In 2015, six weeks after starting a synthetic, estrogen-based birth control pill for perimenopausal symptoms, and one month into an overseas trip, I experienced the first symptoms of what I now know to be deep vein thrombosis and multiple pulmonary emboli. Sadly, my years of experience as a critical care nurse did not help me at all to recognize that something was wrong because I ignored my body’s signals and told myself that I had a respiratory virus.
After those first symptoms appeared, I was overseas for another week and then spent seven days crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a ship. Upon arrival to the USA, I flew from New York home to New Orleans. When I got off the plane, I felt horrible and thought I needed to rest and recover from my journey.
A week later (yes, another week), thanks to the insistence of my best friend who is also a critical care nurse, I went to the doctor. I was sent for an ultrasound and was diagnosed with a DVT, then sent to the ER. I was sent home with an apixaban prescription, and my shortness of breath was dismissed as anxiety.
I returned to the ER the next day, again at my friend’s insistence, due to my continued severe shortness of breath, and told them I wanted a CT scan. I was admitted to the hospital with a submassive saddle pulmonary embolism, multiple clots in both lungs, a large clot in my right pulmonary artery, bilateral pulmonary infarcts, and right heart strain. Recovery was slow and the lingering shortness of breath was miserable and scary. I also struggled mentally, terrified that I would drop dead at any moment.
I’ve learned to advocate better for myself, and I’ve learned that community support is a vital component of recovery. Thankfully, I have a wonderful, supportive family and, with love, treatment, and time, I found my mental balance, my heart returned to normal, and my lungs improved dramatically.
Nine years later, I am focused on living fully. I travel extensively, and I love adventure. I still deal with venous insufficiency and shortness of breath, but I’m in a good place and I appreciate every single day!
