DVT
May-Thurner Syndrome, Two PEs, and a Month in Athens: Lefkie’s Story
Health Is a Privilege, Not a Guarantee At 18 years old, I was an incoming college freshman, excited to open a new chapter of my life filled with exciting experiences and people. Everything changed when I was diagnosed with two massive pulmonary embolisms and DVT in my left leg. It Started in Greece I was…
A Broken Ankle Became a Blood Clot That Changed My Life: Isabelle’s Story
8 months ago, my world stopped. What started as a simple ankle fracture turned into a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — a blood clot that changed everything. From Running to Unable to Walk I went from running and training to being stuck in a boot, unable to walk, my leg swollen and heavy. The pain…
The Most Serious Medical Event of My 60 Years: Teresa’s Story
In October 2024, I began experiencing mild discomfort in my left calf. Over the next few months the pain gradually worsened, especially when stretching my leg or flexing my foot — feeling like a Charley horse was about to occur. I assumed it was dehydration or stair use. My family did as well. We did…
A Father of Four Daughters and a Factor V Leiden Diagnosis: John “JT” Lasker’s Story
I Thought I Was Just Getting Older The official date I use for my blood clot story is July 27, 2020—the day I was admitted to the hospital. Looking back, though, the story really started weeks earlier. It was the summer of 2020, just a few months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Around the same time,…
I Insisted on Getting an Ultrasound Test — It Saved My Life: Wajahat’s Story
I am a 30-year-old active man. I was riding my bike at night. I had my lights lowered and there was a big machine sitting on the road. I ran into it and got a head injury which was immediately treated with stitches. The stitches came off after 11 days but soon after the accident,…
“My Leg Went Stiff, Foot Was Grey and I Was in Tremendous Pain So I Went Directly to the ER.”
My name is Heather and I nearly lost my leg after a routine surgery took a scary turn. In March 2025, I had surgery for varicose veins on my right leg, and everything went well. Two months later, I returned for the same procedure on my left leg. It was considered a standard surgery, similar…
My Daily Birth Control Was the Cause of My DVT and 4 Pulmonary Emboli: Courtney’s Story
Three years ago, I woke up on a Friday with pain in my calf that felt like a cramp that would not go away. I had big plans that weekend, so I went along my way, but the pain never went away. Sunday morning, I iced and heated my leg, thinking I just pulled a…
The Calf Pain I Ignored for Months Was Actually a Massive Blood Clot: Melisa’s Story
I have always been a very avid runner and I was training for my 7th marathon when I developed pain and swelling in my left leg in August of 2024. I thought I had strained my calf and did physical therapy but I didn’t make any progress. I attempted the marathon but ultimately dropped out…
The Nurse Said I Was Wasting Their Time: Elizabeth’s Story
In the summer of 2020 I started to have leg pain. It went on for a little while but I just assumed I hurt it somehow. It was peak COVID and I wasn’t about to go to a doctor’s office unless I had to. But, after a week or two I started to notice some…
I Was Skeptical About Getting Scanned — The Results Changed Everything: Amanda’s Story
In the summer of 2020 I started to have leg pain. It went on for a little while but I just assumed I hurt it somehow. It was peak COVID and I wasn’t about to go to a doctor’s office. After a week or two I started to notice some swelling. I was complaining to…
