Mental health
I Developed a Blood Clot While on an Anticoagulant: Linda’s Story
I injured my ankle in 2017 and needed surgery. Shortly after, I woke up in the middle of the night with intense pain in my back. I knew it was bad, as I was having difficulty moving. My husband took me to the ER, where I was fortunate that they did take me seriously. They…
I Now Have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Amy’s Story
Although I had experienced symptoms of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), which is a rapid heartbeat, for at least 18 years, I wasn’t officially diagnosed with SVT until August 2018. I was advised by my cardiologist to have an ablation – a procedure for restoring normal heart rhythm – to prevent episodes of SVT from reoccurring. Approximately…
Blood Clots are a Huge Problem in the Postpartum Community: Lindsay’s Story
A few days after delivering my second child in February 2021, I found myself back in the hospital with stomach pain and a fever. A CT scan revealed a massive blood clot in my inferior vena cava, the largest vein in the abdomen that collects unoxygenated blood from the lower body and brings it to…
I Thought I Was Having a Heart Attack While Holding My Newborn: Megan’s Story
When I was 37 weeks pregnant with my first child, I began experiencing a painful, pressurized cramping sensation in my upper thigh that was dismissed by three different OB/GYNs during my weekly appointments. They assured me it was just the baby putting pressure on nerves and ligaments in my pelvis. However, at 17 days post-delivery…
I Want To Raise Awareness Among Pregnant Women: Hannah’s Story
I was 24 weeks pregnant when I learned I developed a bilateral pulmonary embolism (PE). I had been suffering from shortness of breath but had no other symptoms. Blood clots aren’t in the family, and I am young, fit and healthy, so my midwife was certain I wouldn’t have this condition. She referred me…
I Was Told I Was Having an Anxiety Attack: Angie’s Story
On November 24, 2022, I went to the ER for an emergency C-section due to my high-risk pregnancy. During my whole pregnancy, I was told about the “uncommon” issues a woman can experience, and I got almost everything “uncommon” that I was warned about. My pregnancy was far from what I dreamed of. After having…
I Thought I Was Having a Bad Panic Attack: Britney’s Story
I had been feeling like I was “dying” since around February 2016. I felt hopeless and constantly tired. My heart would skip beats, and exercising made me dizzy. I attributed most of my symptoms to anxiety and depression. And I was also in a very intense graduate program that caused me lots of extra stress.…
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…
An Article About Serena Williams May Have Saved My Life: Nisheera’s Story
I had my youngest son on December 26, 2019 via C-section. Recovery at home wasn’t too bad outside of the normal pain from having a baby. But at about a month postpartum, I began to have chest pain and found it hard to do simple tasks. I ignored the pain and convinced myself it was…
The Hospital Was Baffled By My Symptoms: Tyler’s Story
In 2018, when I was 21 years old and just over three months postpartum, I was diagnosed with multiple pulmonary emboli (PE). I started having trouble breathing in the early evening which I assumed was just my asthma acting up. This continued all through the night and into the morning. I was using my asthma…
