In November 2024, I woke up with a sharp pain in my left knee. After a few days of painkillers, the pain persisted. An operator at 111 advised me to visit A&E. Initially, I was told it was muscle cramp and that I had pulled it. I was prescribed naproxen and advised to wait a week. If there was no improvement, I was to see my GP.
Fortunately, the staff at Darlington Memorial Hospital went above and beyond. They sensed something was not right and asked me to return urgently. Thankfully, they did, as I could no longer walk properly due to the pain. They conducted an urgent blood test, which initially came back inconclusive. However, they suspected a blood clot and started me on blood thinners immediately. Since it was a weekend, they couldn’t perform an ultrasound until Monday. The ultrasound confirmed the presence of a blood clot, diagnosing me with DVT.
Since then, I have transformed my lifestyle and become much fitter. I aimed to complete the Manchester marathon to prove that I could overcome challenges after a frightening health scare. Despite the likelihood of having PTS in my leg, I wanted to proudly say, “I had a blood clot, survived, and went on to complete a marathon.”
I am grateful every day that the staff at Darlington Memorial called me back urgently and discovered the blood clot. I also cannot thank Thrombosis UK enough for their support during my diagnosis. They helped me feel less alone and more at ease, providing invaluable advice for my new future.
