In May 2021, I was experiencing extreme perimenopausal hot flashes, and hormone replacement therapy wasn’t helping, so I started estrogen-based birth control.
Things were improving until one day, I lost my breath while vacuuming. I sat down and thought I might have caught Covid, but I started feeling better, so I got back up, but was very winded.
My friend was on her way over, and we planned to get lunch. I told her we may have to go to the hospital because I wasn’t feeling well, but every time I sat down, I felt better.
We left and had to walk up a flight of stairs. It took me several minutes to make it up because I had to take a few breaks. When we arrived, I was winded walking across the restaurant. I told my friend that we needed to go to urgent care, so off we went.
I was diagnosed with anxiety and given an inhaler. Although my blood pressure was very high, they told me that it wasn’t unusual for an anxiety attack.
I walked around like that for two days before I ended up back in urgent care. The doctor I saw recognized what was happening and sent me over to the emergency room, where they admitted me.
After doing some bloodwork and a scan, they diagnosed me with blood clots. I had several DVTs in both calves, and one of the larger blood clots in my knee area broke off and caused many pulmonary emboli. I was later diagnosed with prothrombin gene mutation (Factor II). The doctor said that I was lucky because usually when people present in that condition, they are dead.
They put me on heparin overnight, and I was sent home with a prescription for blood thinners the next day.
While I was in the hospital, I remembered that my dad was hospitalized for blood clots, but his doctors never mentioned anything about it being hereditary. They just blamed it on him being sedentary, and no one ever recommended family testing. I feel lucky to have gotten a second chance at living.
However, I’m extremely paranoid I will get another. It’s always in the back of my mind. I’ve had a few emergency room visits, thinking I had clots when I didn’t.
Through this experience, I’ve learned to ask more questions and not take anything for granted.
Resources
Prothrombin gene mutation (Factor II)
Birth Control
Family Testing
