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Birth control

I Was Diagnosed With Unexplained Chest Pain: Kyndal’s Story

At the end of summer in 2018, I was days away from the beginning of my college soccer career at Furman University. Every day that summer, I was preparing my body physically for the demands of being a college athlete. During my last workout before I left for preseason, I began experiencing chest pain, shortness…

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My Children Will Have Education About Blood Clots: Katelyn’s Story

It was the last day of our honeymoon. We were packing when I had a sudden onset of nausea, and I was also hot, dizzy, and out of breath. It felt like I was running a marathon every few feet I walked. But I was determined to enjoy our last day, so I took a…

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My Symptoms Were Dismissed: Sophee’s Story

In April 2020, at the peak of COVID, I started experiencing pain in my lower back. During a walk with friends, a sharp pain would shoot down my right leg with every step. I tried to ignore the pain and continued the walk. Later that evening, my leg started to swell, and the pain got…

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My Risk Factors Were a Perfect Storm: Presley’s Story

On March 31, 2023, while playing high school softball, an opposing player slid into me, breaking my tibia and fibula. I was taken to a nearby hospital via ambulance where I underwent surgery the next morning. My leg had some swelling over the next couple of months, but it was never bothersome until June 8.…

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Everyone Heals Differently: BreAnna’s Story

On a Saturday night, five days post-hysterectomy, I felt mild rib pain on my right side and became easily out of breath, even just rolling over in bed. Thinking it was my asthma, I used my inhaler and messaged my OB since breathing issues were on my watch list. My OB responded Monday morning, asking…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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I Knew Something Was Off: Sara’s Story

I ran my first marathon in April 2024 and eagerly began training for my second one. I quickly noticed that training was a lot more challenging than usual. I chalked discomfort in my shoulder up to lifting heavy weights in the gym and chest pain up to my sports bras being too tight. My heart…

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