Last July, I was told I have factor V Leiden. I was unfamiliar with this, but my doctor said I didn’t need to do or take anything for it, so went about my life.
Less than a year later, I was having a lot of pain in my left leg and thought maybe I had pulled a muscle. Within a few days, I could barely walk, so I went to urgent care. I was given pain medication and told if the pain and swelling didn’t subside in a week to seek medical treatment again, as I may have a blood clot.
Well, the swelling got worse, and so did the pain, so I went to the ER. The doctor asked why I was there, and I showed him my foot. He said instantly that I have a blood clot. They did an ultrasound, which showed I did indeed have a blood clot from my ankle to the middle of my knee, also known as deep vein thrombosis. The doctor started me on a blood thinner right away. I was super scared, wondering how my life was going to change.
It’s two months later and I’m still experiencing swelling, which makes me embarrassed to wear shorts, but things could be worse. I know it’s a long road to recovery.
If your body tells you something is off, my advice is to go get help! A blood clot is nothing to mess around with.
Resources
Factor V Leiden
Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Blood Clots
