In December of 2022, I had surgery on my femur. Five days later, I felt an excruciating pain in my calf and knew something was wrong. I went to the ER and was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) that occluded almost my whole leg. I was prescribed blood thinners and I’ve been taking them ever since.
Fast forward to two weeks ago. I was heading for an ultrasound to re-assess my DVT and my chest started to feel “funny.” I was sent to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed me with a pulmonary embolism (PE).
I am a 22-year-old nursing student, and I remember listening to this topic in class and thinking, “This would never happen to me,” until it did. You never truly know about a situation until you go through it personally..
Even now, I get extremely fatigued and don’t have the energy to do the things I used to do. I have moments where I feel like I am drowning and I’m short of breath.
I’m in constant fear for my safety due to the blood thinners. A simple fall could be dangerous because of the risk of bleeding. My mental health has suffered tremendously trying to cope with everything going on with my body.
As of now, I have tested negative for any clotting disorders or any clotting factors. Both of my parents have a history of blood clots, but they’ve also tested negative, which makes my case a bit interesting.
This whole experience has taught me to listen to my body. I am thankful to still be here and salute everyone that has gone through this.
Resources
Signs and Symptoms of Blood Clots
New Patient Resource Guide
Living Your Best Life on Blood Thinners
