Misdiagnosed
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
I Developed Two More PEs While Hospitalized: Sarah’s Story
I took poorly at the end of March 2018 with what I thought was a chest infection. I was prescribed antibiotics, but I was gradually getting worse. The doctor then started me on treatment for pneumonia. I was still feeling very poorly, though, and when I coughed up blood, I went to A&E (emergency room…
Be Persistent When Something Doesn’t Feel Right: Ebony’s Story
Early in my pregnancy, I thought I’d pulled a muscle in my left calf. The pain was horrible for at least two weeks. I soaked it and elevated it, but the pain didn’t cease. I went to urgent care but they sent me home and told me to continue to take Tylenol, ice, and elevate.…