Patient Stories
‘It’s a Minor Pain and This Girl is Making a Fuss About it:’ Pradnya’s Story
I was 21 years old when I began experiencing cramps, pain, and a burning sensation in my left calf. I visited multiple providers, who told me my symptoms might be due to a deficiency. But I woke up one morning and couldn’t stand up. I had a shooting pain from my left groin to my…
Talking About My PE and Researching It Has Helped Lessen My Anxiety: Sarah’s Story
On Dec. 8, 2021, I was about to take my daughter to a holiday event before going to work. She had forgotten her hoodie, so I ran upstairs for it and immediately felt lightheaded with a pounding heart. I had been suffering from shortness of breath for a few weeks but had put it down…
If I Hadn’t Been Persistent, My Outcome Would’ve Been Much Different: Licinda’s Story
On April 22, 2021, I was experiencing shortness of breath, but I thought it was just allergies or connected to wearing a mask during the height of COVID-19. I was walking my dog when my Apple watch started beeping to alert me of my extremely high heart rate. I couldn’t decide if I should call…
This Has Been an Emotional Roller Coaster: Jacqueline’s Story
On April 28, I went to urgent care for pain in my left ankle. I had sprained it three weeks prior, and it was swollen and not getting better. I was also experiencing shortness of breath as well as chest, rib, and shoulder blade pain on my left side. I thought maybe I slept wrong…
Family Members Across Several Generations Are Also Factor V Leiden-Positive: Wendy’s Story
I came home from work one summer day and complained to my husband about my legs aching badly. I asked him to rub my feet to help relieve the pain. As he stood in front of me, he asked if I had even looked down at my legs because my left leg was unusually red…
The Body Has an Amazing Ability for Healing: John’s Story
I had a bad crash on my road bike in late February of 2023. My initial injuries were a broken clavicle, shattered elbow, fractured pelvis, three broken ribs, and subsequent collapsed lung. I had elbow surgery that night and waited a month for clavicle surgery. What wasn’t caught, however, was a brain bleed. I was…
The Doctor Who Almost Sent Me Home was Very Apologetic: Jersey’s Story
On Nov. 17, 2021, I had a right knee arthroscopy, an outpatient procedure that only took only 15 minutes. I was told I would be back walking in two to three weeks. However, my healing time would be severely prolonged. Two days after my procedure, I began having a painful charley horse in my right…
Having a Blood Clot Taught Me to Seize the Day: Molly’s Story
I had been having pain while breathing and shortness of breath for a few weeks. I couldn’t speak full sentences without gasping for air, and I had been ignoring this and the pain because I didn’t feel like I had time to be sick. I tried to rationalize it as a pulled muscle or humid…
I’ve Never Been So Panicked in My Life: Adam’s Story
I had just gotten over a cold where I was laid up in bed for a few days, so I went for a run to get back on the exercise train. Shortly into my run, I felt an odd pain in my chest and decided to cut it short. The pain worsened over the next…
My Blood Clots Were a Result of an Ankle Injury: Martin’s Story
In December 2012, I was at work when a mild discomfort in my rib cage quickly become excruciating. Upon arriving at the ER, I was given various tests, including an EKG and ultrasound, which revealed blood clots in both of my legs, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Further testing confirmed that I had blood clots…
