Kristen Thompson, a resident of Cardington, Ohio, recently recounted her experience with a blood clot that was diagnosed and treated at OhioHealth Morrow County Hospital. Last November, Thompson experienced severe pain in her left leg, prompting her husband to take her to the hospital's urgent care.
Despite her reluctance to visit doctors, Thompson expressed gratitude for the prompt attention she received. "She was not going to let me leave without trying to figure out what was wrong with me," Thompson said about the nurse at the front desk. Following an x-ray, blood work, and an ultrasound, medical staff confirmed that she had a blood clot.
Thompson described the emotional impact of the diagnosis: “I was in tears by the end of the evening just because I did not want that diagnosis and she [Thompson’s Urgent Care nurse] was just super empathetic to everything that was going on with me.”
Her treatment involved a three-month course of blood thinners. Although some discomfort persists, a follow-up ultrasound in February showed that the clot had dissolved. Reflecting on her experience, Thompson stated: “Had it not been caught, and had I not gone in, it could have traveled...and it could have ended up in my lungs. Or it could have killed me."
Dr. Tiffany Corbean from OhioHealth Physician Group emphasized the importance of recognizing symptoms such as pain, warmth, redness, and swelling in limbs. "Blood clots are life-threatening but can be treated," Dr. Corbean noted. She advised seeking immediate medical evaluation if these symptoms occur since they may indicate other serious conditions.
Certain individuals are more susceptible to blood clots due to factors like cancer, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, obesity, pregnancy, recent trauma or surgery, clotting disorders, and smoking habits. Dr. Corbean also mentioned that specific medications might elevate this risk.
As National Blood Clot Awareness Month continues, Thompson urges others to heed their body's signals even if they seem minor.