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

As instructed to Jacquelyne Froeber

Could is Stroke Awareness Month.

“Why is my face numb?”

As I stared at myself within the mirror, all the things appeared advantageous 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 improper with me?

I knew I used to be juggling rather a lot 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 huge deal. I’d most likely slept exhausting on my left aspect close to the infant monitor. And I most likely 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 received worse. I ran right into a buddy who’s a doctor assistant and instructed him how I used to be feeling. “Do you assume it’s Bell’s palsy?” I requested.

“Possibly … 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 appear like I had a stroke, however thought I ought to nonetheless see my major 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 actually need to go to the ER?

She mentioned sure.

Two imaging assessments 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 potential. 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 a variety of pumps on the shelf behind her. “You wouldn’t consider 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 delivery, which implies your blood is extra prone to clot and also you’re at an elevated danger 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 risk of a stroke.

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

My physician mentioned I’d most likely be advantageous. He prescribed me some medicine and I went residence. Nobody appeared to assume it was that huge of a deal, so I figured the worst was behind me.

Three days later, I awoke 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 manner down the steps and instructed my husband we wanted to return to the ER.

After extra assessments, the excellent news was that I wasn’t displaying proof of any new strokes. The unhealthy information: Nobody knew what was the reason for my double imaginative and prescient. I used to be prescribed one other medicine and went again residence 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 develop into my new regular, so I did my finest to push by the fatigue and keep as lively as potential. I knew caring for 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 nearly again to regular. However the aid 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 scenario was weird. Sometimes, individuals who’ve had a stroke present progress over time — I had a complete new set of signs. And nobody may inform me what was happening.

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 12 months, I took a brand new medicine and tried to be affected person with myself. It wasn’t simple. Each morning I awoke 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. And so they didn’t come again.

Over time, I’ve been shocked by the quantity of people that both know somebody who’s had a postpartum stroke or had one themselves. I want I’d identified concerning the elevated danger — perhaps 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 — much like the place I had the numbness with the stroke. At first, the ache would come and go, however as of at this time, it’s been greater than a 12 months of fixed, unrelenting ache.

I feel the ache is by some means related to the stroke, however the medical doctors aren’t positive why it’s occurring or the 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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