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[/frame_left]Missing the symptoms of stroke will cost you. Time. Brain cells. Maybe your lifestyle, your job, your independence. Maybe even your life.
I know. Stroke happened to me.
Too many women fail to recognize the typical symptoms of stroke (mea culpa, I was one of them): numbness (especially on one side); confusion; trouble speaking, walking, or seeing; sudden severe headache with no apparent cause.
Even fewer understand the 7 special stroke symptoms that most often apply to women:
- sudden face and limb pain
- sudden hiccups
- sudden nausea
- sudden general weakness
- sudden chest pain
- sudden shortness of breath
- sudden palpitations
It occurs to me some of these might be tough to put together. Hiccups, nausea, general weakness … might be fatigue, or one of those virus bugs that always seem to be going around. Chest pain might be heartburn. Palpitations might be stress.
Or, they might be stroke.
When my stroke hit, I had three of the common the symptoms. I did not recognize them; I never dreamed I might be having a stroke. So why did I call for help? I called because
a still, small voice inside my head kept whispering: Something’s not right.
Excerpt from A Stroke of Bad Luck
Listen to your body. Don’t minimize. Don’t tough it out. Educate yourself and those you love.
Think of the cost. Think of what you–or they–might lose. Then call 9-1-1.
Do you know the symptoms of stroke?
Thank you dear for this very valuable information. I didn’t know any of this.
Love you.
A
Thanks, Annette.
I started having strokes at the age of 42, the last one in Nov. 2011. I did not have any typical symptoms nor did I have any of the other 7 symptoms that Anne wrote about. I just didn’t feel well, but nothing serious at all. A few hours later I was on the phone with a potential employer. I wasn’t stressed, nervous or apprehensive. I was answering questions when, all of a sudden and without a headache my speech became hard. I could hardly speak or even pronounce the easiest words like ‘and,’ ‘the,’ ‘if.’ I had to hang up quickly. I just this would go away. I should have know better, but an odd confusion comes over you; you really can’t grasp what is happening. As the day went on, friends called pleading with me to go to the hospital. I thought they were over-reacting and I did not go. This lasted for about two and half days. As I was slowly coming out of this fog, I finally realized what was happening and was so scared I went to the nearest hospital. But the hospital I went to did not have an MRI and the doctor never mentioned anything about a CAT scan. So by the time I reached the hospital, the event was basically over. I eventually flew back home to Boston for testing that did reveal a minor stroke. So please be aware that there can be no typical symptoms of a stroke including a headache or rising in blood pressure. Just not feeling well can be a sign of stroke. Though probably rare, it can happen.
Diane, How scary that must have been for you! Your experience sounds similar to mine: trouble pronouncing words and that weird, almost other-worldly feeling. I described it as like being lost in fog. Though I also had trouble coordinating my right hand. Your experienced is a great reminder that we need to heed the messages our body is sending us! Thanks for sharing your experience.
I became nauseated, vomited, lost control of my bladder a few days before my stroke. Anyone else? Felt fine when it was over. Just wondering if that actually was the beginning of the stroke. I’m female