PE
The Doctor Was Not Convinced That I Had a DVT: Pamela Lynn’s Story
My experience with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) began more than 30 years ago in November 1979 when I was 30, and pregnant with my second child. I flew with my husband and 3-year-old daughter from our home in Texas to visit my husband’s family in California for the Christmas holidays the next month. While there,…
Misdiagnosed With Asthma: Carlos’ Story
My experience with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) started in June 2010 when I was 37 years old. My symptoms began a couple of days after I returned to Miami from a two week trip to Israel with my wife and best friends. I felt a sharp pain in my left calf…
My PE Was Linked To Protein C Deficiency: Michael’s Story
During the summer of 2008, I started feeling lightheaded when I walked up stairs or tried to lift something heavy. This was a strange and new experience for me, since I go up and down stairs at work or at home about 30 times a day without effort. I was then 41 years old and…
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…
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 …
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…