PAL
I was a smoker who went on birth control (Orth Tri Cyclen) for the first time at the age of 29. Within 11 months I had developed a blood clot in my leg. I was experiencing terrible leg pain and finally went to the doctor to get it checked out. Through an ultrasound procedure my doctor located a relatively small blood clot in my left leg. Fortunately for me he said, it was in my lower leg which was far better than the upper. I had to take a series of shots and stay on a blood thinner (Coumadin) for 4 months. It was a scary time in my life--so I reacted by throwing out the cigarettes and the pills!!