Patient Stories
Finally Making Gains: Gerry’s Story
I’m a survivor of two pulmonary emboli. I’m finally making gains to restore “normal life” after years of small gains and constant setbacks. Before my pulmonary emboli in January 2016, I was healthy and ran lots of races. I thought it was an isolated incident and I wouldn’t get another one. It’s strange how life…
I Had No Idea That the Pain in my Knee Was a Warning Sign: Mark’s Story
About a week after having an arthroscopy on my left knee, I was icing the top of the knee and commented to my wife that I really should be icing the back of my knee. What I did not know at the time was that the back of the knee hurt because I was passing…
Blood Clots in the Arm are Rare, But I Had One: Kiersten’s Story
About 15 years ago, my dad had a blood clot in his leg (deep vein thrombosis) and testing showed he had factor V Leiden. Since it’s a genetic disorder, my two sisters and I got tested. I tested positive for factor V Leiden as well as one of my sisters and one did not. So,…
My Diagnosis Was Cortical Venous Thrombosis in the Vein of Labbe: Oscar’s Story
My blood clot experience started with an intense fever and headache that lasted five days before I was hospitalized. On July 26, 2023, I was leading a work call when I suddenly became unable to pronounce the words on my computer screen. My girlfriend and our housemate took me to the emergency room, and as…
It Started as Leg Pain: Rusty’s Story
It started as a sharp pain in my leg when I walked. I thought it was from my shoes, or maybe I had bruised my foot at some point. After about a month of this, my other leg started to swell and turn red. My wife, who is a nurse, and my doctor thought it…
Go to the Hospital Instantly If You Have DVT or PE Symptoms: Bogdan’s Story
I played soccer for 20 years until January 2023, when I had a muscle rupture in my thigh, which kept me away from training and matches. At the end of April, I had a throat infection. Within a few days, I was experiencing shortness of breath and felt tired after taking a few steps, but…
Water Aerobics Keeps the Swelling Down: Gus’ Story
I woke up one morning in 1978 to find that my right leg was swollen to twice its size. I called my doctor, who told me to come in immediately. He pressed his thumb into my ankle and created a ½-inch dent to show me how swollen I was and sent me to the hospital.…
Always Speak Up For Yourself: Lucia’s Story
I was nine weeks pregnant when I woke up on Dec. 24, 2022 with a pain in my back that radiated to my right side, under my ribs. The pain intensified in the evening and I had shortness of breath. At the ER, I was dismissed as having back pain and given pain medications. Six…
It Took Me Weeks to Come to Terms With My Diagnosis: Sharon’s Story
I started to feel pain under my left shoulder blade and thought I had pulled a muscle. I iced it and it started to feel better. But the next day, I woke up feeling worse. The pain had expanded around my rib cage on both sides, making it challenging to breathe. I went to work…
I Live Every Day Freely, With Love and Intent: Egypt’s Story
After walking up five flights of stairs to a friend’s Manhattan apartment, I rested at the top of the staircase. It took me almost 15 minutes to gain control of my breathing. I chalked it up to the extra pounds I had gained. A few days later, my bottom lower right extremity began to swell…
