I began having a belly ache on Friday, August 3, 2012. I was unable to use the restroom. The only relief I got was laying in hot water in the bathtub. I did this every half hour or so. It continued to worsen, and by Sunday, August 5, it was almost unbearable. Finally, my wife insisted I go to the hospital.
We were in the ER for about five hours, running test after test. Finally, they came in and said I had two blood clots, one in my portal vein, which carries blood from the abdominal organs to the liver, and the other in my lower mesentery vein, which drains blood from the lower gastrointestinal tract and carries it to the liver.
I was admitted, and after two days they sent me to another hospital where I could receive treatment and specialists could look after me.
On my first day in this hospital, my mom had a major stroke and passed away. My wife asked if I could attend her funeral, and the doctor said absolutely not. He then emphasized to my wife that I was critical, and I might not survive.
Over the next few days, I had countless relatives and friends come to visit me in the hospital, although I don’t recall most of my time there.
By the grace of God, I fully recovered. I spent almost three weeks hospitalized until the clots finally dissolved. I was diagnosed with factor V Leiden homozygous and returned to work two weeks later.
The doctors told me I was a very fortunate man, and my prognosis was great. I have led a normal life for the past 15 years although I’m now a lifer on blood thinners.
In addition to factor V Leiden, my other risk factor was a previous clot behind my right knee two years earlier. I wasn’t hospitalized but spent five days in bed with daily blood thinner injections.
Blood clots are nothing to mess around with.
Resources
Factor V Leiden
Facebook Support Group
Living Your Best Life on Blood Thinners
