I was diagnosed with my clot in February 2022 after a period of immobility recovering from a torn hamstring. I was unaware of any underlying health conditions, and the blood clot was seemingly out of nowhere.
The medical professionals where I was living at the time placed me on blood thinners and left me to it, causing me to experience worsening pain and swelling, which was constantly ignored. My GP told me I was too young to be in such pain and accused me of drug seeking.
My leg was over triple the size of my other one, leaving me barely functional. I suffered like this for almost a year without intervention.
I moved with my family at the end of 2022. Rather than have my medical records transferred, I went to a new GP from scratch and got second opinions on everything. Through that, I got diagnoses of factor II prothrombin gene mutation (heterozygous), antiphospholipid syndrome, and post-thrombotic syndrome.
However, by the time of these referrals, the damage had already been done. I had permanent weakness in my leg, constant chronic pain radiating down my leg and left me stuck using a four-wheeled walker with a seat to assist me.
In addition to my injury and these diagnoses, my other risk factors included being overweight and taking estrogen-based birth control.
Due to this experience, I was unable to work and unable to walk without aids, causing me to suffer both physically and mentally. I have only just begun to attempt to recover my mental health.
My advice to others is to never give up, even if you’re at your lowest, and you probably will reach that point. But there is always a silver lining somewhere in the future, you just have to hold on to find it.
Resources
Factor II prothrombin gene mutation
Antiphospholipid syndrome
Post-thrombotic syndrome
