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Misdiagnosed

Every Day Since My Diagnosis Has Been Challenging: Mymoena’s Story

I was working in the chemistry lab when suddenly I experienced a sharp, stabbing pain in my lower back that caused me to fall to the ground. I was rushed to the nearest hospital and, after some tests, I was sent home with the diagnosis of muscle spasms. From that day onwards, the pain in…

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I Was Misdiagnosed as Having a Heart Attack: Julie’s Story

In November of 2022, I was driving home from work when out of nowhere, my heart started hammering and went out of rhythm. I made it home and told my partner that I wasn’t okay and needed to go to the ER immediately. We got as far as the local urgent care where I told…

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If You Know Something Isn’t Right, Get a Second Opinion: Matt’s Story

I was at the Walmart self-checkout. I had been feeling sore and had a hard time catching my breath all day, and I collapsed in the self-checkout. I came to, and people were standing over me. I say I’m all right, but my pain is getting progressively worse. I ended up driving myself to the…

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We Were Dismissed: Kaylie’s Story

As told by her mother, Tina. My daughter Kaylie passed away at the age of 21 from bilateral pulmonary emboli that had gone undiagnosed even though she had been to the doctor just three weeks prior to her death. Her symptoms were severe upper back pain near her shoulder, shortness of breath, and rapid heart…

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My Symptoms Were Misdiagnosed as Anxiety: Tamara’s Story

I had knee surgery and was six weeks post-op, so I had no worries about clots. I was also on birth control, though. I stretched one night and felt excruciating pain in my left rib. I could barely move. I managed to get to a hospital and was told it was costochondritis — inflammation of…

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We Assume He Had Factor V Leiden: Landon’s Story

As told by his sister, Kenzie We made a family trip from Texas to Colorado at the end of July 2022, which is an 8-9 hour drive. Landon had asthma that was triggered by cedar. Since the trip, he had some allergy symptoms but associated that with the cedar. On August 5, 2022, my brother…

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I No Longer Live in Fear of Another Re-Clot: Staci’s Story

In July 2018, I developed a nagging dry cough and chest discomfort. I have a history of pneumonia, so I went to urgent care for a chest x-ray. It was clear and I was told I likely have a viral chest cold. The cough continued to linger on, not responding to over-the-counter cough medicine. As…

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Make Doctors Take Your Concerns Seriously: Gwendolyn’s Story

As told by her daughter LaKeitha My mother passed away after experiencing difficulty breathing for a week. Despite visiting the doctor, they didn’t consider a blood clot. One night, fearing the worst, my father rushed her to the hospital. Tests on her upper body led to her admission due to ongoing breathing issues. Tragically, she…

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Listen To Your Body: Mariah’s Story

I was 25 when I was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and a pulmonary embolism. When I first noticed something was abnormal I was getting off from work and I saw significant swelling in my leg below the knee to the tip of my toes. My calf was so large that my pants were too…

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Paramedics Assumed It Was Anxiety: Christina’s Story

As told by her mother, Darla My daughter, Christina, suffered a broken foot on January 6, 2015, just two weeks after her 30th birthday. The podiatrist put her in a walking boot and gave no restrictions. Christina then developed calf pain and went to the ER on January 10, 2015. The ER sent her home…

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