In October 2024, I had a sore groin for three days. Scans showed nothing, and my GP said it was likely a muscle strain from work (I’m a crane driver). I was given pain relief and told to rest. On the fourth day, I woke up unable to walk. My leg was swollen and purple.
When I arrived at the ER, I was sweaty, short of breath, and struggling to stay conscious. I was taken straight to a bed by wheelchair and started on blood thinners. I was diagnosed with multiple bilateral pulmonary emboli, and my entire inferior vena cava (IVC) was clotted from the groin to the ankle. An IVC filter was inserted through my jugular vein.
I spent seven days in the ICU on oxygen and heparin and in extreme pain. Six hours after arriving at the ER, I underwent balloon remodeling — a procedure where a small balloon is inserted into a blocked vein and inflated to reopen it — and was told I would be going home the next day.
A few hours later, another clot formed. Balloon remodeling was done again, and it clotted again. A thrombectomy was attempted, and some clot was removed, followed by two more procedures, but the clot could not be fully removed. A stent was not placed because of my age.
Six months later, angiograms were attempted twice to place a stent, but both failed. I have now been diagnosed with vascular disease and post-thrombotic disorder at age 28. The clot in my inferior vena cava has hardened and become permanent, so it can’t be removed or dissolved and now causes ongoing blood flow problems.
This has completely changed my life and ability to be active. Through this experience, I’ve learned that blood clots can happen to anyone, and it’s important to advocate for yourself.
Resources
Interventional Therapies
IVC Filtering
Post-Thrombotic Syndrome
