Kimberley
Kimberley recounts her experience with pregnancy and clotting, and a diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome.
I was young and having my first child with my now husband. My son was born just before my 20th birthday. Much to my shock and carelessness, I was pregnant again a few months after having him.
As he was young while I was pregnant with my second child, we were still back and forth with his health visitor appointments, mandatory in the United Kingdom, when she noticed I was limping. I had a terrible pain in my calf. It was explained to me that a woman could get a clot during or after pregnancy.
With this information carelessly tucked away at the back of my mind, and with a young child to look after, I carried on with my week limping around until I noticed my leg was mottled. Shouting out for someone to help, I was in too much pain to even stand. I was rushed to the hospital, where I was told I had a very large clot that formed all the way up my leg. I stayed in the hospital for more than a month to make sure my pregnancy would go as smoothly as possible. When discharged, I was sent home with blood thinning injections and a scheduled C-section.
Successful Pregnancy Followed by Chest Pain
The pregnancy went smoothly and I continued on my anticoagulant therapy for about six weeks after the pregnancy. But, soon after my new baby was born, I had pain in my chest. One night, after being in pain for a couple days, I awoke from a dream and told my husband that someone had come to me and said I had another clot. Not being a spiritual person I shrugged it off, but deep down I was worried and my mind was racing overtime.
Later that day, after telling my mother about my dream, I was encouraged to reach out and explain to my doctor that I believed I had a clot in my chest. After testing, it was confirmed that a piece of my original clot had broken off and travelled to my lung, resulting in a pulmonary embolism. I spent the next couple of weeks in the hospital, where my health grew progressively worse. My heart rate had dropped and my body couldn’t keep up anymore. I was going into cardiac arrest.
Diagnosis: Antiphospholipid Syndrome
With the help of some incredible healthcare workers, I pulled through. I had a few rough months ahead. But, with the help from my amazing husband and committed to living for my two children, I gained my strength and started to enjoy life again. After years of fighting with doctors to help me find out why this had happened, I was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome. Finally, an answer. I was more relieved than anything to have a diagnosis. I’m now living with the effects of my autoimmune illness, on life-long wafarin therapy. I’m so glad I pulled through, got to marry the love of my life, and bring up my beautiful children. There is light at the end of the tunnel for us lucky enough to survive this illness.
