Woman
I Had Two DVTs: Lotus’s Story
I noticed that I had severe cramping in my right calf in 2003, and ended up in the hospital for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The birth control pills I was taking then were the likely culprit, and I know now at age 51 to avoid hormone based birth control or replacement therapy in the…
Persistence Is Sometimes Needed to Get a Correct Diagnosis: Theresa’s Story
I was 30 years old and 6 months pregnant with my first child when I developed an acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT). I had no prior knowledge of clotting disorders and had been on birth control for 10 years before I conceived. It was a Thursday night when I first felt a tingling and slight…
Put Your Health First: Elaine’s Story
I am a married 39 year old mother of two. A year ago my busy life was put on hold when I developed a blood clot in the renal vein of my left kidney. I started feeling dull pain in my lower back at work, and I felt winded and tired. I work full time…
Adjusting to the New Normal: Desirre’s Story
My family and I had just returned from a ski trip to New Mexico in January 2009, and it was one of those marathon trips where we drove straight through for 11 hours. My legs felt heavy during the trip, and even though we did not make a lot of stops, I kept moving them…
My Baby Saved Me: Kelly’s Story
My name is Kelly; I’m a 35 year old wife and mother of 4 daughters. I have been fighting my DVT for over a year now. Despite my battle, I want everyone to know that I consider myself a victorious survivor. I have had 5 surgeries, 3 stents implanted, had more scans and blood tests…
Died of a PE at 23: Anna’s Story
Anna Frutiger embodied brains, beauty, compassion, and athleticism, and seemed the picture of health while she was living her dream of becoming a dentist. No one expected that a blood clot would end her life, and it seemed beyond belief that Anna died on May 20, 2010 from a pulmonary embolism (PE) due to an…
Running Nearly Cost Me My Life: Kristine’s Story
Running is my greatest passion, but at age 27 it nearly cost me my life. Last March, I ran a half-marathon and went straight into training for a full marathon. I noticed a pain in my hip after I completed the half-marathon, but like most runners, I ran through the pain. As it turned out,…
I Refused to Accept Asthma as my Diagnosis: Laura’s Story
My story begins after I lost my dog, Lakota, from sudden internal bleeding, who was my pet and wonderful friend for 12 years. I was so upset at my loss that I wept for many hours; the type of weeping that caused my chest to heave. Later that night, I had severe cramping along the…
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,…
Deep Vein Thrombosis Changed My Life: Caroline’s Story
Caroline experienced debilitating blood clots two separate times in her life, but she’s not letting that stop her. Read about how she overcame her pain and lives her life to the fullest everyday, despite being on anticoagulants.