I was 19 years old and home from college. I got what we thought at the time was a stomach virus. My mom took me to the doctor, but the symptoms persisted. After about a week, she decided we needed to head to the emergency room.
We when arrived, they informed us that my heart rate was high. They did tests and discovered I had a blood clot behind my left knee and one in each lung. It was quite a shock.
The doctors began asking me and my parents if anyone in our family had a clotting disorder. Unbeknown to us, we did have a factor V Leiden in our family. My mom, my brother, and I are all heterozygous. Another shock.
They also found that I had an ulcer in my stomach, so I had to come off the blood thinner I had been taking. The vascular surgeons placed an IVC filter to prevent any other clots from traveling and discharged me.
Before long, I was back. After going to a hematologist appointment, I started to feel pain in my lower back. I broke out in a cold sweat and my parents immediately took me back to the emergency room.
They did more tests and discovered that I was occluded (clotted) up both legs and in my abdomen. My vascular surgeon said it looked like grapes attached to the IVC filter.
I underwent a thrombectomy to remove the clots, and the surgery was a success. They removed most of the clots but were unable to remove all of the original ones that were behind my left knee. The doctors said my body would eventually absorb it.
I was prescribed blood thinners and was able to come home from the hospital after 31 long days.
I am thankful to be alive and healthy. I am back in college pursuing my dream of becoming a graphic designer. I am so thankful to my Lord and Savior Jesus for watching over me and putting me in the path of all my amazing doctors.
If you feel a nagging pain in your leg, get it checked. It could save your life.
Resources
Factor V Leiden
Genetic Testing for Blood Clotting Disorders
Interventional Treatments (IVC filter)
