Surgery
I Assumed It Was Normal Recovery Pain. It Was a Blood Clot in My Lung: Breighdun’s Story
Every Day Is a True Blessing On April 7, 2024, I experienced an aching pain in my side that I believed was a pulled muscle. A week earlier, I had undergone a hysterectomy — so I assumed the discomfort was part of the normal recovery process. My Aunt Recognized the Risk When I mentioned my…
“I Instinctively Knew Something Was Seriously Off. It Took Begging to Get the Diagnosis”: Jennifer’s Story
Turning My Mess Into a Message In 2004 I spent three and a half months — 112 days — in the hospital after being diagnosed with Autoimmune Protein S Deficiency, a rare, acquired form of Protein S deficiency in which the body’s immune system interferes with Protein S. It Started With Abdominal Pain Prior to…
Given a Baby Aspirin Instead of Blood Thinners — Keri’s Story
But I’m Here. I Survived. In April 2024, I underwent ACL reconstruction surgery after rupturing my ACL. About a week after surgery, I started feeling pain in my back. I brushed it off, assuming it was from sleeping differently since I had to keep my leg straight and had been sleeping on my back. The…
A Severe Migraine That Turned Out to Be Much More: Lindsey’s Postpartum Story
I had my daughter on September 27, 2021. About the 4th day after, I started getting a headache. One nurse said it was because I am a tired new mom. Then a different nurse said I should not ignore headaches. My delivery was very traumatic. I lost over 1000ML of blood and passed out during…
The Calf Pain I Ignored for Months Was Actually a Massive Blood Clot: Melisa’s Story
I have always been a very avid runner and I was training for my 7th marathon when I developed pain and swelling in my left leg in August of 2024. I thought I had strained my calf and did physical therapy but I didn’t make any progress. I attempted the marathon but ultimately dropped out…
I’m Grateful to Be Alive, But the Health Anxiety is Very Real: Elizabeth’s Story
Two weeks after hip labral repair surgery, my thigh became very sore. I assumed it was from new exercises in physical therapy, but a few days later my calf became painful also. I was having a hard time getting around, so I called my insurance company’s 24/7 nurse hotline in the middle of the night.…
I Was Repeatedly Misdiagnosed and my Symptoms Were Dismissed: Liz’s Story
After a dilation and curettage (D&C), my doctor tore my cervix. I was given medication to stop the bleeding, but I passed out in the hospital from blood loss five days later. My doctor gave me tranexamic acid (TXA) to control the hemorrhaging. Later that day, I started feeling a burning sensation in my chest.…
I Could Never Have Imagined a Diagnosis Like This: Carlie’s Story
In May 2024, a few days after delivering my first child via C-section, I began to feel heavy-chested and winded after doing very little, like walking and showering. I had already been discharged as a patient, but my son was in the NICU, so we were staying across the hall in the hospital. I really…
I Wasn’t Expected to Live: Michael’s Story
In 2014, I was having pain in my stomach. I went to a local doctor and he told me it was my gallbladder. I weighed around 380 pounds at the time. I was scheduled for the operation, but I knew something wasn’t right a couple days before. On April 14, I had my surgery. Afterwards…
She Knew What Was Happening and Said Her Goodbyes: Kassandra and Danny’s Story
As told by her husband Danny. Just a few weeks after my wife and I got married, after an eight-year relationship and many years of courtship, she died suddenly due to a blood clot. She was a few weeks post routine knee surgery, a surgery that I coincidentally had while we had dated. At 4…
