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Protein S deficiency

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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The Doctor Told Her Not to Worry: Marsha’s Story

My younger sister Marsha had many blood clots over the years. She found out that she had protein S deficiency shortly after our father died in 1998. She had veins that were painful and found a doctor who was willing to strip them (phlebectomy). Marsha asked him about her history with clots. The doctor told…

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If I Had Waited One More Day, I Wouldn’t Be Here: Heather’s Story

Last March, I had turned 35 exactly a week before my traumatic discovery. I had a terrible, terrible, headache. I knew that after a few days of having this head pain, something wasn’t right. I was flown out of my local emergency room to a stroke center, where I was told I had two brain…

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I Was Filled With Clots: Savannah’s Story

I had my son via C-section in April 2023. During my pregnancy, doctors said my leg pain was sciatica. After having my son, I was having severe headaches, and the pain medicine I was given didn’t help. A week later, I had three seizures. After the first seizure, we went to a local hospital. They…

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My Life Is Not the Same: Lisa’s Story

I remember how excited I was. I was five months pregnant with my son. I had just started feeling him kick and move and I was busy planning the nursery, clothes, pictures, and working. When I left work on a Friday, my left leg was heavy and I was dragging it. Over the weekend my…

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My Newborn Son Developed a DVT Before Birth: Sydney and William’s Story

My son William was born August 21, 2020 and was healthy. But two days later, we noticed that his right leg was swelling up and turning purple. He was transferred to our local children’s hospital and he was admitted to the NICU on August 24, 2020.   We were in the NICU until September 11. He…

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I’m Still Struggling After Months of Recovery: Melissa’s Story

I went to the ER in April 2020 with severe pain in my right chest and back area. I couldn’t lie flat, or take any deep breaths, like coughs or sneezes. I couldn’t bend forward to pick anything up, and I was getting fatigued from the pain. It had gone on for three days before…

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Take Control and Take Steps to Prevent Blood Clots: Ashley’s Story

My name is Ashley, and I was diagnosed with factor V Leiden, protein S deficiency, and protein C deficiency in March 2017. I was a waitress at the time, and I had just torn my shoulder due to a weight lifting accident. So, I started running outside a lot to stay active before I had…

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I Had Three PEs: Kirsys’ Story

For all of my life, I have struggled with my weight. When I was 23 and 346 pounds, I decided to get gastric bypass surgery. That is when my nightmare started.  After the surgery, I followed my doctor’s orders to walk as much as possible. However, I started experiencing chest pain about a week later…

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Back Pain was my First Symptom: Kassidy’s Story

Five years ago, at the age of 23, I developed dozens of blood clots in both of my legs, my pelvis, and my stomach.  Two weeks earlier, I was experiencing daily back pain on my lower right side. My OB/GYN chalked the pain up to ovarian cysts, which had never been a problem before. I…

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