I woke up in the middle of the night and could barely breathe, so I booked an appointment with my local urgent care for the next morning.
They took an X-ray of my lungs for pneumonia, but it was clear, so I was sent home.
A couple weeks later, I got a sharp pain in my right leg and was having trouble walking. It literally felt like knives were stabbing my leg every time I took a step or stood up.
Up to this time, I avoided going to the ER because of the long wait times and just took Ibuprofen, but the pain became too severe.
At the hospital, I was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in my right leg, and a CT scan found clots in both lungs (pulmonary emboli).
Being a young healthy male with no risk factors or genetic history of blood clots, this was definitely shocking to find out. I’ve learned the value of good health, and my diagnosis makes me want to stay more active and eat healthier.
My advice to others is to be as active as you can and remember to drink lots of water.
Resources
How is a DVT Diagnosed?
Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Blood Clots
Signs and Symptoms
