{"id":8732,"date":"2025-06-23T19:01:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T19:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/8732\/"},"modified":"2025-06-23T19:01:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T19:01:10","slug":"i-nearly-died-on-a-flight-when-i-collapsed-using-the-loo-a-common-pill-created-the-perfect-storm-but-i-had-no-idea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/8732\/","title":{"rendered":"I nearly died on a flight when I collapsed using the loo – a common pill created the ‘perfect storm’ but I had no idea"},"content":{"rendered":"

A WOMAN has cautioned holidaymakers after she collapsed and almost died when going to the toilet on a flight.<\/p>\n

Emily Jansson, 34, had been asleep<\/a> for 10 hours while on a 13-hour flight from Toronto<\/a>, Canada<\/a>, to Dubai<\/a> International Airport on February 5, 2025.<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/a><\/p>\n

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Emily Jansson at Rashid Hospital Dubai after collapsing on a 13-hour flightCredit: SWNS\"Woman<\/a><\/p>\n

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The mum-of-two was told her contraceptive pill had caused a blood clotCredit: SWNS<\/p>\n

The mum-of-two got up for the first time to use the bathroom when she started experiencing “weird chest pains” and “odd coughs”.<\/p>\n

Waiting outside the toilet door, Emily suddenly “blacked out” and fell unconscious for “five minutes”.<\/p>\n

She struck her head on the way down, bruising her eye and arm and from then on, “struggled to remember anything”. <\/p>\n

The plane landed two and a half hours later, and Emily was transported to Rashid Hospital Dubai.<\/p>\n

A CT and angiogram confirmed she had a bilateral saddle pulmonary embolism<\/a> – a large blood clot<\/a> stuck in the main pulmonary artery that branches off into a Y-shape to go into each lung.<\/p>\n

Because of the length of time to get to the hospital, doctors told her that “it was essentially a miracle” that she was still alive, and she was hospitalised for six days for treatment.<\/p>\n

Emily said she later learned that several factors were “detrimental” to her health during the flight, which was for a girl’s holiday.<\/p>\n

The IT worker, from Kingston, Ontario<\/a>, said: “Apparently, oestrogen birth control, compression stockings<\/a>, and sitting down for 10 hours was the perfect storm.”<\/p>\n

Emily was taking birth control<\/a> called Zamine. The combined pill contains progestogen and oestrogen – which is known to increase the risk of blood clots<\/a>.<\/p>\n

She is currently on blood-thinning anticoagulant medication<\/a> – to prevent further clots – for a minimum of six months.<\/p>\n

Mum reveals terrifying photo of red mark travelling up thigh that turned out to be blood clot caused by pill <\/p>\n

“I was restricting my body’s blood flow, which contributed to my clot developing,” she said. <\/p>\n

“I had little idea about the danger I was in.<\/p>\n

“After taking oestrogen birth control for six years consistently, I didn’t know my risk of blood clots was so high.<\/p>\n

“I’m an active person with the heart of an athlete from my intense cardio workouts.”<\/p>\n

She added: “It’s important that people know about the risks of this particular birth control, Zamine, and the safety when flying.<\/p>\n

“If you’re on a long-haul flight, make sure you move around and let your body breathe.<\/p>\n

“I was fortunate that there was a doctor on board and some very amazing, competent flight attendants.<\/p>\n

“They essentially saved my life when it shouldn’t have been possible.”<\/p>\n

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I was vomiting profusely and sweating. I had no idea what was happening, but I was fairly sure this was a near-death experience<\/p>\n

Emily Jansson<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Emily had been seated for 10 hours before standing up to use the bathroom, prompting her to let out three “feeble coughs” before collapsing.<\/p>\n

“I was waiting for the bathroom and I got this really deep, dull aching pain in my chest out of nowhere,” she said.<\/p>\n

“Suddenly, it was like the lights were on and then off.<\/p>\n

“I had completely blacked out for five minutes and couldn’t remember anything afterwards.<\/p>\n

“I was given an oxygen tank, carried to business class and laid down.<\/p>\n

“I was vomiting profusely and sweating. I had no idea what was happening, but I was fairly sure this was a near-death experience.”<\/p>\n

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Emily with her friends in hospital in Dubai after the traumatic plane experienceCredit: SWNS\"Empty<\/a><\/p>\n

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She was taken to hospital on a stretcher after landing in DubaiCredit: SWNS\"Family<\/a><\/p>\n

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Emily, pictured with her family, has warned others of the dangers of oestrogen contraceptivesCredit: SWNS\"Woman<\/a><\/p>\n

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Emily started experiencing ‘weird chest pains’ and ‘odd coughs’ on boardCredit: SWNS<\/p>\n

Saddle pulmonary embolism<\/a> – where a blood clot blocks the artery that supplies the lungs – only comprises two to five per cent of all PE cases.<\/p>\n

If left untreated, they can result in heart failure and sudden death in 30 per cent of cases.<\/p>\n

“I was terrified and partly in denial when they told me what I had,” Emily said.<\/p>\n

“I knew someone who had the same thing and how serious it was and I was just freaking out.”<\/p>\n

Contraceptive pill benefits and risks<\/p>\n

MILLIONS of women across the UK use the contraceptive pill. <\/p>\n

As well as preventing pregnancy, it does come with numerous benefits. But like any medication, there are also some potential risks to be aware of. <\/p>\n

BENEFITS:<\/strong><\/p>\n