I’m 28, healthy, active, go to the gym 4–5 times a week, and I almost died from a pulmonary embolism.
It started after a long flight back from the USA. I felt like I had the flu, sore throat, fatigue, the usual.
One morning, I woke up with a sharp back pain and suddenly could not breathe properly. Later that day, I coughed up blood. I ignored it, thinking it was nothing. Big mistake.
By the time I got to the hospital, I was crying from the pain. I thought I was dying.
Blood tests, a chest X-ray, then a CT scan. That is when everything got real.
While walking to the scan, the chest pain hit me like a heart attack. I was barely able to walk, holding onto railings just to get there. By the time I lay down for the scan, the pain in my back was 10 out of 10. I was out of breath, sweating, and honestly thought I was gone.
Then the doctor told me I had two blood clots in my lungs. They rushed me to majors.
I stayed in hospital for five days, needed strong painkillers every two hours, and found out the clots caused a lung infarction and put my heart under strain. The doctors said it was likely the 13-hour flight three weeks earlier that triggered it.
I definitely felt like I was being gaslit. At one point, a medical nurse told other staff that I was not having a heart attack, even though I kept saying it felt exactly like one. When I went to the doctor’s office, she looked at me like I was an alien and had a real attitude. I told her I was in agony, and she just stood there with her arms crossed, not saying a word.
Later, when I was crying in pain, the receptionist told me to go back and sit in the waiting area, even though my pain was 10 out of 10, and I refused. Another staff member then told me to wait 45 minutes for the results while I was still experiencing the episode. It was really frightening to feel like my pain and symptoms were not being taken seriously.
I have been home for a couple of weeks now, on blood thinners for three months, trying to take it slow. Walking even short distances feels strange, and I have not gone back to the gym yet. No running, no weights. I will know when my body is ready. Cycling has been recommended, so that might be my starting point.
This experience has really put life into perspective. It reminded me how fragile it can be. During the worst of it, I was praying just to survive. I am honestly so grateful to be here.
If you notice anything weird, coughing up blood, sudden chest pain, severe back pain, shortness of breath, please get checked immediately. This can happen to anyone, even young, fit people.
My biggest advice is to trust your instincts and do not ignore unusual symptoms, even if you are young and healthy. If something feels seriously wrong, get checked immediately. Even seemingly small signs like chest pain, back pain, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood can be a warning.
