DVT
That Instinct Ultimately Saved My Life: Lauren’s Story
That Instinct Ultimately Saved My Life A few days after my 29th birthday in April 2026, I experienced calf pain that felt like a pulled muscle. I was otherwise fit, healthy and active. Something Felt Wrong My gut told me there was something seriously wrong despite the lack of symptoms. That instinct ultimately saved my…
Being So Young and Not Understanding How This Was Possible, It Was Difficult for Me to Process: Abigail’s Story
Don’t Let It Control Your World Two weeks after having fractured my fifth metatarsal in my foot, with a non-weight bearing treatment plan, I began to have a cramping sensation in my calf — pain and tightness that was so intense and persistent for hours. I first dismissed it earlier in the day as just…
“Don’t Wait or Gaslight Yourself. You Have One Life:” Alexus’s Story
Don’t Wait or Gaslight Yourself. You Have One Life. I had a pulmonary embolism in December 2025. It Started With a Fever A couple of days before, I was sick with a fever. My left leg started to hurt so bad — like a Charley horse. No matter what I did, nothing helped. Day Three…
“Would We Lose Our Baby?” — A DVT Diagnosis at 23 Weeks: Annie’s Story
I never thought a blood clot would be part of my story. I was a former Division I athlete, a college football executive, healthy, active, and someone who had always been accustomed to pushing through pain. August 2024 In August 2024, I was 23 weeks pregnant with our first son — the baby my husband…
Most People Don’t Survive That: Carter’s Story
Living on House Credit and Doctor Time Written within two months of saddle pulmonary embolism I was 59 years old when, on Thursday, March 27, 2025, I suffered a massive saddle pulmonary embolism. My right lung was almost completely blocked, and my left lung had a large blockage as well. The embolism resulted from an…
Birth Control Caused My Blood Clot — and I Had to Fight to Find Out: Lilian’s Story
Listen to Your Body and Be Your Own Advocate My symptoms began Sunday, April 5, 2026. I got up after sitting on our couch for a while with my legs folded and suddenly had an extremely sharp pain in my right leg that felt like a terrible charley horse. I began holding my significant other’s…
A “Just to Be Safe” CT Found a Blood Clot in My Brain: Deborah’s Story
I Was Very Lucky and I’m So Very Happy to Be Alive On March 6, 2025, I went into the ER for a headache I had been experiencing for a few days, despite trying every trick to get rid of it. It felt weird — but I just thought it was another migraine. The First…
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…
