I woke up one morning in the summer of 2011 with nausea and pain in the left side of my torso/abdomen. At first, I wrote it off as a stomach bug and called in sick at work.
After a couple of days, I was feeling worse so went to an urgent care clinic. The doctor offered to give me pain medicine but I refused and requested they just run whatever tests were necessary.
The pain was so bad that they sent me to the emergency room. A CT scan of my abdomen was done at the hospital with no indication of any problems. I was sent home with pills for stomach cramps.
Three days went by and I was still weak and sore in the torso, and eventually I coughed up a little blood. After contacting my primary care physician with this information, he ordered a CT scan of my lungs.
I was contacted the same afternoon to go to the nearest emergency room immediately because I had blood clots in my lungs. I had never even heard of such a thing. I drove myself to the nearest hospital where I was quickly admitted to the ICU. I survived multiple bilateral PEs with an infarction in the left lung. I was later diagnosed with factor II prothrombin gene mutation.
As a result of this experience, I eliminated high-risk recreational activities, such as off-road ATV riding. I dealt with panic attacks and depression prior to my diagnosis, and blood clots seemed to really kick me when I was already down. But I found my faith in Jesus. I play music as a hobby more now.
I’ve learned that I’m not alone, and that NBCA is an excellent resource for connecting with others with similar experiences.
Resources
Factor II Prothrombin Gene Mutation
Facebook Support Group
How is a PE Diagnosed?
