I had not long turned 17 when I got diagnosed with a DVT.
Back in October 2024 I had been experiencing severe hip pain for just over a week, but put it down to karate as I trained four times a week. I noticed it was a problem when it once gave me discomfort when sleeping and when I was running my left thigh lost sensation.
The pain did ease and I thought nothing of it until I fainted at school and woke up to realising my leg had swollen a lot and was starting to discolour after going to my local doctors I fainted another two times and was rushed to A&E with suspected DVT.
At this time, I was on the combined contraceptive pill. When I had a scan the doctors asked if I was on any medication to which I replied only the combined pill – and was quickly told to immediately stop taking it.
The scan confirmed and I was told I had cluster of clots from my hip past my knee.
I was admitted to St Thomas’ where I found out I had a May Thurner syndrome and needed three surgeries to remove the clot and have a 12cm stent put in my vein!
After the second surgery when clot was removed and stent placed, I had an ultrasound, a few days later it revealed my stent had narrowed which I had to have a third surgery to extend the stent to make sure it won’t narrow as much which had been successful.
I still am on blood thinners and will be at least for the next year and with help from my surgeon and the rest of my team I am able to get back to karate with caution!
