On September 5, 2021 I woke up in the middle of the night with a cramping pain in my right leg, which didn’t seem like anything serious at the time. I woke up the next morning and carried out my usual routine, but the pain became unbearable so I decided to see a doctor.
The first doctor I saw said it could be a pinched or irritated nerve and sent me home with medicine for the pain. I was not confident with this diagnosis so I decided to seek out a second opinion. The second doctor ordered some tests, including an X-ray and ultrasound. The results came back and the doctor explained, “You don’t have a pinched nerve, you have deep vein thrombosis.”
This news left me in tears. I am so thankful that I listened to my gut and advocated for a second opinion. Who knows what would have happened if I didn’t.
Since finding out that I have DVT, I have been told that the blood clots are gone, but I still struggle with constant post-thrombotic anxiety. While no known clotting disorder has been identified, my grandmother did have vascular problems. I am working on getting back into a normal routine, and am thankful for the daily support I receive from my family, friends, and God.
Knowledge can save your life! My advice to others is to please learn about your body and health, especially the signs and symptoms of blood clots. You don’t have to be a doctor to know when something doesn’t feel right with your own body. Keep pushing until you receive a diagnosis you are comfortable with.
Reading other patient stories on stoptheclot.org has helped me during my recovery so that’s why I made the decision to share my own story with this community.
Resources
- Join NBCA’s peer support community.
- Take NBCA’s CLUES Survey: A Critical Look at Understanding the Emotional Suffering of Blood Clot Survivors
- Read more patient stories, or share your story with NBCA.
Learn how you can get involved.
