Family history

I was 25 years old in January 2011, and I knew nothing about blood clots.  Several months prior to that January I felt a mild, irritating pain in my right side.  It occurred mainly when I was laying down too long, hiccupping, or when my breathing was heavy. I went to my doctor; she ordered…

Amanda Liimatainen was caught by surprise when she was diagnosed with a DVT.  Her mother had a pulmonary embolism at age 46, and she tried to make healthy choices to prevent them. My mother, who is a nurse, had a pulmonary embolism (PE) when she was 46 and I was 16.  After her treatment with blood…

Brianne Paisley is pregnant and has Protein C deficiency.  She had a large DVT in her groin during this pregnancy for which she self-injected with low molecular weight heparin, but is now awaiting the birth of her second child. My name is Brianne Paisley, and I want to share my story with anyone and everyone…

Lauren Murdock had venous clots in her brain that seemed to come out of the blue during her time at college, but she found positive ways to cope. 2010 started off as an amazing year for me.  I was adjusting to life at a new university, socially active on campus, and had adopted a healthy,…

Four years ago, I found out that taking birth control pills could almost take my life! Shortly after returning from my honeymoon in December 2007, I felt severe abdominal pain. My former primary doctor changed the brand of my birth control pills, prescribed ibuprofen for pain, and eventually sent me for a pelvic ultrasound that…

I took what I thought was a routine flight to visit my family in Florida in October 2009.  My leg had been bothering me a little before the flight, due to chronic Achilles tendonitis.  When I got off the plane in Florida, my leg seemed stiffer than usual.  The flight was uneventful, and since it…

I was 30 years old and 6 months pregnant with my first child when I developed an acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT).  I had no prior knowledge of clotting disorders and had been on birth control for 10 years before I conceived.   It was a Thursday night when I first felt a tingling and slight…

My name is Andy Morris, age 26. I have always been aware of the threat of blood clots, because my dad has had to take a “blood thinner” daily due to a protein deficiency.  He has a history of blood clots in his legs, and in one instance in particular he developed not just one,…

In July of 2004, I was diagnosed with a DVT in my left leg. I had experienced swelling and pain in my left calf, ankle and foot, in addition to fatigue. Until I was diagnosed however, I didn’t have the faintest idea what was wrong with me! My mother had experienced two PE’s years ago. I…