I’ve been living with DVTs and PEs since the age of 15 when my calf pain was misdiagnosed as arthritis. I’ve never taken birth control and, to my knowledge, there is no family history of clotting disorders. I’m now 46, and honestly, I’ve lost count of how many blood clots I’ve had—including a saddle PE. You’d think that would be the worst of it, but it wasn’t.
The event that truly changed my life happened in 2016 when I was 38. I woke up planning to go to the gym. As I was getting ready, I started coughing uncontrollably—then began coughing up blood. Terrified, I drove myself to the hospital, continuing to cough up more blood during the drive.
Once there, I was admitted immediately. The doctors found multiple PEs in my lungs and DVTs in my legs, even though I was already on blood thinners at the time.
Things took a serious turn. I underwent a bronchoscopy and was placed in a medically induced coma. When I woke up, I had to relearn how to walk. I had a tracheotomy and developed sepsis, pneumonia, congestive heart failure, respiratory insufficiency, and acute kidney injury. They also discovered I had HIT (heparin-induced thrombocytopenia), meaning the medication meant to save me was actually causing more clots.
Looking back, I didn’t notice many warning signs before that episode. Usually, when I’m about to have a PE, I feel lightheaded, and sweaty, get a sudden burst of heat, and then pass out. This pattern has repeated itself so many times, it’s how I know another PE is coming. Occasionally, I may get shortness of breath, but that’s rare. It’s the other symptoms that always serve as my warning sign.
This experience changed my life forever. I’m a living, walking testimony. After experiencing blood clots, I no longer take life for granted. I try to live each day to the fullest and complain less, knowing that being here is truly a blessing from God.
If you have symptoms like leg pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue—don’t ignore them. Get checked out right away. Listening to your body could save your life.
Resources
Signs and Symptoms
Living Your Best Life on Blood Thinners
CTEPH
