My name is Heather and I nearly lost my leg after a routine surgery took a scary turn.
In March 2025, I had surgery for varicose veins on my right leg, and everything went well. Two months later, I returned for the same procedure on my left leg. It was considered a standard surgery, similar to the first, and I went home shortly afterward to rest and recover.
Almost immediately after getting home, I noticed cramping and stiffness in my foot when I walked. My foot also felt unusually cold. I loosened my dressings, assuming they might be too tight, and tried to rest, thinking everything was probably fine.
About 48 hours later, it was time to switch into compression stockings. The moment I put them on, I was in agony. My leg went stiff, my foot turned grey, and the pain was unbearable. I went directly to the emergency room.
At the ER, they couldn’t detect a pulse in my foot. My surgeon confirmed that there was a clamp at my femoral artery and it was restricting blood flow. This had resulted in a blood clot in my popliteal artery, and my limb was at risk of amputation. I was rushed into emergency surgery to save my limb — and potentially my life.
Thankfully, my surgeon was able to repair my femoral artery in time. They saved my life and my leg by acting so quickly. My only residual problem is nerve damage affecting my groin and thigh.
I was nearly dismissed in the ER by a general surgeon who assessed me saying “I cannot see why a healthy 33-year-old woman would currently be undergoing thrombosis. I’d go home and monitor.”
Thankfully I trusted my instincts and advocated for myself. I insisted on waiting to speak with my vascular surgeon before leaving the hospital. Had I gone home, I likely would have lost my leg — or worse, my life.
I share my story because so many young people believe blood clots could never happen to them. I urge others to educate themselves on the symptoms so they can act quickly.
Now, almost one year later, my life is reasonably different. I’m sober, changed my exercise habits to enhance my cardiovascular health, I eat a healthy diet, and I pay closer attention to my body.
Blood clots are a terrifying experience and they can happen to anyone!
