A MATHS tutor says she has her husband and medical staff to thank for saving her life after a lump on her leg became a "brush with death".
When Gill Brackenbury, 50, discovered the swelling she dismissed it as an insect bite.
The next day she developed minor chest pains but did not think there was anything to worry about.
But, when her husband John told Professor Mark Whiteley about his wife's symptoms during an open day for his surgery, the vascular surgeon said she should go to A&E immediately.
Doctors at Croydon University Hospital found she had five blood clots and diagnosed the supply teacher with deep vein thrombosis, a condition usually associated with long-haul flights.
Thanks to the treatment Mrs Brackenbury received she is now expected to make a full recovery from the potentially life-threatening condition.
"I don't think it's an exaggeration to say I had a brush with death," said Mrs Brackenbury, from Upper Selsdon Road, Selsdon. "I genuinely think I owe my husband and Professor Whiteley my life; particularly my husband who cared enough about me to mention my ailments during an appointment about himself."
It could have been very different for Mrs Brackenbury, who first noticed the lump on September 23. "I had been on a walk in the woods so I thought I had been bitten by an insect," she said. explained. "The next day I started getting chest pains. They weren't very bad but it hurt to breathe in deeply.
"My husband was going to go to Professor Whiteley's clinic because he has varicose veins. At the appointment he mentioned my lump and chest pains and he told my husband to tell me to go to A&E straight away."
Despite the advice Mrs Brackenbury made an appointment with a GP at Selsdon Medical Practice, who also told her to go to hospital.
Mrs Brackenbury attended A&E and was seen within a few minutes. She underwent a scan and doctors found three blood clots in her lungs. The next day they discovered two more in her leg and she as diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis.
"The hospital have been brilliant," she said. "They whisked me away very quickly and did everything they could for me. They saved my life."
Ashok Iyer, the consultant who treated her at Croydon University Hospital, said: "I'm very pleased to hear that Mrs Brackenbury is making good progress and I'd like to thank her for her kind words.
"Deep vein thrombosis is a serious condition and isn't just caused by long distance flights; if you experience unexpected pain or swelling, particularly in your legs, please go and see your GP straight away, or come to A&E."
Professor Whiteley said: "It is extremely worrying that the severity of Gill's condition went undetected for so long, causing her to end up in a potentially fatal situation. I don't feel that there is good enough understanding among the general population about venous conditions. I find it concerning that people are unable to recognise the warning signs."
John Brackenbury said: "As soon as I told the professor about the lump and the chest pains he said get her off to A&E. He recognised how serious it was instantly."
