On December 11, 2024, I went to the emergency room because my entire right arm was swollen. My father told me not to go since I wasn’t in pain and already had a doctor’s appointment scheduled for the next day, but something told me to get it checked out. I truly believed nothing serious was going on, I just thought it was a pinched nerve.
When the ER doctor came in and told me I was in a life-or-death situation after finding a blood clot, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in my arm, my whole world stopped. They prepared to transfer me for emergency surgery but later decided instead to start me on blood thinners and send me home. I didn’t realize at the time that my life was still in danger.
In the early morning hours of December 12, around 3 a.m., I woke up gasping for air. I couldn’t breathe. My heart was pounding out of my chest. My consciousness began to fade, and my whole body was tingling and numb. When I touched my left arm, the sensation was completely gone.
I was rushed to the hospital and woke up the next day, Friday, December 13, after 12 hours in the ER. The doctors told me I was lucky to be alive — I had suffered a pulmonary embolism.
After my PE, I struggled to understand how this could have happened to me. It was labeled as “unprovoked,” which only made me more determined to find answers. For months, I shared my story, changed doctors, and kept searching.
My first hematologist told me there was nothing they could do for me to figure out why I had a blood clot and to seek psychological help for what I had just been through. He said there was no need for additional testing or follow-up appointments, and since I was young I’d fully recover.
About nine months later, after switching hematologists and hospitals, I finally learned the cause: venous thoracic outlet syndrome (VTOS). My right first rib was severely compressing my subclavian vein — the same area where my clot had formed back in December.
On October 22, 2025, I underwent surgery to remove my first rib. Without it, I faced a high risk of another DVT or pulmonary embolism.
I believe God saved my life for a reason, and I’m grateful every day to still be here. My message to others: never stop advocating for yourself — your life may depend on it.
Resources
VTOS Patient Stories
Psychological Impact of Blood Clots
Facebook Support Group
