I suffer from severe polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and irregular cycles. My doctor prescribed birth control pills to regulate my cycle back in December 2021. I often felt cramps in my left leg, but I attributed them to dehydration or fatigue, given that I was a 20-year-old college student at the time.
However, after my final semester of college, I took a trip with my friends to the north of India. During the trip, I experienced several painful cramping episodes, waking up screaming in the middle of the night while my friends tried to console me.
Upon returning from the trip, I suddenly experienced excruciating pain in my left leg, making it almost immovable, as if I had pulled a muscle. I tried treating it at home for a few days, assuming it was similar to a minor muscle pull I had in the past from the gym.
When the pain became unbearable, I asked my mom to take me to see a doctor. The moment he saw my leg, he feared it wasn’t a muscle pull but a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and recommended a Doppler test. My worst nightmare came true: I had a long-standing DVT extending from my hamstring up to my ankle in my left leg.
I was admitted to the ICU and treated with anticoagulants for about a week. The doctor mentioned that had I delayed seeking medical attention by just a day or two, it could’ve cost me my life.
All I could think about during that time was my upcoming master’s program starting in late August. It wasn’t until the start of August that I regained full mobility. The pain, swelling, and stiffness in my leg persist, and it’s something I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life. I’ve been off anticoagulants since January 2023 and haven’t had an episode since then.
My message to others is this: please make sure you ask enough questions to your doctors before ingesting any prescribed medications. DVT or blood clots do not discriminate by age; I was only 20 when it happened to me.
Resources
Birth Control and Blood Clots
Travel and Blood Clots
How is a DVT Diagnosed?
