One Friday, in 2021, I was out walking with my five-year-old son when I became breathless and dizzy. The following Sunday morning, I collapsed with terrible chest and upper back pain and could feel that I was going to pass out. My inability to breathe became very serious and I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.
At the hospital, I underwent a CT scan and, within five minutes, the room was filled with doctors and other hospital staff. The CT scan showed I had an extremely extensive pulmonary embolism in my left lung and another clot in my right lung. This severe clotting affected my kidneys and liver, and my heart was pushed back and upward due to the pressure of the clot. I was rushed to the intensive care unit, where I remained for several days.
I was diagnosed as being at high risk for thrombosis, or blood clotting, as I have a genetic clotting disorder that also affects my mother. I also have been diagnosed with chronic post thrombotic syndrome.
Recovery for me has been very hard, and it continues to impact many things in my life. The blood clots in my lungs caused such damage that my breathing never returned to normal. The clots in my legs are now calcified and hard, which affects my mobility because my leg pain is constant, with some days worse than others. While I would like to lessen my anxiety and have these calcified clots removed, I’ve been told that my leg pain actually could worsen if I do so.
I’m sharing my personal story to help people understand how genetic clotting disorders can have a long-lasting impact on a person’s life, and to raise awareness of blood clots that I hope will help to save even just one life.
