In 2016, while on duty as a firefighter, I experienced pain behind my knee and swelling in my right leg. A couple of weeks earlier, while playing with my children, I also experienced what I could only describe as a “shaken fizzy can opening feeling” in my chest that went after a minute or two.
I went to my local ER and after testing, I was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and a massive bilateral pulmonary embolism (PE). I was also diagnosed with an enlargement of the right side of my heart. I spent a week in the hospital and was placed on anticoagulant medication, which I will likely need for life.
I returned to active duty as a firefighter and remain on the job. I still suffer from occasional leg and chest discomfort, but aside from that, I lead a normal, active, lifestyle and take my medication as prescribed!
To others experiencing a blood clot, this is a frighting and worrying time as you question your own mortality. But you do learn to understand it and live with it, and there are support groups on social media that are helpful, too. Medicate and live life!
Resources
About Blood Clots
Living Your Best Life on Blood Thinners
Know Your Risk
