At the age of 20, two weeks after giving birth to my beautiful baby girl, I had extreme pain in my lower calf and could barely move. It was swollen, red, and hot to the touch, and heavy. I was frightened!
I went to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with a DVT and hospitalized for two weeks. It was such a horrible battle after bringing such joy into the world.
Five years later, at 25 years old I was finally taken off warfarin, then went off and on other blood thinners due to many scares. I was diagnosed with post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), as I was left with a residual clot and scar tissue in the upper thigh area.
In late May 2024, my leg pain became unbearable. I hoped it was a pinched nerve or something other than my worst nightmare. On June 12, I went to the hospital. They gave me an ultrasound and diagnosed me with three massive clots in my upper thigh up to my groin. Two clots were two inches long and one was 10 inches long.
I’m continuing to live with PTS and on blood thinners indefinitely. Life is different when you’re living with PTS. It’s not what I thought my life would be. I push through and stay as positive as possible. I thank God daily for giving me another chance.
My advice to others is to listen to your body if you don’t feel right! Take yourself to the hospital and demand answers. Stay active, eat well, and, most importantly stay hydrated.
Resources
Pregnancy and Postpartum
PTS
Living Your Best Life on Blood Thinners
