I was 21 years old when I began experiencing cramps, pain, and a burning sensation in my left calf. I visited multiple providers, who told me my symptoms might be due to a deficiency.
But I woke up one morning and couldn’t stand up. I had a shooting pain from my left groin to my ankle, as well as stiffness, swelling, and discoloration. The pain was so bad that I lost consciousness for about 30 minutes.
However, my doctor was not concerned and dismissed it as a muscle cramp. I persisted and went to several other doctors, who gave the same muscle cramp diagnosis. One even said, “It’s a minor pain and this girl is making a fuss about it.”
I visited another physician, who finally took me seriously and ordered a Doppler. During the procedure, the doctor was surprised that my whole left leg was filled with clots. In the emergency room, I was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and a pulmonary embolism. No one in my family has ever had a blood clot, and it’s not clear what caused mine.
I was on strong blood thinners for more than a week, and I was unable to walk properly for more than a year and a half. I still take my blood thinners every day.
This experience has changed my life. I went from walking and doing regular stuff to losing consciousness and being unable to walk. This taught me that you should listen to your body and never neglect your health. I’ve suffered physically and mentally, and I’m extending support to all of the other blood clot patients out there.
My advice is to stay hopeful and don’t let blood clots win. We’re much stronger than we think, and with proper medication and care, we can recover.
Resources
Psychological Impact of Blood Clots
Living Your Best Life on Blood Thinners
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
