Misdiagnosed
“My God. I Could Have Died:” Cheryl’s Story
Listen to Your Body I’m 68 now. I’ve had asthma most of my life. It’s under control most of the time. February 2025 The first of February 2025, my breathing was not good. I thought it was my asthma. My nebulizer was doing nothing. I went to urgent care. They did a chest x-ray and…
At 3:00 a.m., I Woke Up in Terror: Meredith’s Story
My Scan Lit Up Like a Christmas Tree We had just come home from watching my husband coach basketball — a completely ordinary night. Nothing felt significant. 3:00 a.m. At 3:00 a.m., I woke up in terror. I couldn’t move. I could barely speak. Every breath sent a stabbing pain through the back left side…
I Had No Chest Pain — and Three Pulmonary Embolisms: Tammie’s Story
Just Because You Don’t Check the Boxes Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Have a PE In October 2020, I survived 3 pulmonary embolisms. It Started as Something Familiar It started with feeling unwell with some problems breathing. Because I had asthma, I thought it was that. However, it got much worse the next day. No Chest…
Half the Veins in My Brain Were Completely Occluded With Clots: Lucy’s Story
A 5 in a Million Diagnosis Just before Christmas in 2024, I was making my dinner. When I stood up from bending down at the dishwasher, I felt a sudden shock go down my head and neck — and instantly heard whooshing in my ears, which I now know is pulsatile tinnitus. I shrugged it…
“I Never Expected a Blood Clot as a D1 Athlete:” Matthew’s Story
Around late February 2026, a few days after one of my collegiate rugby games, I started to feel a cramping feeling in my calf. I thought it was just cramping from the game or dehydration. I was having shortness of breath doing just basic things like walking up a flight of stairs. I went to…
A Sudden Collapse and a Life-Threatening Pulmonary Embolism: Nicola’s Story
Around 9:10 on Saturday, December 13, while getting ready to go out for the day with my family, I suddenly had intense chest pain and collapsed at home. My two teenagers were still in bed and my three-year-old was running around. The last thing I remember is him shouting, “Mummy it’s not sleep time.” Around…
Find Doctors Who Will Listen: Justin’s Story
As told by Justin’s mother, Lauren: “Justin’s experience with blood clots started as back pain after a hockey tournament. We went to the emergency department and were told it was spasms and to follow up with an orthopedic doctor. Justin was diagnosed with a bulging disk and started physical therapy. In a month, we went…
The Scar Under My Collarbone Reminds Me of My Journey: Laura’s Story
In December 2019, my left arm started to feel different — heavy, swollen, and uncomfortable. I had been working out and thought I pulled something. I decided to go to urgent care on New Year’s Eve and was told I likely pulled a muscle. A week later, it was the same, so I contacted my…
Blood Clots Symptoms Mimic Other Things, So Be Careful: Hope’s Story
This May, I tore my calf muscle playing soccer. It was the same injury I had only three months earlier, so I thought I knew what to expect. Three days later, I had a massage and then left for Cuba that evening on a three-hour flight. My calf was sore and I had bought a…
I Was Repeatedly Misdiagnosed and my Symptoms Were Dismissed: Liz’s Story
After a dilation and curettage (D&C), my doctor tore my cervix. I was given medication to stop the bleeding, but I passed out in the hospital from blood loss five days later. My doctor gave me tranexamic acid (TXA) to control the hemorrhaging. Later that day, I started feeling a burning sensation in my chest.…
