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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 Strive to be a Champion for Others: Corena’s Story
My journey with blood clots has profoundly shaped my understanding of both physical and spiritual wellness, becoming the cornerstone of my life. The first episode occurred in 2011 when I was three months pregnant with my fifth child. I had been experiencing persistent pain in my left leg, I was dismissed each time I went…
My Clot Started 10 Years Before It Was Found: Jana’s Story
In December 2022, I had the worst pain in my life in my left side of my buttocks after working out. Being a physical therapist and a retired high-level figure skater, I assumed I had strained a muscle until I was unable to walk or bear weight on my left leg. After three ER visits…
This Experience Helped Me Find My Love For Medicine: Zoe’s Story
Three days after my 18th birthday, I experienced severe swelling in my left leg. I assumed I pulled a muscle as I went ice skating on my birthday, but that soon changed. I went to school as normal and my teachers and friends noticed that my leg was purple and three times the size of…
Listen to Your Intuition, Manage Fear, and Advocate For Yourself: Julie’s Story
In October 2023, I had just returned from a Florida vacation. The following day, I woke up with a subtle ache in my left calf. When I shared with my husband, he casually said, “Do you have a blood clot?” But after years of international flights with no issues, it was easy to attribute the…
It All Happened So Quickly: Charlotte’s Story
In September 2023, I was feeling poorly with what turned out to be a kidney infection. I couldn’t move as the pain was unbearable and was bed-bound for a few weeks. By the end of September, I was unable to walk. It all happened so quickly. My calf swelled up at least three times the…
I’m a Nurse, But Being on This Side is Different: Jennifer’s Story
In 2020, I awoke after a cardiac catheterization procedure to find my right leg swollen and discolored. I asked the nurse to contact my physician, but was informed the symptoms I was experiencing were normal. After four hours of lying flat, I continued to bleed from my incision site. Despite the immense pain that radiated…
My Doctor Told Me There Was Nothing Wrong With Me: Billie’s Story
After a long car trip, I began having pain in my right calf. I came home and told my doctor I thought I had deep vein thrombosis or DVT. He ordered an ultrasound, which took less than 10 minutes, and it came back negative for DVT. My pain continued to worsen over the next two…
Make Your Health a Priority: Matt’s Story
I had my first deep vein thrombosis when I was 18. I was training for the military and was very active, doing lots of weightlifting and running. One day, I had extreme pain and swelling in my groin and right leg. Even with those symptoms, I was stubborn and waited four days before getting it…
The Hematologist Told Me to Buy a Lottery Ticket For How Lucky I’d Been: McKenna’s Story
In the summer of 2021, I started to experience extreme back pain. At times, I was unable to sit down or move at all. Being an active 20-year-old who grew up playing sports, I attributed my pain to a tweak that I just needed to stretch out. But the pain continued getting worse, and my…
