Factor V Leiden
I’m a Nurse and I Missed The Signs: Rachael’s Story
In April of 2024, I flew from Tennessee to California for work. The night after arriving, I woke up in the middle of the night with a bad calf cramp. The following day, my calf was extremely sore– like the worst muscle cramp I’d ever had. That same day, I took another flight from California…
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…
It Was The Beginning of My Transformation: Nicki’s Story
I just had my one-year clotiversary! Last Presidents’ Day, on February 19, 2024, I faced a life-altering struggle. After days of coughing up blood and an urgent care provider’s dismissive reassurance that I simply had a bad case of bronchitis, I finally found help in the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed me with an unprovoked pulmonary…
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…
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…
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…
Stay Positive and Keep Pushing Through This: Elizabeth’s Story
I fully tore my ACL and partially tore my MCL and meniscus in March of 2024 playing volleyball. I first started developing blood clots in mid-April 2024 before my knee surgery. I started feeling nauseas, but ignored it, thinking it was from my menstrual cycle. The signs started coming one after the other: purple discoloration…
We Need More Voices, But Too Many of Us Aren’t Lucky Enough to Share Our Stories: Kyra’s Story
When I gave birth to my son, I was so excited to be a parent. But I began having headaches that were not normal. In the hospital, I was given medication to clot my blood because of slightly more than average blood loss. I was also given extra blood pressure checks because my blood pressure…
Never Let Embarrassment Stop You From Getting Help: Briar’s Story
I am a healthy 23-year-old woman and had never experienced any real health concerns. I walk the same route every morning to work, but on this particular morning, I was out of breath almost instantly. When I sat at my desk, I was still unable to catch my breath. It felt like the air was…
I’m Grateful For My Team of Doctors and My Dog Kiko for Saving My Life: Esmaralda’s Story
I had my first DVT and PE almost five years ago at 21 years old. My leg was hurting, but I kept ignoring it. When my dog Kiko started sniffing my leg and whining, I felt that something was wrong because that was unusual behavior for him. I went to urgent care, and they sent…
