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Recognize the Signs of Blood Clots and Act Quickly: Patrick’s Story
It was the day after Thanksgiving last year and I was doing yardwork. I had been having breathing issues and was feeling lightheaded and tired over the past day or so. But I dismissed it as being due to the holidays and a busy work schedule. Around 3 p.m., as I walked up a set…
Medicate and Live Life: Paul’s Story
In 2016, while on duty as a firefighter, I experienced pain behind my knee and swelling in my right leg. A couple of weeks earlier, while playing with my children, I also experienced what I could only describe as a “shaken fizzy can opening feeling” in my chest that went after a minute or two. …
Blood Clots are More Common Than People Realize: Hector’s Story
I have always been physically active, but I had slowed down as our family grew. I was smack in the middle of getting back into steadily working out when, after a 10-mile morning bike ride, I started experiencing pain in my left leg. The pain started on a Friday morning and intensified over the weekend,…
A Blood Clot is Nothing to Mess Around With: Marshall’s Story
Last July, I was told I have factor V Leiden. I was unfamiliar with this, but my doctor said I didn’t need to do or take anything for it, so went about my life. Less than a year later, I was having a lot of pain in my left leg and thought maybe I had…
I Felt Like I Was Drowning: Pete’s Story
I had been feeling bad for more than six weeks, experiencing shortness of breath while doing light exercise, like walking up a flight or two of stairs. I had gone from being able to run 8+ minute miles comfortably to struggling to walk at a normal pace in a matter of weeks. My resting heart…
The ICU Staff Called Me ‘Miracle Man:’ Ted’s Story
I became committed to staying healthy in my late 40s. At 55, I was in the best shape of my life, hitting the gym three times a week. One day after exercising, I felt a pain in my left calf, which I attributed to an overzealous workout. However, it continued through Christmas weekend. I planned…
It Was Impossible to Know That a Deadly Clot was Developing: Jeff and Abigail’s Story
My husband Jeff passed away suddenly from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) that developed into a pulmonary embolism (PE) 19 days following ankle surgery to repair a fracture. There were no warning signs. He was an active and healthy 52-year-old with no history of any clotting disorders. His leg was wrapped from the foot to…
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…
I Still Have a 40% Blockage in my Main Vein: Leonard’s Story
In November of 2021, I had COVID and was down and out for two weeks. As I was starting to feel better, pain began developing in my left leg. At first, I thought I was dehydrated or lacking protein. Two days went by. My left leg was twice the size of my right leg, and…
