Patient Stories
I Live with Both APS and Factor V Leiden: Eloise’s Story
It was December 2020, and I was about four weeks pregnant. I spent a lot of time lounging on the sofa during the festive break. One day I noticed my arm began to feel tight and stiff, but I put it down to my lounging and holding my phone. Around a week passed and my…
I Strive to be a Champion for Others: Corena’s Story
My journey with blood clots has profoundly shaped my understanding of both physical and spiritual wellness, becoming the cornerstone of my life. The first episode occurred in 2011 when I was three months pregnant with my fifth child. I had been experiencing persistent pain in my left leg, I was dismissed each time I went…
Continued Shortness of Breath Two Years After My PE: Shara’s Story
On New Years Day 2023, right as I was getting ready for bed, I started experiencing what felt like a strained muscle in the middle of the right side of my back. I briefly mentioned it to my partner as we were going to sleep but I didn’t think much of it until the next…
I Did Not Have Any Risk Factors: Stephanie’s Story
On November 21, 2024, I made an appointment with my primary care provider, thinking I would be diagnosed with a pulled muscle in my leg. She immediately knew it was not! She scheduled an appointment later in the afternoon with a vascular doctor. Sure enough, the ultrasound found a DVT from the middle of my…
I Suspected a Clot, But I Was Told It Was a Pulled Muscle: Paula’s Story
I went to the emergency room last year over what I thought was a blood clot in my leg. My D-dimer was elevated, but they still told me it was a pulled muscle and sent me home. So when I woke up in June 2024 and had the same pain in the same leg, I…
I’m Thankful to be Alive and Healthy: Jamison’s Story
I was 19 years old and home from college. I got what we thought at the time was a stomach virus. My mom took me to the doctor, but the symptoms persisted. After about a week, she decided we needed to head to the emergency room. We when arrived, they informed us that my heart…
The Situation Was Far Worse Than We Realized: Molly’s Story
What started as a normal evening quickly turned into the scariest experience of my life. I had been feeling achy, with some pain in my ear. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic for an ear infection, and we assumed I’d start feeling better soon. But later that night, the pain in my ear spread down to…
Blood Clots Need to be Taken Seriously: Jill’s Story
My lower left calf started hurting in Florida during Christmas break. I have completed nine marathons and two Ironmans, so I chalked it up to a strain. I kept putting ointment on it and it always felt way worse in the morning. My friend Anne actually said, “Hey, be careful, you might have a blood clot.”…
I Was Dismissed and Sent Home: Autumn’s Story
I went to the hospital in June 2022 with chest and back pain. The doctor told me I strained something playing softball and needed to lose weight. I was very active in high school and played four varsity sports as a starter. In December 2022, I went back to the ER, where the same doctor…
Take Pain and Swelling Seriously: Julie’s Story
Mine just happened last week (March 2025) so this is very new for me. I woke up one day in extreme shoulder pain. I just thought I pinched a nerve sleeping until I noticed my entire arm was swollen, red, and tingling with limited mobility. My friends and family suggested going to a chiropractor, but…
