On 12/12/2025, I was admitted into the ER for a thrombectomy due to a bilateral pulmonary embolism. While I am overweight and sometimes eat like a raccoon in the trash, even the doctors sounded surprised that I was experiencing a PE because I was overall healthy besides this. With all of the researching I’ve been doing since this happened, I just want to share my experience in case it may help someone else, because prior to all of this, I NEVER would have thought I was at risk for something like this. The doctors feel relatively confident that my PE stemmed from multiple DVTs that broke off and traveled to both my lungs. They believe this because of the amount of work travel I have been doing, my lack of exercise while traveling, and my combo hormonal birth control. I still have a few follow-ups to determine if genetic testing should be done, but post-thrombectomy all of my scans and ultrasounds came back clear, and I am on the road to recovery.

My Symptoms That Led to Me Going to the ER

Feeling faint upon standing up, shortness of breath walking upstairs, breaking into a cold sweat once laying down, shallow breathing, nausea, and a gut feeling that something was very, very wrong. All of these symptoms are also symptoms of severe panic attacks or heart attacks, and approaching 40, I realized that either could be what was happening. When my EKG and chest X-Ray came back normal, I was fortunate enough to have an ER doctor sit me down and take the time to ask me what had been going on recently and why I felt I was having this reaction. Upon mentioning my increased work travel, he immediately asked, “Do you have a history of DVTs?” Immediately, I knew the calf muscle strain that I thought I had a few weeks earlier, which I just figured was from my decreased exercise consistency, had actually been a DVT. He immediately took me back for a d-dimer and CT with contrast, where it was confirmed that I was experiencing a bilateral pulmonary embolism that was now causing heart strain on the right side of my heart. I share this part because, prior to the doctor asking me about my recent life events, they were preparing to send me home with anxiety meds. Thankfully, because of this doctor, I didn’t have to advocate for myself further than what I had. In hearing others’ stories, that’s not always the case and some end up having to find a second or even third opinion. That is TERRIFYING knowing how hard it felt to just breathe.

My DVTs Did Not Present Like Most DVTs

I only experienced calf muscle pain that honestly felt like I had a persistent Charlie horse. Walking made it feel better and I didn’t have any swelling in my leg that was noticeable.

• After an overnight stay in the hospital, I was discharged to the care of my mother and aunt at home. I was prescribed the blood thinner Eliquis 5mg twice a day (every 12 hrs) for at least 6 months.
  • The timeframe for all this above: Friday night, went to the ER.  Early Saturday morning, taken back for thrombectomy surgery and then kept for observation the rest of the day and overnight. Mid-Sunday was discharged for at home recovery with my family.
• So far post surgery, I have gone on to finding an Internal medicine doctor to become my PCP, I have gone off of the birth control pill and have had an IUD with progesterone only (due to my PCOS) implanted, I have multiple follow-ups every 6-8 weeks with a vascular doctor for ultrasound monitoring that will continue until June/July, when they will determine if I am to stay on blood thinners for life or not. He actually would like me to get off the blood thinner or perhaps take one only if planning a long plane ride.
  • The vascular surgeon would like to do genetic testing at my next follow up appointment to rule out any clotting disorders since I do not know the medical history of my father’s side of the family, but he does not suspect I have a clotting disorder.
• Moreover, initially I was also prescribed hydroxazine to take as needed for additional anxiety at night, as I was struggling to get to sleep since all my initial symptoms happened right as I was going to bed.  Fortunately, after a couple of weeks, I no longer needed that.  I still have the prescription just in case though.

My Advice

I’m hoping that by sharing my experience, it doesn’t instill fear but reminds you to practice your body awareness. Listen to your gut feelings, they are usually correct. Advocate for yourself if you feel like the doctor or hospital isn’t taking you seriously. And if something feels wrong, don’t just brush it off.

• When traveling: MOVE OFTEN. Get up and walk the aisle of the plane. Pull over at a rest stop and get out every couple of hours if driving long distance. Wear compression socks while traveling (they make some really cute ones on Amazon!). Drink PLENTY of water!!! All of these things will help prevent you from possibly ever having a story like mine.