PE
Please Don’t Take ‘You’re Fine’ as an Answer: Shola’s Story
During my first pregnancy, I had been feeling faint. Soon after, I started getting headaches with flashing black dots in my eyes. My midwife had told me that my blood pressure was higher than it should be, and that if I got any painful headaches and started seeing black dots, I should go straight to…
My Only Risk Factor Was Estrogen: Ann’s Story
I started having intermittent chest pain in March 2021. I thought it was a sports injury and went to see my primary care provider (PCP). By May of that year, the pain was constant, so my PCP scheduled a CT scan. I arrived at the imaging center and they had not received my order.…
We Lost Our Son at the Age of 20: Adam’s Story
As told by his mother, Jenifer. On Dec. 3, 2020, I took my 18-year-old son, Adam, to the ER. He had severe back and leg pain, and his leg was swollen and purple. I thought that it was a pinched nerve or maybe a kidney infection. Doctors discovered a massive clot in his left…
This Experience has Taught Me to Lean on my Support System: Careese’s Story
I started becoming short of breath around Memorial Day weekend. I’d get winded walking from the parking garage at work to my desk, and walking from my apartment to my car. Since I had COVID the month before, my doctor thought it could be long COVID and I was given an inhaler. On June 16,…
‘It’s a Minor Pain and This Girl is Making a Fuss About it:’ Pradnya’s Story
I was 21 years old when I began experiencing cramps, pain, and a burning sensation in my left calf. I visited multiple providers, who told me my symptoms might be due to a deficiency. But I woke up one morning and couldn’t stand up. I had a shooting pain from my left groin to my…
Talking About My PE and Researching It Has Helped Lessen My Anxiety: Sarah’s Story
On Dec. 8, 2021, I was about to take my daughter to a holiday event before going to work. She had forgotten her hoodie, so I ran upstairs for it and immediately felt lightheaded with a pounding heart. I had been suffering from shortness of breath for a few weeks but had put it down…
If I Hadn’t Been Persistent, My Outcome Would’ve Been Much Different: Licinda’s Story
On April 22, 2021, I was experiencing shortness of breath, but I thought it was just allergies or connected to wearing a mask during the height of COVID-19. I was walking my dog when my Apple watch started beeping to alert me of my extremely high heart rate. I couldn’t decide if I should call…
This Has Been an Emotional Roller Coaster: Jacqueline’s Story
On April 28, I went to urgent care for pain in my left ankle. I had sprained it three weeks prior, and it was swollen and not getting better. I was also experiencing shortness of breath as well as chest, rib, and shoulder blade pain on my left side. I thought maybe I slept wrong…
The Body Has an Amazing Ability for Healing: John’s Story
I had a bad crash on my road bike in late February of 2023. My initial injuries were a broken clavicle, shattered elbow, fractured pelvis, three broken ribs, and subsequent collapsed lung. I had elbow surgery that night and waited a month for clavicle surgery. What wasn’t caught, however, was a brain bleed. I was…
Having a Blood Clot Taught Me to Seize the Day: Molly’s Story
I had been having pain while breathing and shortness of breath for a few weeks. I couldn’t speak full sentences without gasping for air, and I had been ignoring this and the pain because I didn’t feel like I had time to be sick. I tried to rationalize it as a pulled muscle or humid…
