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Don’t Accept a Diagnosis if Your Intuition Tells You Different: Jasmine’s Story
When I was 32 years old, I experienced terrible pain behind my knee for weeks. My doctor said it’s from standing, and I need physical therapy. I did that, but the pain persisted. Eventually, I went to a vascular surgeon who did vein stripping surgery. Seven days post-op, I felt sick, like the flu, but…
I Feel Lucky to Have Gotten a Second Chance at Living: Kara’s Story
In May 2021, I was experiencing extreme perimenopausal hot flashes, and hormone replacement therapy wasn’t helping, so I started estrogen-based birth control. Things were improving until one day, I lost my breath while vacuuming. I sat down and thought I might have caught Covid, but I started feeling better, so I got back up, but…
I Still Deal With PTSD From Thinking I Could Have Left My Children Motherless: Victoria’s Story
Towards the end of my fourth pregnancy, I felt many random aches and pains. My loved ones would write it off, saying it was likely due to being pregnant with my first son. The day after a wedding, I told my doctor I woke up with a terrible charley horse going down my leg. She…
Do All You Can to Prevent Clots During Travel: Misty’s Story
In July 2023, our 16-year-old daughter passed away. Later that year, a work trip offered a chance to travel to Hawaii, and I thought it would be a good break for us. We traveled from Virginia to Maui in December. The flights were very long, and I tried not to get out of my seat…
Living With Blood Clots Has Left Me Feeling Isolated and Misunderstood: Kevin’s Story
Not long ago, I faced a medical nightmare that nearly ended my life. It wasn’t just one issue — it was a total breakdown of my body from the inside out. It started with unbearable chest pain, shortness of breath, and intense abdominal pressure. I went to three different hospitals before I was treated. The…
I Wasn’t Expected to Live: Michael’s Story
In 2014, I was having pain in my stomach. I went to a local doctor and he told me it was my gallbladder. I weighed around 380 pounds at the time. I was scheduled for the operation, but I knew something wasn’t right a couple days before. On April 14, I had my surgery. Afterwards…
As a Nurse, I Knew Something Was Very Wrong: Donna’s Story
From January to mid-April, I traveled weekly from New Jersey to California for work. I’ve never felt any pain in my legs, and I always tried to move them during flights. On May 4, I drove from New Jersey to my daughter’s home in Maryland, about a four-hour drive. I stopped for a break after…
It’s Important to be Grateful for Your Health While You Have It: Sam’s Story
In October 2023, I was 25 years old and in the final stretch of training for the NYC Marathon. I was a Division I athlete in college and have been active and healthy for my entire life, and I was excited to run the marathon while raising money for lung cancer research. Three weeks before…
My Blood Clots Were Provoked by Travel and Pregnancy: Kayley’s Story
At 30 weeks pregnant, we took a road trip 10 hours away. We drove through the night, and I slept the entire drive. On our way back, I got an excruciatingly sharp calf pain and started crying. I called my midwife and she said it was from dehydration. A week went by. My leg turned…
I Listened to My Body and Begged For Answers: Carrie’s Story
On April 4, 2025, I awoke around 4:30 a.m. with the worst charley horse under my left breast, wrapping around to my back and up my arm. I went to the emergency room and was diagnosed with abdominal pain and sent home with naproxen. Two days later, I returned to the ER with worsening pain…
