I was nine weeks pregnant when I woke up on Dec. 24, 2022 with a pain in my back that radiated to my right side, under my ribs.
The pain intensified in the evening and I had shortness of breath. At the ER, I was dismissed as having back pain and given pain medications. Six hours later, my husband called 9-1-1 because I still couldn’t breathe without pain. They dismissed me again and told me it was back pain.
Four days later, I started to cough up blood. I called my OB/GYN, who thought I may have a stomach ulcer. Next, I called my physician, who had an available appointment that morning.
They recommended different blood tests, including a D-dimer test. Once they saw the results, they immediately advised me to go to the ER and said it was a life-or-death situation. I will never forget those words!
Unfortunately, at 13 weeks, we learned our baby boy didn’t make it. This experience taught me to stand up for myself and listen to my gut feeling. I am still mentally recovering from this whole experience. I want other people to be aware that you can get a blood clot during pregnancy. Always speak up for yourself!
Resources
Women and Blood Clots: Pregnancy
About Blood Clots
How is a PE diagnosed?
