My 29-year-old brother experienced intense, severe pain in his right calf while at the gym one day. The area became hard, red, and swollen. About two weeks later, he started feeling short of breath and had chest pressure, and on the 17th day, he collapsed at home. Fortunately, we were both home at the time, and I was right next to him. I immediately started CPR and performed it forcefully for about a minute until he revived. He sat up as if nothing had happened, and we rushed him to the ER within 20 minutes. He is safe and healthy now.
The doctors diagnosed him with an ‘ACUTE MASSIVE PULMONARY EMBOLISM.’ This means a large clot from a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) in his leg traveled to his lungs and got stuck between his heart and lungs, cutting off blood flow to his brain. Because it was a massive clot, it caused him to collapse.
While he was in the ICU, we initially thought the gym workouts caused the clots. However, once he recovered, the doctor explained that he has a genetic B12 deficiency from childhood, meaning his body cannot absorb the vitamin. This led to hyperhomocysteinemia and a predisposition for blood clots. Over time, a massive clot formed in his leg and attached to the veins. When he started working out, the physical activity caused that clot to break loose and travel to his lungs. That separation from the vein was what caused the initial severe calf pain.
He is now on lifelong blood thinners and B12 supplements (methylcobalamin and folic acid) because he has a high chance of recurrence. B12 is essential for the body; long-term deficiency can lead to clots and severe trauma, so please check your levels and consult a doctor if you’re deficient. If you’re starting a new gym routine, it’s a good idea to confirm you don’t have any leg clots. A simple diagnosis can save a life.
The doctor also mentioned that while vegetarians often face this deficiency since B12 is found in meat, my brother eats meat regularly. His body simply cannot absorb it genetically. I hope this story creates some awareness. Thank you.
30 Likes
Thank you for sharing this.
CPR doesn’t actually revive someone; it just maintains blood flow until medical professionals can restart the heart. You might have misunderstood that part, but you’re right that B12 deficiency is common in vegetarians.
He’s fortunate to have a brother like you. Is the blood thinner he’s taking just aspirin?
Thanks for the post. It’s very informative. I hope your brother recovers well. It’s a good thing you were there to perform CPR and save his life.
Thank you for the information. My doctor mentioned that antacids can also hinder B12 absorption, so we’re trying to limit those now.
TL;DR: Make sure to go for your annual checkups.
1 Like
Does anyone have recommendations for foods high in Vitamin B12? I’m trying to be more proactive about my nerve health and have been looking into supplements like Nervala (i buy here) which contains lipoic acid, but I’d love to find some natural food sources too.
I appreciate you sharing this.
I was recently hospitalized as well. I had chest pain, but it felt unique—like a blunt knife being shoved into my heart and then pulled back. It turned out to be something else entirely, but during the testing, they discovered I have a B12 deficiency. They told me the exact same thing. My doctor added that both patients and physicians often overlook this, thinking it’s minor when it can actually lead to very serious situations. I’m on mecobalamin for life now too.
1 Like
I dealt with insomnia from 2011 until 2023. Even sleeping pills wouldn’t work after the first day. No matter how much I worked or exercised, I never felt tired enough to pass out like I did as a kid. Eventually, a doctor found I was B12 deficient. A single injection has completely changed my life over the past two years.
1 Like
Thank you for raising awareness with such a well-written post. I hope your brother has a smooth recovery. I’m curious, though—where did you learn CPR? It’s definitely not an easy skill to pick up.
B12 deficiency isn’t typically a recognized risk factor for venous thromboembolisms like the DVT or PE your brother experienced. Are you certain the doctors didn’t mention hyperhomocysteinemia, which can be linked to B12 metabolism? Since he’s so young and lacked other risk factors, he should definitely have a complete coagulopathy workup. If it turns out to be a genetic clotting disorder, your family should speak with a genetic counselor to see if others need testing. Some conditions only increase the risk of vein clots, while others affect arteries too, which could put family members at risk for strokes or heart disease. It’s important to communicate clearly with his doctors because some details might be getting lost. Also, sudden calf pain and redness are major red flags for DVT and should never be ignored. They often happen when blood stagnates, like during long flights or drives. Walking and stretching every hour can help prevent this. Going to the gym with an existing DVT is very risky, as certain movements can dislodge the clot. Obesity, oral contraceptives, and pregnancy are also major risk factors. If this is a genetic issue, ask for guidance on whether the women in your family should be tested before using birth control or becoming pregnant.
DVT is a significant side effect of the Covid vaccine. My brother-in-law has been on blood thinners for five years now. Luckily, he caught the problem early, just a month after being vaccinated. Regardless of your stance, if you’ve received an mRNA vaccine, you should get tested. DVT is often diagnosed too late because people tend to ignore the symptoms. We don’t usually link leg pain to a blood clot right away. Please, be very careful.
B12 and Vitamin D deficiencies are becoming widespread in India, whether people are vegetarian or not. For most people who are deficient, it’s a result of lifestyle, poor eating habits, or low-quality food. Much of the meat available today is factory-farmed and lacks the necessary nutrients. Our habits, like constant snacking and imbalanced diets, further reduce B12 absorption. You need proper stomach acid to absorb B12, and processed foods gradually degrade the quality of that acid.
I suspect your doctor might be mistaken. B12 deficiency itself isn’t known to increase clot risk. It does raise homocysteine levels, which was once believed to cause clots, but more recent research doesn’t really support that theory. He should be screened for inherited thrombophilias, as he’ll need lifelong anticoagulants. Also, was your brother using any testosterone or anabolic steroids? Those are also known to cause clotting issues.