I was a new Mum then stroke struck
November 22, 2017
I was a new Mum then stroke struck - By Alicia
I had a stroke in December 2013, only six weeks after my son was born.
On the day of my stroke I noticed a bit of a drag in my left leg and some confusion, but put it down to being a new mum. A few hours later, I was sitting on the couch alone with my son when I suddenly lost movement in my left side and my speech was slurred. I knew I was having a stroke. Luckily my phone was beside my right hand, which still had movement. I called the ambulance and told them I was having a stroke.
When the ambulance arrived, my symptoms were coming and going, so the paramedics believed that the symptoms were related to a severe headache. Being a young, fit 31 year old woman they dismissed the possibility I was having a stroke.
It was a busy night at both our local public and private hospital. It took a few tries and a couple of hours before I was taken in for treatment. My CT scan came back clear so I was sent home still experiencing weakness and slurred speech. I couldn’t walk very well and my husband had to support me to the car.
When I woke the next morning I was far worse. I had total loss of my left side and was extremely distressed. My husband called the hospital, but was told to keep me at home and to go to my local GP if the symptoms did not improve in a day. My husband, being the wonderful man he is, saved my life. He called the ambulance anyway and they took me straight to hospital. After almost 24 hours I was given an MRI and was told the news I had suffered a stroke. After some investigation, it was found that I have a blood clotting disorder called Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).
Overall I spent more than two and a half months in hospital and rehab, not able to be the mother I wanted to be for my son. I could not hold him, bath him or bond with him in the way that I wanted – that we needed.
Nearly 4 years later I have some residual nerve damage and weakness on my left side, but I’m very lucky to have recovered well. I want to remind people that sometimes even the best doctors get it wrong and it’s ok to speak up. I am very lucky I had my husband in my corner. I might not be here otherwise.
I had a stroke in December 2013, only six weeks after my son was born.
On the day of my stroke I noticed a bit of a drag in my left leg and some confusion, but put it down to being a new mum. A few hours later, I was sitting on the couch alone with my son when I suddenly lost movement in my left side and my speech was slurred. I knew I was having a stroke. Luckily my phone was beside my right hand, which still had movement. I called the ambulance and told them I was having a stroke.
When the ambulance arrived, my symptoms were coming and going, so the paramedics believed that the symptoms were related to a severe headache. Being a young, fit 31 year old woman they dismissed the possibility I was having a stroke.
It was a busy night at both our local public and private hospital. It took a few tries and a couple of hours before I was taken in for treatment. My CT scan came back clear so I was sent home still experiencing weakness and slurred speech. I couldn’t walk very well and my husband had to support me to the car.
When I woke the next morning I was far worse. I had total loss of my left side and was extremely distressed. My husband called the hospital, but was told to keep me at home and to go to my local GP if the symptoms did not improve in a day. My husband, being the wonderful man he is, saved my life. He called the ambulance anyway and they took me straight to hospital. After almost 24 hours I was given an MRI and was told the news I had suffered a stroke. After some investigation, it was found that I have a blood clotting disorder called Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).
Overall I spent more than two and a half months in hospital and rehab, not able to be the mother I wanted to be for my son. I could not hold him, bath him or bond with him in the way that I wanted – that we needed.
Nearly 4 years later I have some residual nerve damage and weakness on my left side, but I’m very lucky to have recovered well. I want to remind people that sometimes even the best doctors get it wrong and it’s ok to speak up. I am very lucky I had my husband in my corner. I might not be here otherwise.