I took oral birth control starting at age 18 until 33, when I got pregnant. I delivered twin boys by C- section in May 2024 and resumed taking the same birth control shortly after.
In September 2024, I noticed my left leg was swollen and began turning a dark red/purple color. I went to the hospital and explained my symptoms, and they completed an ultrasound on my leg. They determined there were no clots that they could see and sent me home with “edema and muscle strain.” They did not do any blood work or further testing.
The next day, I went to a Steeler game with my husband. I could barely breathe, and the pain in my leg had intensified. So, less than 24 hours after being sent home from one ER, I went to another hospital ER.
They did blood work immediately and sent me for a chest CT with contrast. Within a half hour, I was diagnosed with pulmonary emboli in both lungs and a DVT in my pelvis.
The doctors reassured me that I was lucky and that they caught everything in time. I spent two days in the hospital on IV heparin before being discharged. The hematology team did an initial determination that the combination of having major surgery (my C-section) in May, followed by starting birth control, was likely the cause of the PE/DVT, but follow-up testing and blood work would be needed to rule out any other factors.
I returned to the ER in November with severe chest pain, and thankfully, no further clots were found. It was a process to learn and trust that the medicine was working, and that not every pain I felt was another clot.
Always listen to your body, and advocate for yourself because your life depends on it.
