I Didn’t Know Having a Child Will increase Your Threat for Stroke

As advised to Jacquelyne Froeber

Could is Stroke Consciousness Month.

“Why is my face numb?”

As I stared at myself within the mirror, the whole lot appeared fantastic to me. However the left facet of my face positively felt numb. Then I remembered that the tip of my tongue felt numb the day earlier than.

Alarm bells began going off in my head. Was there one thing incorrect with me?

I knew I used to be juggling loads as a first-time mother, however I’d been feeling nice up till that time. I’d had a speedy restoration after my C-section, and I used to be excited for my second day again at work. I felt like I had my life discovered.

So, I satisfied myself that the numbness was no large deal. I’d most likely slept onerous on my left facet close to the newborn monitor. And I most likely burned my tongue on one of many many cups of espresso I’d been ingesting to really feel much less drained.

Days glided by however the numbness stayed, and the fatigue received worse. I ran right into a pal who’s a doctor assistant and advised him how I used to be feeling. “Do you assume it’s Bell’s palsy?” I requested.

“Perhaps … however get it checked out,” he stated.

I frowned. “What else might or not it’s? I didn’t have a strokeor something.” That was the one factor I might consider that was related to numbness.

He agreed that I didn’t seem like I had a stroke, however thought I ought to nonetheless see my major care physician. Fortunately, I used to be in a position to get in to see her that day. She stated I might have Bell’s palsy, however I wanted to go to emergency care to make certain.

I attempted to cause along with her. I had work, a new child at my neighbor’s home, and my husband was out of city — did I actually need to go to the ER?

She stated sure.

Two imaging checks later, the ER physician stated he thought I’d had a stroke, however they wanted extra testing to make certain.

I used to be surprised.

I’d joked about it earlier than, however a stroke simply didn’t appear attainable. My face wasn’t drooping, and I didn’t have slurred speech. I used to be a wholesome, lively, 36-year-old mother who simply had a splendidly boring, uncomplicated delivery. How was this occurring to me?

I used to be taken to the neuro unit of the hospital the place a nurse requested if I wanted a breast pump. I famous there have been numerous pumps on the shelf behind her. “You wouldn’t imagine what number of new mothers we get in right here,” she stated.

Jess holding her son, Stanley, within the hospital after her stroke in 2019.

I believed that was odd however later discovered that your physique goes right into a hypercoagulable state after giving delivery, which suggests your blood is extra prone to clot and also you’re at an elevated threat for stroke.

This blew my thoughts. I’d been anxious about 1,000 various things after having my son, however nobody talked about the elevated chance of a stroke.

The subsequent day the checks confirmed that I did, in reality, have a stroke in my mind stem. My hypercoagulable state might’ve precipitated it, however nobody knew for positive.

My physician stated I’d most likely be fantastic. He prescribed me some remedy and I went house. Nobody appeared to assume it was that large of a deal, so I figured the worst was behind me.

Three days later, I awakened in mattress gazing two ceiling followers. We solely have one. For about half-hour, I attempted to focus my eyes to make one fan, however I simply couldn’t do it. I stumbled my means down the steps and advised my husband we would have liked to return to the ER.

After extra checks, the excellent news was that I wasn’t displaying proof of any new strokes. The unhealthy information: Nobody knew what was responsible for my double imaginative and prescient. I used to be prescribed one other remedy and went again house disoriented and scared.

Sadly, the remedy didn’t assist. As disturbing because the double imaginative and prescient was, the fatigue was even worse. I felt like I used to be being weighed down by a thick fog that by no means lifted. The tiredness had develop into my new regular, so I did my greatest to push by means of the fatigue and keep as lively as attainable. I knew taking good care of my bodily well being might solely assist in the long term.

Jess along with her husband and son, Stanley.

After two months, I did begin to really feel higher. I had extra vitality and my imaginative and prescient was nearly again to regular. However the reduction was short-lived. I began having episodes the place I’d lose command of my lips or tongue or my left arm or leg. The lack of motor talent solely lasted about 30 seconds — however every time it felt like an eternity. I by no means knew when an episode would occur, however they had been so frequent that I received good at hiding them.

I knew the entire state of affairs was weird. Usually, individuals who’ve had a stroke present progress over time — I had an entire new set of signs. And nobody might inform me what was occurring.

Lastly, I did discover a health care provider who stated I used to be having episodes as a result of my mind wasn’t getting sufficient blood. He stated if we might sluggish or stop the blood from clotting, the episodes would cease after about six months.

For the subsequent half of the 12 months, I took a brand new remedy and tried to be affected person with myself. It wasn’t straightforward. Each morning I awakened scared that I’d see two ceiling followers. And each time I had an episode, I feared I wouldn’t come out of it. Then, across the six-month mark, the episodes stopped. They usually didn’t come again.

Through the years, I’ve been stunned by the quantity of people that both know somebody who’s had a postpartum stroke or had one themselves. I want I’d recognized in regards to the elevated threat — possibly I wouldn’t have shrugged off the fatigue and numbness for so long as I did.

After my episodes stopped, I used to be good for a very long time. However in 2021, I began experiencing trigeminal neuralgia, searing ache on the left facet of my face — much like the place I had the numbness with the stroke. To start with, the ache would come and go, however as of as we speak, it’s been greater than a 12 months of fixed, unrelenting ache.

I believe the ache is someway linked to the stroke, however the medical doctors aren’t positive why it’s occurring or deal with the ache. It’s been a irritating and time-consuming course of, and a few days the ache is so overwhelming I really feel hopeless. However I do know I’ve to maintain pushing to search out the assistance I want. Simply because I haven’t discovered it but — doesn’t imply it’s not on the market.

Have your personal Actual Girls, Actual Tales you wish to share? Tell us.

Our Actual Girls, Actual Tales are the genuine experiences of real-life girls. The views, opinions and experiences shared in these tales aren’t endorsed by HealthyWomen and don’t essentially mirror the official coverage or place of HealthyWomen.