Case Summary  |  Blood Clots

When I was around 18 years old I started to get blood clots in my legs. Everyone thought it was because I was on the birth control pill. It ended up being a genetic blood disorder called:
Anti-thrombin III deficiency. I was hospitalized about 20 times and took coumadin off and on for years until 1991. That year they developed a blood test to test for this disorder and I was lucky enough to have a Doctor that tested me for it.
Today I have been on anticoagulants for 30 years and will be for the rest of my life. This disease shows itself in your late teens and all children should be tested if the parents have the disorder. I get along well now but you never know when a bout will hit you again. There are long lasting effects of taking this medicine for such a long time. Skin conditions and loose teeth are a couple of the side effects.