I haven't been on here for awhile and I feel like I need to tell you why.
I had a stroke on Tuesday. It was a mini stroke but my neurologist said it is just a sign of bigger things to come. I am not looking for sympathy, nor am I saying woe is me. I guess why I really wanted to come out about this is because I want other people to know the signs and the symptoms. I want people to realize that you can be a 27 year old and have a stroke. I want people to wake up!
I was working on Tuesday when it happened. I didn't have pain, and I didn't feel like I was going to die. Just all of a sudden I had a bad headache and my face went numb. Then my arm went numb, followed by my leg on the way to the hospital. Once in the hospital I had numerous tests which all came back negative. The ER doctor sent me home just saying 'sometimes these things happen'. I was not satisfied with this prognosis. The next day I went to my doctor and she suggest Bell's Palsy but was concerned since I had arm and leg pain. So we scheduled an MRI of my brain and my neck.
My neurologist, Dr. Black (one of the top 5 in the country!) said I had a mini stroke when the results came back. He didn't sugar coat it, he didn't try to make it better. He said that we can prevent another one from happening and we had to because the chances of me surviving a recurrent stroke are not great.
To tie in the smoking. I am also going to be honest. I have smoked almost 10 cigarettes since I found this out. I can't really explain why I have done it other than I felt defeated and ready to give everything up, including my own life. I know that feeling won't last long but right now I can't seem to shake it. The left side of my face is completely paralyzed. I can't talk, can't eat. I would like to say smoking didn't make me feel better but we all know it did. But we also know that smoking greatly increases your risk of having a stroke.
I'm reaching out begging you to quit smoking if you haven't. And giving you respect if you have. I can't believe I am now able to say I am a stroke victim and I sincerly hope no one else will ever have to say that in their lifetime. It's so hard for me to believe that this past weekend I was dressed as Audrey Hepburn living it up with my friends. It's hard for me to believe that this weekend I finally found someone who was interested in me, after being single for 5 years. This weekend I was celebrating my month not smoking, my 20 pounds lost and my happier, luckier self. Just two days later I was lying in a hospital bed with half of my face paralyzed just looking for the strength to get up.
I am trying to find my inspiration again...it is just pretty well hidden.
