In April 2024, while training for a half marathon, I experienced an unprovoked deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in my right arm.
I had been consistently running since the start of the year in preparation for a May race and decided to cross-train with light weights for one week. After lifting on Tuesday and Wednesday, I initially assumed the soreness in my arm was routine. However, by Thursday morning, my entire right arm and hand had turned blue, swollen, and progressively colder.
I scheduled the earliest available urgent care appointment for that afternoon and tried to work from home, but as the day went on, my symptoms worsened significantly. At urgent care, I was misdiagnosed with diabetes, a process that took several hours.
It wasn’t until I spoke to over three different urgent care practitioners that I was finally referred to the emergency room—and even then, it was more out of an abundance of caution rather than immediate concern for my symptoms.
There, I endured another long wait as my condition deteriorated, to the point that my fingers turned blue in the ER waiting room. After an overnight series of tests and scans and visits from several different specialists, doctors located the clot but couldn’t remove it immediately, sending me home for a few days.
When I returned for a thrombectomy, I was also diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), which required a first rib resection. Despite being a competitive swimmer growing up, having scoliosis, and being on birth control, I had never been warned about the possibility of DVT or TOS.
The surgery was intensive, requiring several days in the hospital and a recovery period that led to my first short-term medical leave of absence at just 23 years old, keeping me away from work from May to June. A follow-up procedure in June was necessary to confirm the success of my treatment and ensure I could safely return to daily activities.
This experience was both physically and emotionally challenging, but it highlighted the importance of self-advocacy in medical situations. I never anticipated a simple workout to result in such a serious diagnosis. It made me more aware of how important it is to listen to my body and not dismiss unusual symptoms.
I’ve learned the importance of advocating for my health and being proactive in seeking care when needed. I have joined the NBCA’s Advocacy Institute and regularly attend events such as the PEP Talks to build a sense of community and feel I can positively contribute to the NBCA’s efforts.
Being so young, my biggest worry was how time off would impact my career. However, I’ve found that I haven’t missed a beat, and I’ve been supported by coworkers and bosses. My advice: if you get a life-changing diagnosis, take all the time you need to heal, and everything else will fall into place.
Resources
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Blood Clots
Birth Control
Signs and Symptoms
