Travel
Always Pay Attention to Changes in Your Body: Kristian’s Story
In May of this year, I took a short flight, only about two and a half hours one way, and soon after, I noticed a cramping sensation in my right calf. I assumed it was just soreness or dehydration, so I ignored it for a couple of days. When the pain didn’t go away, I…
The Fear of Another PE Still Lives in my Body: Caitlyn’s Story
It was a couple of days after traveling when I first noticed something wasn’t right. I had switched birth control pills within the last several months. At my first conference talk after COVID, I realized mid-presentation that I couldn’t quite get through full sentences without pausing for breath. I told myself it was just nerves.…
As a Physician, I’m More Aware of Looking for Blood Clots in my Patients: Lynette’s Story
In 2014, while in podiatry school, I went to the student health center because I was short of breath and was coughing up blood. The nurse practitioner diagnosed me with bronchitis. Less than two weeks later, I learned the truth — I had a saddle pulmonary embolism, which means a large blood clot was blocking…
I Collapsed on an Airplane After a 15-Hour Flight: Enisa’s Story
On Christmas Day, 2017, I was on a flight home to Sydney. I sat in the window seat on the connecting flight from Dubai for 15 hours. A young couple sat beside me, lounging in their seats and sleeping with their legs stretched out. Luckily, I didn’t need the toilet. About 30 minutes before the…
You’re Never Too Young to be Diagnosed with a Blood Clot: Maudi’s Story
My story starts on a fun family trip to New York City. The first day after our flight, I woke up with the most painful muscle cramp in my left calf. I stretched and walked it off throughout the day, and the pain subsided for a few hours. I went three more days of stretching…
Travel, Mild Dehydration and Chronic Inflammation Caused My PE: Rachel’s Story
The day after I returned from a trip to Los Angeles, I suddenly felt like I was having a panic attack. I tried all my usual tricks, but it would not go away. I do have health anxiety, and since I had just traveled, I decided to get checked out. I drove myself to the…
Nobody Should Have to ‘Just Deal’ with Bleeding: Meghan’s Story
In February of 2020, I had recently gotten married, and the world was about to shut down. I developed unbearable chest pain and shortness of breath that I ignored for a week before finally going to the emergency room. It turned out that I had a massive pulmonary embolism. I was in shock, wondering how…
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…
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…
Go Directly to the Emergency Room if you Have Any Symptoms: Lucy’s Story
I’m a three-time deep vein thrombosis survivor. My story starts during my first pregnancy. I experienced bleeding during the first and second trimesters and the baby was same for gestational age. I tried to get the obstetrician to look into it, to no avail. For my second pregnancy, I had emergency C-section. The baby’s heartbeat…
