became warm to the touch and sore, and it became difficult to walk.
Luckily, I work in a hospital, literally 20 steps from the emergency room. At the end of my shift, I decided to get checked out. A half hour later, I had multiple doctors surrounding me and saying I had done the right thing to come in when I did.
I was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and a bilateral pulmonary embolism. I had multiple blood clots that had broken off from the calf and traveled up to my lungs.
My clots were unprovoked. I was told that if a second episode occurred, I could be placed on anticoagulants for life.
I decided not to live with the fear of recurrence, but to live every day freely with love and intent. I do this by eating healthier, stressing less, and paying close attention when my body talks.
Resources
About Blood Clots
Signs and Symptoms of Blood Clots
PE Diagnosis
