A week before everything took a drastic turn, I had fallen and broken my foot. I was placed in a boot and told to rest.
A few days later, I noticed the back of my knee hurting. Not just a regular ache, but one that felt like a cramp and the pain meds didn’t touch it. I passed it off as pain from my boot so I massaged the area and go to bed.
I woke up the next day and I couldn’t get a full breath. Before I could realize what happened, I woke up on the floor. I was gray-colored, covered in sweat, and confused. I tried to make it to the doorway to ask for help before I passed out again. A cycle of waking up and passing out would happen a couple more times. I remember coming to and begging not to let me die. I couldn’t breathe.
An ambulance was called. Scans and tests were done, and then I was life-flighted to another hospital, where I received immediate treatment and spent a week in the ICU. In addition to my broken foot, estrogen-based birth control is also believed to be a factor.
After two years on warfarin, I’m healthy and on aspirin as of now. The anxiety I had after my clot remains every day. I was only 25 years old and told another minute of waiting could have killed me.
This experience has taught me not to take life for granted. I took control of my health and lost 114 pounds. I always monitor my body and educate others on the signs and symptoms of blood clots.
Resources
Hospitalization and Surgery
Psychological Impact of Blood Clots
Women and Blood Clots
