One morning I was feeling lightheaded, so I checked my running watch and saw my heart rate was in the low 40s. I assumed I’d just stood up too quickly.
As the day went on, I felt some chest pressure, which I chalked up to anxiety, something I often experience with POTS. But the pressure worsened, and my heart rate fluctuated wildly from 41 to 190 during a meeting.
Afterward, I mentioned it to my manager, who urged me to call my primary care doctor. I saw a covering doctor who ran some tests, finding I was tachycardic. He ordered more labs, and I returned to work, still convinced it was just anxiety.
But when my lab results came back, my D-dimer was elevated. My manager and I were reviewing the results when the doctor called. He asked if I had a history of blood clots. My dad had a DVT and is on blood thinners for life, but I never thought I’d have to worry about that.
After some imaging was done, my doctor told me that they had found a pulmonary embolism in my left lung and had to be admitted and started on blood thinners. I was 26, and my PE was caused by my birth control.
I was in shock but also incredibly lucky it was caught early. The doctor told me that if I’d waited much longer, the outcome could have been much worse.
This experience completely changed my perspective on health. I learned how easily symptoms like chest pressure can be dismissed, especially with a history of anxiety or chronic conditions. I’m grateful to the people who listened to me and acted quickly.
If I could share one thing, it’s this: always trust your body. Early detection saved my life.
