36 Yearl Old w/ Stroke during Pregnancy - Stroke Message Board

buzbom · 09-23-2006, 08:50 AM

I have just started reading this board at the advice of a caring friend. I have only skimmed through some of the posts, but it seems like a lot more younger people have strokes than I realized.

My stroke came on during the seventh month of my 2nd pregnancy. At first they blamed coagulation during pregnancy, but later found Factor 5 Leiden in my blood. I am on a shot of Lovenox every day, but am going to plain aspirin next month (yikes!). I had a TEE to check my heart, but the cardiologist was quick and I was awake and gasping through the whole procedure, so I am afraid he could have missed a small hole, etc.

I have not felt "normal" since my stroke. I am always kinda out of it, and tired. I thought at first it was post partum depression, but I"m starting to think my brain really just changed due to the stroke, and my emotions and outlook are different. I had struggled with depression before this, throughout my life, but this is different.

The stroke was on my left side, and I didn't lose any motor function, very lucikly. I did lose my use of the right word at the right time which bothers me because I love language. I just can't be there 100% with my 5 year old and his little sister (now 3 months). I feel like I have tunnel vision and the world will close in on me at any time, but there are no apparent causes for this. I also got a couple of new floaters in my left eye when all of this happened.

So I guess my questions are in regard to the fatigue, and is it stroke related or depression/anxiety. Could they have missed a problem with my heart? Will I be safe going off the blood thinners? And am I at risk of having another stroke at any time? I am like many of you, in constant fear of every migraine, every tingle. I slap my cheeks often to make sure I'm feeling them and to just wake myself up and jolt myself back into reality.

Sorry such a long post and best of luck and health to everyone.

angelique5 · 09-23-2006, 06:52 PM

It really hasn't been that long since you're stroke...so yes... tiredness can be an issue. I imagine the brain trying make new connections...if you get tired, you should rest!! Your body is letting you know what it needs!

and YES...depression can be related to stroke... I never saw anyone for it, but maybe 3 mos after my stroke, I really started feeling it, I thought it was PMS related, but it couldn't have been, it was too often, just those days when it felt like the world was going to end, way too many wasted days in the bed... seemed to last maybe 6 months...I feel much better now.

The asprin is a blood thinner...so, switching to that shouldn't be much a problem, except it can be hard on your stomach, so you have to watch for that.

If you could get another TEE, I would try...if for nothing else, to put your mind at ease. That's what I had, and they found a hole...i was so fortunate that somehow I got thru all 5 of my pregnancies without a problem! They did something for me called a "bubble test"... i dont know exactly with what, but basically they had to use a lil air and look for bubbles to go thru the hole... eek!

Goodluck!