Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Student’s pill warning after near-death miss
Orlaith, 21, suffers blood clot on birthday flight
a contraceptive pill. They advised me to go straight to A&E.”
Orlaith had blood tests and was seen by a consultant who told her it was probably a muscle problem.
But she was due to fly to Liverpool that evening where she was studying International Journalism at John Moores University and asked if she was safe to travel.
She said: “He didn’t think it was anything to worry about. I went home and three hours later was phoned to say my results were positive for a blood clot and I was to come straight back in for a leg scan.”
The clot couldn’t be detected so she was told to return in another 10 days.
But the following night, Orlaith was in a lot of pain and struggling to breathe so attended A&E again. A different consultant took her off the pill immediately.
She said: “He began a blood thinning injection in my stomach. I was brought back the next morning for a CT scan of my chest which proved the worst – my leg clot had broken up and travelled to my lungs, hence the shortness of breath.
“I was admitted to Ward 2 right away. The doctors and nurses looking after me were incredible.”
Orlaith had been on Microgynon since age 16 to regulate her periods.
She will be on a blood-thinning tablet for six months before a haematology review will decide if she needs it for life.
She said: “I’ve had to make changes. If I get a papercut, I have to attend A&E due to the blood thinners.
“I can’t shave my legs due to the risk of bleeding. I am not allowed to go over the daily drinking limit and can’t take much medication.
“While on the tablets I am not able to have children and I am currently not advised to fly. I missed out on two weeks of very important work in uni. My leg is still sore and I find it hard to breathe at times.”
And in a warning, Orlaith urged other young women to do extensive research before going on the pill and ask about their family history.
She added: “I would rather take that small bit of embarrassment than go through what I went through.”
DOWNPATRICK YESTERDAY