Woman
Two Major Surgeries When I Had Clots: Mary’s Story
In January 2024, I started having difficulty walking up a long hill to get to my car after work. It got to the point where it scared me how hard I was breathing by the time I got to the top. In February, I had a pre-surgical exam for a shoulder replacement scheduled in March.…
I Credit My PT and Orthopedic Clinic for Their Action: Molly’s Story
I hurt my knee, and after 10 months of physical therapy, I found myself having a meniscus repair surgery. Post-surgery, I was in physical therapy again. About six weeks after surgery, I noticed more swelling, which I attributed to being at work for some very long days and not having time to walk around as…
I Can Be a Survivor and Have a Life After This: Paula’s Story
My experience was in the summer of 2021. I woke one Sunday morning feeling shortness of breath, and I continued my day with increasing difficulty breathing. On Monday, I went to an urgent care clinic. They did not do a CT scan, they assumed because I was overweight and out of breath that it was…
My Only Risk Factors Were Birth Control and a Long Car Ride: Hillary’s Story
My husband and took a trip to Destin, Florida for a long weekend after finding out my breast biopsy surgery was benign. We drove 14 hours in one day from Michigan and returned a few days later, only stopping twice for gas. I returned to work and walked to my office up two flights of…
Doctors Will Gaslight You Into Believing You’re Crazy: Kourtney’s Story
I was diagnosed with a DVT and bilateral pulmonary embolism on April 10, 2024. I underwent a biopsy for a uterine cyst in November 2023 and subsequently had my menstrual period for almost 30 days. My gynecologist prescribed me birth control to stop my period. From mid-January until April, I was taking four birth control…
I Had No Idea Blood Clots Were Such a Risk to Pregnant Women: Amanda’s Story
In November 2023, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl via C-section. It was our first child and we were so excited! A few weeks after giving birth, I had extreme pain in my stomach. I called my OB/GYN and they told me to take an anti-gas medication and see what happened. The pain…
I Experienced PTSD: Frances’ Story
I had an appointment with my PCP on October 5, 2019 for shortness of breath. I could barely walk to my car from his office door. My lower legs were hurting. I was 56 and on no medications. He referred me to a cardiologist. The following day, after my morning coffee, I could hardly walk.…
Monica’s Plea: Please Call Your Doctor With Any New Postpatrum Symptoms
Written by Judy Boyd, mother of Monica Boyd Ashworth, who died of a pulmonary embolism on March 7, 2024, 12 days after giving birth to her son. I want to advocate for new moms-to-be so they don’t die as our daughter did—right here in Northern Virginia. The United States has the most advanced health care…
I’ve Learned to Navigate the Challenges of Being a Survivor: Daisy’s Story
In 2022, I was running three times a week training for my first half marathon when I noticed swelling and cramping in my left leg . I shrugged it off as overtraining or a Baker cyst behind my knee. Until that point, I had been a very healthy 44-year-old wife, mom, and teacher. I never…
I Convinced Myself It Would Never Happen to Me: Kristin’s Story
When I was just a few months shy of turning 24, I traveled to Mexico, which included a four-hour drive to the airport and four-hour flight. Once I returned, I got sick with a gastrointestinal bug and was off work for three days. The night before I returned to work, I had some chest pain…
