I’m 27, and my story isn’t about being young; it’s about blood that doesn’t flow. My history is a sequence of crises.
Two weeks postpartum, IVF hormones and an emergency C-section created the perfect storm. I was struck by shortness of breath, chest pain, and neck pain. Rushed to the hospital, they found a pulmonary embolism (PE). This life-threatening event led to the discovery that I had large, recurring blood clots in several veins in my left shoulder, arm, and neck.
We tried everything: endless anticoagulation and a series of procedures where doctors used special tools and medications to try to dissolve and physically remove the clots. My genetic panels were frustratingly normal. Then the doctors realized I was being provoked by a mechanical problem.
The culprit: venous thoracic outlet syndrome (VTOS). My first rib was physically crushing the vein.
A month ago, the rib was removed. The surgeons found that my vein was extremely damaged and surrounded by thick scar tissue. It was so blocked that blood still has to use my body’s natural “detours” instead of flowing normally through the main vein. They did their best to repair my main vein, but the trauma was profound.
I’m still figuring out how to trust my body, especially since the flow still relies on those detours. The rib that was causing the mechanical block is gone, but the emotional burden from the IVF, the C-section, and life-threatening blood clots is intense.
When your body is telling you something is wrong, trust that something is wrong. Keep pushing for answers.
Resources
VTOS patient stories
Pregnancy and Postpartum
Know Your Risk
