I started to get sick very frequently around March 2019. I was having terrible colds and coughing all of the time. A few months later, I started having difficulty climbing stairs and couldn’t even walk without developing shortness of breath and feeling like I was having a heart attack.
I went to my primary care doctor over and over again. They told me that I had a virus, or maybe my blood pressure was high and I should watch it, but there was no reason for concern. By the end of May 2019, I had one last terrible cold with an extremely high fever. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and yet it was still “just a virus.”
The following week, my left leg was suddenly in unbearable pain. I found myself hospitalized and diagnosed with both a massive deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and extensive pulmonary emboli (PE) in both lungs. Doctors believed birth control was my only risk factor, but a year later I was diagnosed with May-Thurner Syndrome. Six months after that, I had a stent placed.
I still have some mild pain and discomfort in my leg, but what affects me most is the anxiety. In the last year, I’ve realized there is a whole community of people who have stories similar to mine. I’ve connected with people with the same anxieties and feel less alone.
My advice is to see a doctor when you feel something is wrong. See many doctors, as many as it takes to find answers and find the best treatment.
Resources
May-Thurner Syndrome
Psychological Impact of Blood Clots
Women and Blood Clots
