DVT
Women Need to be Extremely Careful About Birth Control: Amy’s Story
My name is Amy, and I experienced a massive deep vein thrombosis (DVT) at 17. I was at school when I experienced excruciating pain in my lower back and legs. At the hospital, I was told I had a urinary tract infection that had spread to my kidneys, and was prescribed medication. I had trouble…
I Am a Woman of Faith and That Has Kept Me Encouraged: Jody’s Story
This is my second experience with a blood clot. I had my first deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in 2013 when I was 47. I did not have any risk factors. I had not been hospitalized, taken a long trip, or been on birth control. I am an educator and am on my feet most of…
I Suffer from Anxiety and PTSD Now: Louise’s Story
On January 1, 2002, I woke up feeling like I had a weight on my foot and was dragging my leg. As the morning went on, my leg felt like it was double the size of my right, and I was in pain. My husband took me to the emergency room. The doctor believed I…
Never Give Up: Beril’s Story
At the beginning of 2022, when I was 18, I started feeling pain in my chest. Since I was a professional triathlete preparing for the next season’s races, this pain was negatively affecting my training. I ignored the pain and difficulty breathing and pushed myself harder. However, one night I woke up with extreme pain…
My Newborn Son Developed a DVT Before Birth: Sydney and William’s Story
My son William was born August 21, 2020 and was healthy. But two days later, we noticed that his right leg was swelling up and turning purple. He was transferred to our local children’s hospital and he was admitted to the NICU on August 24, 2020. We were in the NICU until September 11. He…
I Saw Five Doctors Before I was Diagnosed: Sherrye’s Story
My story is not that I had an extensive deep vein thrombosis (DVT), since this happens to so many of us. My story is that it took me five weeks and five doctors, plus one physical therapist to have my symptoms truly heard and diagnosed. I had even asked all the right questions and pursued…
Don’t Ignore Calf Pain or Shortness of Breath: Scott’s Story
My dad had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) many years ago and was diagnosed with factor V Leiden. Because of this, I was tested and found to have inherited this mutation as well. Thanks, Dad. In 2019, my calf was swollen and painful. The doctor sent me to get an ultrasound. It was a DVT. After…
Ignoring Unusual Symptoms Could Have Serious Ramifications: Dan’s Story
In the summer of 2019, I was on vacation with my family at Hilton Head Island. On the second night of the trip, I felt an excruciating pain in my chest while lying in bed. Although it was troubling, I decided not to wake my wife or take other action, and the pain passed after…
The Perfect Storm of Travel, Birth Control, and COVID: Claire’s Story
After a business trip to France followed by a week of mild COVID symptoms, I was eager to get back into my routine. That is, until I started feeling a strange pain in my leg about three weeks later. I’d recently had a dermatological procedure on that leg, so I thought my stitches might be…
I’m in Constant Fear for My Safety Due to the Blood Thinners: Julia’s Story
In December of 2022, I had surgery on my femur. Five days later, I felt an excruciating pain in my calf and knew something was wrong. I went to the ER and was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) that occluded almost my whole leg. I was prescribed blood thinners and I’ve been taking them…
