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Initially Misdiagnosed With Asthma: Anonymous’ Story

I consider myself a healthy 47 year old woman.  I exercise daily, eat healthy food choices, and am a non-smoker. In April 2011, I felt stabbing pains in my back on the right hand side under my rib cage, and the pain got worse every time I took a breath.  My husband drove me to…

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Know the Risk of Birth Control Pills: Carmen’s Story

Carmen McArthur’s story demonstrates the risk of blood clots associated with birth control pills.  Although the prescribing physician mentioned the risk, this patient did not think that she would be affected.  She chose the therapeutic benefit of the pills to treat heavy menstrual bleeding over what she perceived as minimal clotting …

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My Wife’s Insistence Saved My Life: Steve’s Story

I am a 58 year old teacher, a life-long runner, and live in Bedford, NH.  I noticed tightness in my right calf in early February 2007, and ignored it for a couple of weeks.  It was not painful, and I thought it was a slight muscle pull or soreness due to insufficient stretching after my…

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I Couldn’t Catch My Breath: Kim’s Story

My name is Kim Gronholz.  I am a 38 year old married mother of 3, an exercise addict, a former high school English teacher, a school/church volunteer, a stay-at-home mom, and most pertinently, a DVT/PE survivor! My husband and I had just returned home from a 5 day business/pleasure trip to Canada on a Sunday…

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DVTs Can Occur After Surgery: Tim’s Story

My name is Tim Allen and I am 59 years old.  I “busted” my foot playing soccer in college and needed surgery to repair it about 35 years ago when I was in the Air Force.  However, it got worse recently, and I dislocated my toes whenever I ran.  Unfortunately, I developed DVTs in my…

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Tell Doctors Your Family Medical History: Andy’s Story

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,…

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Spreading Awareness of Blood Clotting Disorders: Lynn’s Story

When I awakened from a deep sleep on the morning of June 12, 2003, I had no idea what the awful pain in my right side was. Could it be the hotel bed that I was sleeping in, the heavy box I had moved earlier in the day, a cold coming on? I continued to…

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Pregnant Women Need To Assess Their Blood Clot Risk: Lisa’s Story

I never knew that I was a risk for a blood clot that nearly killed me. One week after giving birth to my second child I started experiencing hip pain, called the OB office, spoke with a nurse and I was told that it was probably the result of delivery and I was advised to…

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I Was Told My Leg Might Need to be Amputated: Velton’s Story

In October of 1993, when I was 47, my left leg started swelling from my hip to my toes and I started experiencing trouble breathing. My leg felt so tight, that I couldn’t  bend my knee, so I contacted an orthopedic practice who then referred me to an internal medicine physician, Dr. D. Dr. D.…

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The Other Side of Nursing: Christa’s Story

My name is Christa and I have been a cardiac nurse at South Shore Hospital in S. Weymouth, MA for the past 15 years. My story is not from any of my many years of working in the medical profession but rather of the challenges I came across from the other side of nursing, as…

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