Amanda Shares her experience with a life-threatening blood clot.
June 17th, 2024, was the day my life forever changed due to a life-threatening blood clot. I woke up that morning ready to tackle my work day. As I was walking upstairs to get some water, I began to feel extremely out of breath and my chest hurt. I fell to the ground and could not feel my legs.
Thankfully my mom and dad were still home and I yelled out to my mom, “Mom! I need help!” At first we thought I was having a panic attack, but I know my body and just knew something was wrong. I called my husband first and then an ambulance.
The first responders said my oxygen saturation was very low on the way to the first hospital. A quick CT scan determined I had multiple blood clots in both lungs, with right heart strain. I was taken back to the cath lab and the interventional radiologist performed an emergency procedure – a thrombectomy – to remove the clots from my lungs.
During this procedure, they found that I had a hole in my heart, known as a PFO or patent foramen ovale — and I lost consciousness for about 20 seconds. I remember waking up and the doctors were doing an echocardiogram on my heart that confirmed the large PFO.
Specialized Care Following Diagnosis
After this diagnosis, I needed to see a more specialized cardiologist at another hospital. The next day, June 18th, I had another thrombectomy procedure to retrieve several remaining clots. Following this procedure, I was hospitalized until June 22nd and then discharged on one of the newer anticoagulant pills.
Multiple tests were ordered to help determine the cause of my blood clots. In the end, my doctors explained that the cause was my estrogen-based birth control pill – which I had been taking for 3.5 years with no issues, until there was one. I have no hereditary blood clotting disorders either.
Ever since this experience, I have advocated for better research involving women’s health and shared my story with many women. This whole experience has rocked my world and I still continue to heal mentally from it. I am deeply thankful for my family and my faith in God, because they have played a crucial role in supporting me during this life-changing journey.
