I am a healthy 44-year-old mom, wife, and professional who has never had any health issues. But 2024 was an extremely busy year, and I was having a lot of stress and anxiety.
In October, I started experiencing some minor pain in my shoulder. Within a few days, the pain had moved into my side and stomach. The pain became very intense to the point I was having trouble breathing.
I went to the ER, where the doctor suspected I could have a pulmonary embolism. I had an ultrasound, X-rays, and a CT scan that showed I had multiple clots in my right lung. One of the clots was larger than the others close to my diaphragm.
The ER doctor suspected the clots were caused by my birth control pill. I have been on this pill since I was 18 years old. Immediately, I was put on blood thinners and could no longer take an estrogen-based birth control.
I am so thankful I did experience pain because I knew something was wrong. I am extremely thankful I caught them in time. It is so important to listen to your body, and if something doesn’t feel right, please get it checked out.
Resources
Birth Control
Signs and Symptoms
Living Your Best Life on Blood Thinners
