My name is Edel and I am 41 years old from Co. Wicklow. My journey with thrombosis began 20 years ago, when I was just 21. At the time, I was a student studying Archaeology and Art History in Trinity College. Dublin. I was healthy, average-weight and reasonably fit young woman. Life was busy and exciting. I had just returned from three months working on a post-excavation site in Waterford.
Around that time, I had also started taking the contraceptive pill. For about a month, I’d been experiencing persistent pain in my lower back and pelvis. It was bothersome enough that I went to my GP and a physio to try to get to the bottom of it, but nothing came of it.
One evening, I was picking up a friend to go to the cinema when I noticed something strange. As I climbed out of the car, my leg felt unusually heavy and I had a sharp pain in my groin. I brushed it off and suggested we grab a DVD and head back to mine instead. But by the time we arrived, my let felt even heavier, and the pain in my groin and lower back was almost unbearable. When I went to the bathroom, I got the shock of my life. My leg was severely discoloured and almost bluish. I started vomiting and panicking. My friend called my Mum and an ambulance straight away.
The next 6 weeks were spent in St. Vincent’s hospital. I had a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) running from my knee to my groin. Further tests revealed I have Factor V Leiden, a genetic condition that increases the risk of blood clots. Looking back, it’s clear I was a ticking time bomb. I’d been on the oral contraceptive pill for just three months, I was a social smoker and my job at the excavation site involved sitting for long hours. All these factors came together in the worst way.
After leaving hospital, I spent almost two years on warfarin. Unfortunately, my blood levels were tough to regulate on the medication and I often had nosebleeds and other issues. Eventually, I decided to come off the warfarin as I wanted to travel and live my life. I stayed on aspirin for years .( Aspirin does not fully protect against blood clots in our veins).and wore compression stockings.
Fast forward 20 years and I am now a proud mother of two beautiful children with the help of daily Innohep injections and an incredibly supportive husband who did the daily injections for me. I’ve had an incredible career as a publican and live a very active lifestyle. I love running and participating in multisport events – Gaelforce West being one of my absolute favourites. I have leg swelling and heaviness after long runs but manage ok.
Despite everything, I always carried a little worry at the back of my mind that I might get another blood clot. I assumed it would happen much later in life, though when I was older and less active. But, this year, my body had other plans.
It started with a familiar pain in my lower back and hips that lasted for months. I went to multiple physios and even had an MRI on my hip joint, but nothing seemed to help. Then in November, my leg felt heavy for a few days. One morning, stood up from my computer and felt that dreaded ache. My heart sank.. I drove straight to A&E and unfortunately, I was right. I had another DVT in my left leg.
The silver lining is that medical advancements in the past 20 years have been incredible. I am now on a DOAC called Xarelto, a much more effective and manageable medication and I will take it for life. I still wear my (not so sexy) compression stockings and walk every day. It’s tough going, my leg is slow and heavy but I am determined to rebuild my fitness and health.
If there is one think I would like people to take away from my story it’s this:
I am on the road to recovery now and while it’s a slow process, I am incredibly grateful to be alive and kicking. Raising awareness is so important to me and I hope my story helps others recognize the risks and symptoms of thrombosis before it’s too late.
Recent Comments