A stroke at 49? How could this be?
On June 14, 2014 I awoke in the middle of the night feeling sick. Made it to the bathroom and back to bed where I immediately fell asleep. Then the alarm went off at my normal 4:45 am. I couldn't remember how to shut if off, so I just unplugged it. Maybe a shower would clear my thinking so that what I did (even shaved my legs). I managed to make a cup of coffee, in a water glass and then realized I couldn't talk. I woke my husband up and he took a minute to realize what was happening to me. We got in the car and rushed off to the emergency room. There is a hospital two miles from my house and I was praying that Bill would not take me there. He did not; we went to our own hospitals offsite emergency room and they transferred me to the main hosptial's ICU. I did not get the stroke medication because they could not tell when I had the initial stroke.Turns out I had a hole in my heart since birth and I had a clot get through. I remember everything as clear as it was yesterday. I could say three words "yes, no, and oh shit". I was a Client and Employee Relations Manager for a medium sized private compalny....a high stress job where I was on call 24/7. As soon as my 12 weeks were up, they sent me a FedEx that my job there was done.
It's been an interesting two years. I finished speech therapy after 6 months. I know am able to talk but I still have trouble with large groups and finding the right words. God blessed me with a job and I am a Church Administrator. Most times I work alone, but when I am in a larger crowd people tend to shy away from me because my speach is still difficult and I am depressed (mostly because people shy away from me).
Are there any other 50'ish stroke persons out there? I have been though counseling but I just need someone who has been there and done that!
