WE’RE all guilty of googling our symptoms when we feel unwell, often ending up with the worst possible explanation.
But one woman has told others to trust their gut, after her husband died within days of looking up his symptoms online.
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Alison, who shared her story on her TikTok @lsnhoffy22, lost her husband Brian in January 2017.
She had given birth to their first child, Carter, just seven weeks prior.
In the video, she revealed that Brian had asked a family member, who was also a nurse, if his symptoms were anything to worry about.
But the relative had reassured them there was nothing wrong – only for him to die two days later.
In the TikTok, mum Alison wrote: “My husband has bad leg pain so he told nurse family member that he wondered if it was a blood clot after looking up symptoms online.
“Nurse family member: oh don’t believe everything you read on doctor google!
“My husband died of a blood clot 48 hours later.”
Alison added in the caption of her video: “I do not blame this person.
“But maybe sharing this could save someone: If you think you have a blood clot, just go to the ER!!
“Blood clots/DVTs do not have to be fatal.”
Know the signs
A blood clot usually forms in a deep vein, such as the leg – known as “deep vein thrombosis” (DVT).
This can cause pain and occasionally swelling in the leg, as well as redness of the skin.
DVTs can happen to anyone, regardless of age or fitness.
But they are more common in those who are over 60, overweight, smoke, have cancer or heart failure.
Long stays in a hospital, a long car journey or pregnancy can also raise the risk of DVTs.
One of the biggest risk factors for a blood clot is lack of activity and long periods of sitting.
Sometimes clots can break away and travel through the body to block the arteries to the lungs, known as pulmonary embolism or PE, which if large enough can be life-threatening.
A PE causes multiple symptoms including leg pain and swelling, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
It is estimated that there are at least 70,000 blood clot events diagnosed in the UK every year, and 900,000 in the US.
Blood clots can be life threatening if not treated quickly.
They are involved with one in four deaths globally, Thrombosis UK reports.
Most cases are in hospital patients, who are bedridden.
The NHS says to call 111 and get advice if you have any of the following:
- throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm
- sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain (may be worse when you breathe in) and a cough or coughing up blood
Go to A&E if you or the person affected is struggling to breathe or has passed out.
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