One week I was a healthy 24-year-old hiking mountains, the next I was bedridden in a hospital with an unprovoked 20cm DVT.
I had an unusual cramping pain in my leg on a Friday night. I took some painkillers and decided to sleep it off. The next morning I felt okay and set off for a hike with a friend.
The pain returned over the next few days and worsened. It felt like a constant cramp in my left calf. I left work early to get checked out at a hospital.
I recounted my symptoms and other medical history and expressed concern that it may be a DVT just from checking my symptoms online. They measured my calf (1cm difference, apparently in the normal range), did an EKG, and took blood pressure in both arms.
They asked for my pain which at the time (lying on a bed) was a 4/10. They promptly said I could go home and check with my doctor in a week if the pain was still there. I asked again about blood clotting and the doctor said it was highly unlikely.
The pain became agonizing and within two days my left calf looked like it had been pumped full of steroids.
This time, I decided to go to another hospital. Within an hour they had diagnosed me with a 20cm DVT in my leg, running from behind my left knee down to my ankle. I was shocked but relieved to know what it was and be able to be treated for it.
In terms of risk factors, I was on a contraceptive pill for eight years but never had any issues with it. Three months before this happened, I had done an eight-hour flight. Neither can be clearly linked to my DVT.
I am so much more anxious now about my health. I can no longer participate in my hobbies of hiking and netball due to the risks of trauma and bleeding as I am now on blood thinners.
My advice to others is that if you think something is wrong and are dismissed by health professionals, don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion.
Resources
How is a DVT Diagnosed?
FAQs
Psychological Impact of Blood Clots
