"Blood clot missed"

I presented at Karratha Hospital for a check-up for an injured ankle. The Dr saw me and asked me to describe the pain and point to where it stemmed from. I said it was all up my calf and ankle. They told me to point using one finger. I said that wasn’t possible as the pain was all over. They didn’t acknowledge this information and started poking my foot and ankle. Afterwards, I asked them for injury management advice, as well as some pain management tips. I had already told them that the pain was increasing daily and was at times unbearable! I felt they dismissed me and told me to make an appointment with my GP who would organise a Physio for me. They also said that I was okay to return to work the next day despite the significant swelling and claims of intense pain.

I felt unheard and left believing that the pain I was feeling must be acceptable and due to my ankle injury. 

By the end of the following day, I decided that this pain was not acceptable and that no one would be able to deal with it. I went to the GP as soon as they opened the following day and described my symptoms. Within minutes the GP said that they suspected I had developed Deep Vein Thrombosis DVT (a blood clot) in my leg, and wrote me a referral for ultrasound labelled Urgent!.

They said that this condition was potentially fatal if untreated. I went straight into an ultrasound, where they confirmed an extensive blood clot in my right calf. They sent me straight to the ED where I was attended to by good doctors, nurses and medical students. Hearing what the diagnosis was, and realising that if the first Dr had not dismissed me and my information about pain, this could have been picked up earlier and I believe minimised the risk of further complications.