I Didn’t Know Having a Baby Increases Your Risk for Stroke

As informed to Jacquelyne Froeber

Could is Stroke Awareness Month.

“Why is my face numb?”

As I stared at myself within the mirror, all the pieces appeared fantastic to me. However the left aspect of my face undoubtedly 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 lots 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 massive deal. I’d in all probability slept arduous on my left aspect close to the infant monitor. And I in all probability burned my tongue on one of many many cups of espresso I’d been consuming to really feel much less drained.

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

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

I frowned. “What else may it’s? I didn’t have a strokeor something.” That was the one factor I may 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 main care physician. Fortunately, I used to be capable of get in to see her that day. She mentioned I may have Bell’s palsy, however I wanted to go to emergency care to make sure.

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

She mentioned sure.

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

I used to be surprised.

I’d joked about it earlier than, however a stroke simply didn’t appear doable. My face wasn’t drooping, and I didn’t have slurred speech. I used to be a wholesome, energetic, 36-year-old mother who simply had a splendidly boring, uncomplicated beginning. How was this taking place 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 a variety of pumps on the shelf behind her. “You wouldn’t imagine what number of new mothers we get in right here,” she mentioned.

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

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

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

The following day the checks confirmed that I did, actually, have a stroke in my mind stem. My hypercoagulable state may’ve induced it, however nobody knew for certain.

My physician mentioned I’d in all probability be fantastic. He prescribed me some medicine and I went dwelling. Nobody appeared to suppose it was that massive of a deal, so I figured the worst was behind me.

Three days later, I wakened in mattress observing 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 informed 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 dangerous information: Nobody knew what was the reason for my double imaginative and prescient. I used to be prescribed one other medicine and went again dwelling disoriented and scared.

Sadly, the medicine 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 turn out to be my new regular, so I did my greatest to push via the fatigue and keep as energetic as doable. I knew taking good care of my bodily well being may 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 virtually 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 ability 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 bought good at hiding them.

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

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

For the following half of the yr, I took a brand new medicine and tried to be affected person with myself. It wasn’t simple. Each morning I wakened 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 concerning 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 aspect of my face — just like the place I had the numbness with the stroke. At first, the ache would come and go, however as of in the present day, it’s been greater than a yr of fixed, unrelenting ache.

I believe the ache is someway linked to the stroke, however the docs aren’t certain why it’s taking place or the best way to 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 seek out the assistance I would like. Simply because I haven’t discovered it but — doesn’t imply it’s not on the market.

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