I had my first pulmonary embolism in 2021 and my second PE along with deep vein thrombosis in 2025.
The first time around, I experienced sudden chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood. The second time, I had woken up to severe calf pain.
Both times, my symptoms were constantly invalidated by doctors that I would consult. I was repeatedly told that the pain was in my head and that it was due to my anxiety.
Luckily, being a doctor myself, I was the one to self-diagnose both events and advocate for my treatment.
Being on blood thinners means I can’t do HIIT or CrossFit, but I have built an anticoagulation-safe exercise routine so that I’m one step ahead of my clots. l also use compression stockings and have worked to build community online.
I’ve learned how absolutely necessary it is to advocate for your health, no matter how much your symptoms are invalidated or trivialized. Our sixth sense or intuition about our body deserves to be listened to. NBCA has introduced me to an international community that understands and cares.
Experiencing blood clots has led me to create my country’s first thrombosis awareness initiative to ensure no one else has to experience the lack of support, rejection, and invalidation that I had experienced. Blood clots may be invisible, but we are not.
Advocate for your health. Trust your gut. What’s the worst that can happen, it won’t be something serious? That’s better to know than to risk having something that could be fatal like a blood clot.
Resources
Signs and Symptoms
Compression
PEP Talk: Returning to Exercise After a Blood Clot
