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Changing My Outlook on Life: Natalie’s Story

On January 25, 2016, I found out I had a blood clot after going to a follow-up doctor’s appointment. Ten days prior, I had cosmetic surgery and was advised that developing a blood clot was possible, but I never thought it would happen to me. Two days after surgery, I noticed my left leg was swelling…

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My AFib Journey: Melissa Duncan’s Story

My name is Melissa, I am 41 years old, a wife, mother of three adult children, and grandma to three handsome boys. I have lived in Ohio my whole life. Fast forward to August 3, 2013, a day that will forever be embedded in my memory. That day started like any other Saturday. I woke…

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Know Your Risk for Blood Clots: Arianna’s Story

My name is Arianna, and I was only 21 when I got the worst unexpected news of my life. A couple days before, I had noticed I had what I described as an “air pocket” in the upper left side of my back that was uncomfortable and wouldn’t go away. Eventually it did and I…

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Blood Clots Can Happen to Anyone: Tamara’s Story

In January 2015, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and started estrogen-based birth control. Two months later, I married an active duty Marine and moved from Georgia to Virginia. Around that time, I started getting severe charley horse pains in my right leg that caused me to cry. I thought maybe I was…

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Anna’s Story as Told by her Family

As dentists, we are continually updating our knowledge about oral cancer, bacterial endocarditis, diabetes, cardiac disease and all the many ways they intertwine with what we are planning for our patients’ oral health needs. We are also tuned into the signs and symptoms of stroke, heart at- tacks, high and low blood pressure, and a myriad…

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I Survived PE at Age 70-Something: Joan’s Story

This photo was taken before I went to the ER, but I was already having shortness of breath upon exertion. That was my only symptom. I saw so many doctors and had three CT scans without dye and nothing was found on my lungs. One week in March 2015, my breathing got worse and one…

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Crossing the Finish Line: Lisa’s Story

My name is Lisa Nelson and I am 35 years old. I happened to run across the listing for the annual Austin Stop The Clot race on the calendar page from RunTex and was disappointed it was coming up so soon. I couldn’t possibly still sign up, but more importantly: Am I up for a…

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AFib is Always Top of Mind: Kay’s Story

I was recently asked to present to a professional group of thought leaders about my experiences with atrial fibrillation (AFib).  In preparing for that presentation, I put a lot of thought into how I might tell this story and in wondering about how I should start my story, and I realized that I was thinking…

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My Story Ends With Hospital Discharge: Kaila’s Story

On October 25th, 2012, I called my boyfriend to come and pick me up from work, despite living just a 10-minute walk away. The bad shoulder and back pain I had been dealing with in recent days turned into a sharp stabbing sensation throughout my body, leaving me breathless and unable to walk more than…

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This Has Changed Me Forever: Scarlett’s Story

When I was 14 years old, my father died at age 41 of massive pulmonary emboli (PE). At that time, there was no genetic testing to determine if he had a clotting disorder. I am 49 years old now, and I survived bilateral pulmonary emboli (PE) with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) one year ago. I…

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