This is the first of two giveaways I’m hosting to celebrate Blood Clot Awareness Month! The first giveaway is this bracelet set so you can spread some awareness of your own:
Giveaway Includes
- 1 Stretch Red and White Ribbon Bracelet (for PE awareness) valued at $6
- 2 Red and White Silicone Awareness Bracelets (Embossed with Hope, Faith, Love) valued at $2 each
- 1 Stretch Red Ribbon Bracelet (for Blood Clot/DVT awareness) valued at $6
Enter for your chance to win and help spread awareness by making it go-to accessory for the month of March – for you or a friend!
Enter Here
Please Note: Giveaway runs through midnight on Monday, March 10, 2014. Winner will be selected at random and notified via email. This is a short giveaway so you have time to wear (or gift!) your bracelets during March.
Thank you all for entering and for helping make BCRN what it is today!
There is hope for healing and you are not alone,
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I am so glad this is blood clot awareness month!!!!! Many people could just be walking around not knowing they even have a blood clot or there are many people who know about clots but just don’t think it could happen to them! I was one of them! I never though I could get a clot and I wasn’t aware of the signs!!!!! I want to spread as much awareness as I can!!!!!! Know the signs and help spread knowledge about this silent killer!!!!!
Very, very true Natasha. I did not know it could happen to me and it did! Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
After suffering a major DVT in November due to May-Thurner syndrome I am now hyper aware of blood clots and the issues they cause and I wish more people could be educated on the warning signs. If it were not for my husband urging me to go to the hospital that morning, I might not be here today.
I’m glad you’re here too, Donna. I definitely agree there needs to be more awareness and education – as we know, it saves lives! Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
It is important to me to spread awareness to be able to save as many lives as possible – mothers, daughters, husbands, sons, grandmothers, grandfathers friends etc because we need these people! We love them!
Exactly, Susan! Thank you for the reminder to all of us. Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
I was so shocked when I was diagnosed with DVTs and PEs, I had no idea what they were talking about. I didn’t know I was at a higher risk because of birth control, I didn’t know the warning signs and I didn’t know that I needed to get help until it was almost too late. We need to educate women of all ages but especially those over 40 on birth control. If you have an unexplained leg cramp and you are having a hard time breathing….they are related, get help now!
I absolutely agree, Christine. I had NO idea it could happen to me (I was on birth control) AND I did not know to put those two pains together. And, I almost was not here to talk about it. Very, very important to spread awareness about the significance of these things. You nailed it! Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
Making people aware is key! Too many times people ignor a clear sign. All too often a Dr. ignors many classic signs. People know their bodies and should listen to them, don’t let a medical professional push you to the side…..push them to check check and recheck!
Yes, Jerri, you are right! So many good thoughts here. Listening to our bodies AND telling the doctors they need to listen too is very important. Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
It is important to me to raise awareness because I was diagnosed with an idiopathic Pulmonary Embolism on July 3, 2009. I had been experiencing some dizziness, and my heart rate was higher than normal, and I was having shortness of breath on exertion. I just knew that something wasn’t “right”. I made and appointment with my doctor and he scheduled a CT scan of my lungs “just in case”. That is when they came out and told me that I had failed my test and needed to get to the hospital. I was in complete and utter shock. I was 36, in good health, in good shape, I never smoked, I wasn’t on BC pills, I had absolutely no risk factors. Luckily, it was caught in time by my wonderful doctor. I am on Coumadin for life because they do not know what caused the clot. All tests have come back negative, except for one positive Lupus Anticoagulant test last July, but I do not have a definite diagnosis and my hematologist said that they will never know what caused mine. I have had three doctors tell me that, my primary, my hematologist and the pulmonologist that I saw shortly after my diagnosis. I was lucky that it didn’t leave any damage to my lungs. But it hasn’t been an easy 4 1/2 years. I had a painful recovery as I am sure we can all relate to, and I have been dealing with depression and anxiety on and off since it has happened. But I want to raise awareness because it can happen to anybody and for no apparent reason. I think I do have a blood clotting disorder that they haven’t found yet. I am thankful for my doctor, and I am thankful for Coumadin – that there is a treatment for what we are all dealing with.
What a pretty name, Maricatherine! You are absolutely right as well, for as horrible as this disease/illness/injury is, we do have a way to manage it and while it is not perfect yet, we can and do survive. We have all been through so many nearly unbearable times, but we are here and we are survivors! I have APS (lupus anticaogulant) and it is what contributed to my clot. I am also on blood thinners (warfarin at the present time) for life because doctors do not know when/if the APS could flare again and cause another problem. I can really relate to your story, as many here can, I am sure. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
I was so happy this month is awareness just for us! I had my 3rd PE episode this last December all 3.occurrences have been in the last 6 years. Recovery is a hard thing to go through and many people aren’t aware of this condition. Thank you for making a great awareness site! I recommend it to all my support groups!
Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing this site, Chelsie! I appreciate that and you taking the time to let me know. I went through one PE, and I cannot imagine the strength it takes to go through multiple ones. It is a fear of mine, as I am sure many can relate. You are a survivor!! Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
I was diagnosed with a dvt that was completely occluding blood flow from my toe to my femoral junction in my hip last November. I thought I had pulled a muscle running a few weeks before and I had to see 2 doctors before one got curious and drew a ddimer. Turns out I have factor 2 and factor 5 Leiden mutations. Education and awareness is so important!
Wow, Elena. Your story is very much like mine. I thought I pulled a muscle running and I could not have been more wrong! My father called my physician out of concern who called me and when I told him I also had pain in my lung, he said go to the ER immediately or he was calling 9-1-1. I credit him with saving my life. I could not agree with you more – sometimes I think the athletic community really needs awareness because as athletes we become accustomed to pain and then think something this serious and deadly could happen to us. Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
Blood Clot Awareness month is important to me, because it IS a silent killer. If it were not for the imaging I had during a surgery to correct the surgery that actually caused my DVTs, I never would have known. Sure, I was complaining of a lot of pain, but I just attributed it to normal surgery recovery pain. That’s because at the age of 21 years old, I didn’t even know blood clots could happen to me. I didn’t know what signs and symptoms to look for. In my mind, I didn’t need to! But, after discovering my upper extremity DVTs, I wanted to raise awareness and help others learn what to watch for- because, it can happen to anyone. This is not a battle I am fighting alone. We are warriors. We have overcome. We will get through this.
Yes, Ashton this is a silent killer! I can relate when you say not only did you not know the signs, you did not think you needed to! I am going to share that because it is so vital to raising awareness. WE NEED TO KNOW. I am glad you are here to share your experiences. Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
Blood Clot Awareness is very important to me! I was 28 years old, young and well, and ended up in the ER one night because I couldn’t stand the pain I was having in my side. Thankfully I went when I did because I probably wouldn’t have lived much longer. I was then diagnosed with a massive PE in my left lung and showers of clots in both lungs. I was seen by many Doctors and had many tests and never got any real answers on where or why the clots happened. I got into a great Pulmonologist that never gave up on me and still helps me to this day (almost 4 years later) After more testing, it was found that I have Protein S Deficiency, a clotting disorder. I will be on blood thinners for the rest of my life because of the severity of my clots and my disorder. Blood tests, pain and medication are everyday life for me now, but I’m glad I am still here!! That day I was diagnosed with PEs I added another cause so my awareness lists that I try to educate to the world. I have a son and a sister with special needs, my son has various medical issues and I have other medical issues I deal with as well. Here’s to hoping my story can help change the world! XOXO
Christana, thank you for sharing your story. And thank you for what you are already doing to raise awareness about blood clots and other important diseases/conditions. There are a few others here with Protein S Deficiency here too. I hope we can unite to share and spread information. I do believe one or two or three or four hundred stories can change the world. I hope and believe we can do that! Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
This cause is super important to me as my whole world as I knew it was turned upside down January 18th. I worked out at my gym 5-6 days a week and had what I thought was a pulled muscle in my lower left calf. I was then diagnosed with 4 large clots in my calf. I, like many others, knew nothing about this and am so glad to have found a support group and am gaining knowledge.
Thank you for being here, Teresa. I also thought I pulled a muscle and attributed my calf pain to that (after a run). It is astounding to me how many others say they felt the same pain – and it felt like a pulled muscle, which is one of the reasons I do believe awareness is so important. We’re glad to have you here too! Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
There are no coincidences. Blowing my mind it’s blood clot awareness month. I had surgery recently and am a very healthy forty-one year old female who just found out I have a blood clot. My orthopedic said I would be the last person he’d thought would get a blood clot. I’m very athletic, don’t drink, don’t smoke, and eat nutritionally and have no genetics predisposing me. I just am astonished how many people truly don’t know about blood clots. Scared me so bad. Thank goodness I had the will to push a nurse to check with my doctor about my calf pain even though I never dreamed it was a clot. I can’t believe how many stories I’ve heard that it gets blown off for muscle strain. I am grateful for this website and am just in the midst of treating it and I’ve learned so much in such a short time. I’ve also learned how difficult it can be going through the maze of getting medical help and may have some questions especially in regards to the drug xaltero. My healthy friend in her forties died a year ago of a blood clot in her sleep and I never dreamed it could happen to me. This stuff is so scary. Thank-you so much for this website. I’m spreading the news already about it being Blood Clot Awareness Month. Kudos!
Hi Cassandra! Thank you for being here and we are glad to welcome you to this site. Your story is a very good reason, along with any story, as to why awareness is so important. Blood clots, as we know, can happen to any person! I am so glad you are here to share your story and let us know if you need anything, we all try to be very supportive and share our experiences! I am sorry to hear about your friend. I am even more grateful to know we are here to spread awareness and help others. Thank you for helping to raise awareness and your entry, good luck!
Thanks so much Sara! Keep doing what you are doing! You’re awesome! I’m very grateful. 😉
I am a blood clot survivor. Like many others said–blood clots are silent killers. I had bilateral pulmonary embolisms at the age of 30. I was hospitalized for two weeks while attempting to get my levels figured out. I am VERY lucky to be here, to be able to watch my two girls grow up. I now know that I have Factor V Leiden, which I never had an issue with before 2011. I try to spread as much education and awareness as possible about DVTs, PEs, FVL, and really anything related. In addition, I’m a nurse at a local hospital, so I also try my best to bring those subjects up as much as possible for educational purposes.
Thank you so much for sharing, Sarah! It gives me and I am sure many others great hope to hear there are people like you in the medical field who are helping to spread awareness. I also hear stories where people are not told anything by their medical team and I am glad to hear a positive story now! Thank you for helping to raise awareness and for your entry, good luck!
Hi Sara….you have been a Godsend to me these past few months as i continue to recover from my PE last April….i am also glad to spread the word about Blood Clot Awareness Month because it helps not only us as survivors but our spouses, parents, children, partners understand what we are experiencing …thank you!
You’re welcome, Kathi and thanks for being so nice. 🙂 We’re glad to have you here recovering with us too. Thank you for helping to raise awareness and for your entry, good luck!
Hi Sara, I’m feeling very passionate about telling others about blood clots! I had a bilateral PE in January and my life has been turned upside down!! I never knew how common it is before now……..well I’m telling all my friends what to watch out for!! Keep up your good work, you are setting a fantastic example on how to spread the word!! xxx
Hi Jodi! I am so glad to share this passion with so many others like you and thank you for your kind words. I know exactly where you are right now in your recovery and it is a tough place. Thinking of you and welcome. Thank you for helping to raise awareness and for your entry, good luck!
I just found your site and learned it is National Blood Clot Awareness month. It is so important to spread the word so people know the signs. I was not aware and ignored my symptoms for days. In July 2013, age 38 and in good health, I was hospitalized for DVT/PE. I didn’t realize just how serious it was until I began doing my own research. The stats are astounding, and anyone who has survived PE is lucky to be alive! Thank you for this blog….there are not many good sites out there that explain this condition that is easy to understand. I have shared on my FB page to spread the word, so people don’t ignore the signs like I did!
Hi Robyn, welcome and thank you for being here! I am glad you are here and helping us spread awareness. Thank you so much for sharing! And thank you for the nice things you said about the site. I also cannot believe how astonishing the facts are once you start reading about them. Thank you for helping to raise awareness and for your entry, good luck!
Awareness is so important bc it WILL save our lives. It saved mine! Doctors are human and make mistakes-even ones that seem impossible to make, still happen. When we are equipped with knowledge it helps cut down on error! Nov 2013, I had an acute onset of facial edema and cyanosis that spread into both arms, neck and chest. I am a PA and had remembered a case like mine from school. I assumed my SVC was not draining… After many treatments and tests, they did determine I had a 100% blockage In the superior vena cava(largest vein in the body & only vein draining into the top part of the heart). However, initially, a radiologist missed the clot that closed off the main vein to the heart! Talk about scary! My mom begged for the doctor to get a second opinion, and they did.. Very shortly after, I was rushed to the cath lab for an emergency procedure to attempt to establish blood flow.. Without the knowledge I had, there would very likely be a different ending. My Mom would not have known to challenge the radiologist.. And I would not be alive.
Hi Jenny and thank you for being here! Your story is amazing and goes to show exactly what it is so important for us to raise awareness and also be advocates for ourselves and others that we know. I am so glad it turned out the way it did. Thank you for helping to raise awareness and for your entry, good luck!
My story is, I was a healthy 52year old who fell on Jan21 and broke my ankle, 3bones. Surgery was a week later due to swelling. I had surgery on Jan 28 and went home the next day. At 3 AM on Feb 1st I woke up with pain in my right arm and shoulder that wouldn’t go away. I was home alone so I called an ambulance. After a CT scan in the ER it was found I had several PEs in my lung. They say it was probably from my broken ankle. My brother is positive for Factor V and him and my father have had DVTs, which I told my surgeon about before my surgery. I feel if I had been put on blood thinners right after surgery this may have been avoided. I am grateful to be alive, but I have a lot of anxiety thinking every little pain is another clot. I feel like I have a time bomb in me just waiting to kill me and it’s causing me alot of anxiety. I am on xarelto for at least 6 months. I will be terrified to stop taking it. Thank you for this site, it helps to read other stories.
Hello Christine and welcome! I am so shocked the doctors did not put you on blood thinners after your surgery. Maybe I am wrong, but I thought that was common if you had surgery – especially in the extremities! Wow. I am so glad you are here to share your story and be a part of this community. Another very important factor as to why awareness is SO important. I understand your anxieties and so do many others here. Stay in touch! Thank you for helping to raise awareness and for your entry, good luck!
Awareness is important to me, for many reasons. If I had continued to ignored the pain I was having, I would not be here to type this. I had a friend that had previously had PE and I was speaking with her, upon her urging, I went to the ER. I was VERY unaware of the dangers of PE/DVT. I don’t want someone else in the situation I was in. Knowledge is power.
Welcome, Amanda and thank you for sharing! You are absolutely right and thank you for sharing your experience with all of us. So glad you are here! Thank you for helping to spread awareness and for your entry, good luck!
I survived two Pulmonary Embolisms: first in August 2011 when I was 35 weeks pregnant and the second in August 2013 when my youngest was only 4 weeks old. People do not understand the risk of clots and the severity of the situation unless they have been there or had a close family member or friend in that position! We need to raise awareness to increase survival!
Exactly, Jennifer. I agree with you that people just do not understand for the most part. I just went through trying to explain it earlier, and I am still not sure I did a good job of conveying the point. Thank you for helping to spread awareness and for your entry, good luck!
I had a PE in January of this year. I’m so glad to find so much support and information here. Thank you!
Welcome, Jennifer! Thank you for helping to spread awareness and for your entry, good luck! I hope you are recovering well, thinking of you.
i am a mother of 6…i am a miracle <3
.i have muliple jobs…i have such an amazine assortment of great great friends..and i developed a PE in my lung..lack of medical insurance prevented me from seeking medical care when the symptoms originally started in oct 2013..i had no idea..none what so ever!!
My symptoms came back in full force when i caught a cold..i terrified my 12 year old son by severely not having the ability to catch my breath at a hockey game..so i promised him i would go to the hospital..insurance be damned..that was february 3rd..i honored my word to him..and it probably saved my life 😉
i am committed to learning and educating others about blood clots..i am not what is considered a high risk and to date we dont know why i developed it..coumadin is a challenge to my system..my body is not handling it very well but we will get my dosage right.. hopefully soon..i plan on being healthy again ..just by my being ill everyone i know has a little more awareness of blood clots..i now know what a gift that is!!
..thank you for all that you do <3
Janey, welcome! And I am SO glad you are here and you sought help. What a story! I understand the frustrations with insurance too, I went through them and it is a hard situation all the way around. I am just glad you are alive to take care of your lovely family and help spread the word about blood clots – truly a miracle. Thank you for helping to spread awareness and for your entry, good luck!
Sara, thank you for the bracelets. I won the first drawing you did and gave one to each of my family members (we all have some kind of clotting disorder, but I’m the one who had the PE). I’m so touched that my husband has worn his almost every day since and Sunday at church my son was wearing his – he’s a teenager so to see him make that choice on his own was amazing. So THANK YOU AGAIN!
Hi Jennifer. Thank you so much for coming back and sharing! That is sooo wonderful to hear about your husband and son wearing them – it really brings a smile to my heart and face! This is what it is about. Keep in touch and keep raising awareness!
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