**Woman’s Holiday ‘Twinges’ Led to Life-Changing Blood Clot Diagnosis After Kidney Stone Misdiagnosis**
A young woman’s holiday in Cyprus last year took a tragic turn after mild back pain was misdiagnosed as kidney stones, only for doctors to later discover an extensive blood clot that has now left her with severe mobility issues. Caitland Wright, 26, from Birmingham, now relies on a wheelchair and experiences chronic pain – circumstances she says have dramatically altered the course of her life.
Caitland first started experiencing what she described as “twinges” at the base of her back during her family trip in April 2023. Initially dismissing the discomfort as a gym-related strain, her condition rapidly deteriorated. Within two weeks, she found herself unable to pass urine and in significant distress, prompting her mother to take her to the accident and emergency department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
Despite the severity of her symptoms – which soon included agonising pain and swelling in her leg – Caitland alleges she spent up to two days in the waiting area without a clear diagnosis. “The pain became so severe I found myself crying and unable to eat or move,” she recalls. During this period, she says her leg became alarmingly swollen and the pain escalated to the point of screaming.
Medical staff originally suspected kidney stones and administered morphine and IV fluids. However, after further investigation, a CT scan revealed a massive clot in Caitland’s iliac veins. The blood clot, described by doctors as the largest they had ever encountered, extended from her calves up toward her lower back. She was then started on blood-thinning medication, but Caitland believes the delay in identifying the true cause of her symptoms may have led to permanent damage.
Wright, who previously worked as a domestic care assistant and on a dementia ward at the same hospital, had always enjoyed an active lifestyle. “Before the clot, I was balancing two jobs and my university studies. My life was busy and fulfilling. I never imagined something like this could happen to someone my age,” she explained. The aftermath has been devastating; she has had to leave both her jobs and step away from her master’s course in drama therapy owing to her health and safety concerns.
During her stay in hospital, she claims the treatment she received as a young woman left her feeling dismissed and at times, patronised. “When I needed assistance, I felt staff were frustrated with me, like I was being dramatic. I actually overheard remarks comparing my situation to those of patients with cancer, which made me feel deeply undeserving of compassion or support.” She added that her mother, who offered her help and comfort, was told she could not stay because Caitland was considered old enough to manage herself.
Following several hospital readmissions over the summer, Caitland eventually saw a consultant five months after her first A&E visit. A subsequent scan in April 2024 confirmed her right leg veins were severely compromised and could not be supported with a surgical stent due to the extent of the damage. While physiotherapy has provided some assistance, Caitland remains unable to put full weight on her right foot. She often endures pain radiating from her toes up to her back and requires considerable effort to manage daily tasks.
“Climbing stairs is impossible for me the usual way – I have to use my arms and one leg to get up,” she told us. The severity of her ongoing pain has left Caitland at times questioning whether amputation might offer some relief, but doctors have advised it would not resolve her condition, as the clot extends into her back.
Caitland remains concerned about the lack of awareness regarding blood clots in young people. She notes that the use of contraceptive pills, which may carry an increased risk of clotting – a fact supported by the NHS, which says around one in 1,000 women on the pill are affected – should be properly discussed with patients. She is determined to raise awareness amongst other young women about the warning signs of blood clots, including swelling, changes in skin colour, chest pain, breathlessness, and dizziness, in hopes that cases like hers may be caught and treated earlier.
Mental health support, she argues, is also woefully lacking for patients facing life-altering diagnoses. “I wish someone had offered counselling or psychological support sooner. Being left alone to process this has been almost as hard as dealing with the pain.”
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham was contacted for comment regarding Caitland’s care, but had not responded at the time of publication. In the meantime, Caitland is fundraising to pay for an electric wheelchair and is hopeful her story can help bring about greater awareness and better support for young women facing similar health struggles.