Ami’s story – clots, blood thinners, babies and getting back my life

My name is Ami, I am 23 years old and I previously suffered a DVT back in 2019 which resulted in being fitted with a stent in my left groin. The recovery took a few months but since then life has moved in a great direction for me I got a great job, met my now partner and eventually found out I was expecting our first very much anticipated child.

I have been on blood thinners consistently since my DVT in 2019 and this carried on in my pregnancy despite a few issues with getting up to therapeutic level. I eventually gave birth via c section to my son on the 12th of February and everything seemed fine.

Four weeks later my left leg swelled to double size

Four weeks later my left leg swelled to double size, turned purple and was very painful to walk on all classic signs of another DVT. I immediately went to the hospital I gave birth at only to be told that I didn’t have a blood clot and to ‘leave it a week and see how it goes’.

Over 24 hours my symptoms worsened to the point where I was taken by ambulance to another hospital; at this hospital a simple CT scan showed there was a blood clot blocking up my old stent that would need to be seen to.

I am ever so grateful to the consultants for all they’ve done so far

A few days later I went in for my procedure which took around six hours where they found my vein had been chronic for quite some time measuring only 1mm as supposed to the 7mm it should. They just about managed to attack this clot, albeit unfortunately bursting one of my veins in the process, and have fitted me with more stents to try and promote blood flow; we are still waiting to see whether this has been successful but I am ever so grateful to the consultants for all they’ve done so far.

I am also currently having to see physio whilst I’m in hospital to try and get moving again something which is proving both a physical and mental challenge as I am still having to spend most of my days immobile.

I know recovery won’t be easy but I am more determined than ever

I know recovery won’t be easy but I am more determined than ever so that I can be the best mum to my son and I am so grateful to my partner, my partner’s family and my mother who are doing everything to help. I complained to the other hospital as I can’t believe all the signs were missed and had I taken their advice and ‘waited a week’ the outcome may well have been very different.