In February of 2020, I had recently gotten married, and the world was about to shut down. I developed unbearable chest pain and shortness of breath that I ignored for a week before finally going to the emergency room.
It turned out that I had a massive pulmonary embolism. I was in shock, wondering how this happened and why. The cause turned out to be birth control. I was in intensive care for six days. I was put on a blood thinner and discharged, and then the world completely shut down due to Covid.
It was an isolating time for all of us, but I was particularly struggling due to my diagnosis and recovery, all during a time when I didn’t know when I would see my extended family again, and if my job would be safe from the pandemic layoffs. We had just bought a house, and my son was supposed to start kindergarten. It was a lot!
I recovered physically within a few months, but the mental recovery and toll took a lot longer. With the help of a therapist, I was able to work through the anxiety the clot had caused.
Four years later, I was on a plane flying back from New York, and I had that same pain in my right side. I knew immediately what it was. How is this happening again? I barely made it off the plane, was taken to the hospital, and immediately diagnosed with another PE.
I was again put on a blood thinner, which caused massive hemorrhaging, flushed my IUD out of my body, and resulted in months of trial and error trying to correct it. I was told by more than one medical professional to “just deal with it.” Nobody should have to “just deal” with bleeding so much that they can’t leave their house, work, or take care of their family.
I was tested for every genetic and acquired disorder under the sun, but nothing was positive. It’s a year later now, and I still have no answers, and I’m not sure I ever will. I’m fully recovered, off the blood thinner, and dealing well with the anxiety of having two PEs. I’m a healthy 49-year-old. Why did this happen to me? Perhaps it’s just part of my journey to help other women navigate their diagnosis and medical gaslighting.
My advice to others is not to ignore symptoms. If a medical professional tells you to deal with it, get someone else to help you.
