Patient Stories
I Was Never Warned About The Possibility of a DVT: Alyson’s Story
In April 2024, while training for a half marathon, I experienced an unprovoked deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in my right arm. I had been consistently running since the start of the year in preparation for a May race and decided to cross-train with light weights for one week. After lifting on Tuesday and Wednesday, I…
I Keep Worrying That It Will Happen Again: Michael’s Story
One day at work, I suspected that I had malaria. I went to the hospital and had a rapid test done, and the results showed that I was negative. But I went ahead and started taking malaria drugs for three days because I was feeling terrible. I sought treatment again, but at a different hospital,…
I Have Medical PTSD From This Experience: Ariel’s Story
I had been struggling to breathe for a long time, but always thought it was anxiety or asthma. I had told my doctor for months I couldn’t breathe and she always treated me as if I was crazy. In August 2024, I started feeling really sick and had chest pain, I was tired and coughing…
Don’t Dismiss Pain: Stephanie’s Story
I was three weeks away from turning 18 and I was working in checkout in a supermarket when I got what felt like a cramp in my left calf. My family told me to try drinking salt water, but after three days, I woke up with my left leg doubled in size, looking purple, and…
We Have to Keep on Living: Ayesha’s Story
Two weeks after giving birth to our second son, I got out of bed and noticed my leg was hurting, and I was barely able to put weight on it. I went about my day as normal, but I started to feel heavy and tired. When I sat down and put my feet up, I…
Don’t Hesitate to Get Checked Out if You Have Problems Breathing: Ginger’s Story
In late July 2024, I started having a series of high fevers that would come and go for several weeks. One Monday morning, I felt out of breath and couldn’t finish my many conference calls. I wasn’t having any pain or fever, just out of breath and tired. By that night, I could only lay…
A Radiologist Saved My Life: Lisa’s Story
In August 1993, I was 25 years old and three months from my wedding day. I realized that I would probably be menstruating on my wedding day and honeymoon. As I suffered from terrible cramps, I was upset. My aunt, a nurse, suggested I see a gynecologist, mentioning that if I start the birth control…
It Was the Worst Pain I’d Ever Experienced: Anya’s Story
In March 2024, I ran a parent race at my kids’ sporting event. Two days later, I started to experience symptoms similar to costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone, including a sharp pain in my ribs. It became worse, and I could not lay flat to sleep and…
Stay Positive and Keep Pushing Through This: Elizabeth’s Story
I fully tore my ACL and partially tore my MCL and meniscus in March of 2024 playing volleyball. I first started developing blood clots in mid-April 2024 before my knee surgery. I started feeling nauseas, but ignored it, thinking it was from my menstrual cycle. The signs started coming one after the other: purple discoloration…
I’m Concerned That So Many People Experience This Diagnosis: Karen’s Story
In October 2022, I was having issues with a low heart rate. I started having severe, right-sided back pain and dizziness so much that I was crawling to avoid falling. I had no shortness of breath or swelling in my leg. A few days later, I coughed up blood and contacted my physician, who sent…
