Stroke at 33 - anyone else?

[lucky76]

Hi

I had a stroke 3 months ago. I am 33. It was scary coz I always thought strokes only happened to old people. Is there anyone else out there who's had a stroke at a young age?

[lkp2009]

I am 23 and had a stroke in 2008, when i was 22. I had an AVM in my brain (unknown until after it ruptured) that caused my stroke, although i had been a smoker for about 3 years and had been on a birth control pill for about 5 years which probably contributed. The AVM hemorrhaged and I had brain surgery shortly after the stroke. In this forum i saw a number of young people who have listed birth control as their probably cause of their strokes. How are you doing now?

[ectoplasm]

I'm 43 and had a stroke about 4 months ago. It happened in the middle of a bad argument with my girlfriend. My jaw on the right side became numb like I had a shot of novacaine. The feeling traveled to my right arm and finally to my leg. I had trouble walking for a few minutes. Then it went away. I had another small episode 15 minutes later which went away as well. I went to bed and I woke up having a difficult time walking with my right leg and numbness in my right arm. I didn't go to the hospital until 3 days later. That's when I found out I had several warning TIA's and then a full blown stroke. Even after telling the doctors it happened after an argument, they were baffled as to why it happened. After the Neurologist looked at my MRI, he came in shocked saying, yes indeed, you had a stroke! I live a clean life. I don't drink, smoke, do any type of drugs. I'm 6' and 185 and physically fit and walk 5 or 6 miles a couple days a week. So I don't fit into the stereotype of a stroke "victim".

All my symptoms have gone away with physical therapy except tingling/numbness in my lips 50% of the time. It is a scary event when it's happening. I thought I was having a heart attack at first.