Rhonda

I am 43 years old and was diagnosed with FVL in 2008.

In 1989 during my second pregnancy (my first pregnancy was normal), I developed a superficial blood clot and was bed fast for the last two months of my pregnancy. After the birth of my son, I was treated with heparin shots and sent home.

Over the years I suffered from numerous superficial clots in my thigh which was usually triggered by trauma. I didn't develop any PE's or DVT's (to my knowledge) until 2003, six months after a depo shot. I was hospitalized for five days treated with a heparin drip and coumadin therapy for six months.

Again, I suffered several more superficial clots in my thigh throughout the next few years, which always led me to be bed fast for at least a week at a time.

In 2008 my daughter, who was on birth control, was diagnosed with a "saddle" PE (we are extremely blessed to still have her with us). She suffered a calf cramp, felt nauseated and had extreme shortness of breath. Due to my history with blood clots, she went to our physician and was immediately admitted to the hospital. That is when the test was ran and she was diagnosed with FVL. I was tested as well, with the same results. Unfortunately, because I was adopted we had no knowledge that this was a medical condition that we needed to be aware of.

Later in 2008, I had to have the vein removed in my leg. I naively thought my troubles were over. In January 2010, I suffered multiple pulmonary emlobi in my right lung. I will be on coumadin the rest of my life and we are currently trying to find a suitable dosage. I visited my hematologist and learned that with people FVL, it is sometimes difficult to maintain a constant level in the INR.

I just wanted people out there to know not to get discouraged if it takes a while for your doctor to find a regular dosage. Also, just because you are taking a blood thinner do not be fooled into thinking you cannot develop another clot.

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