Question for you:
If you saw a friend who you hadn't seen in a couple of days or so, and she had a new right facial droop and slurred speech, would you mention it to her? This happened to me recently, and I did mention it because I was really concerned that she was having a stroke.
She got really offended. I still don't know what was going on, since I haven't seen or heard anything about her since. I hope if it was a stroke, she got to the ER and that everything turned out ok.
I don't feel I did anything wrong, even if she was mad at me. I actually wonder if I should have called her husband to tell him I was concerned.
I hope she's ok, and that I was wrong about what I saw.
Would you have said or done anything differently?
24 Pearls of Wisdom:
I would've made the same decision!
Yes. Better safe than sorry.
She can be mad, but she can be mad and treated.
You did what a friend is supposed to do. You can't control how someone will react. Why not call her/text her/e-mail her and let her know you are thinking about her?
I would have done the same.
And, of course, asked her to wrinkle up her forehead. But that's what I'm trained to do.
Yes! I would definitely mention it and I would also want a friend to tell me if they saw something wrong! I also hope that she's OK.
I probably would've said something. Better to be offended then dead.
Unless you mentioned it by pointing and laughing, what on earth was she offended about?!? If she was normal a couple of days ago then it's acute, and hopefully she went straight to the ER after she saw you!
If it were me, and I did have a droop and slur, I'd be very grateful that you pointed it out. If I did not, I'd just think you were slightly crazy. In neither case would I be remotely offended.
I would call the husband; I am like that-pushy, direct, especially in matters of health. I lost my younger sister to a pulmonary embolism and I wish I had spoken more loudly sooner when she told me her BP was 170/110 a short ten hours before she died.
I agree guys, if someone told me that I would have freaked out and run to the ER as fast as my little legs could carry me (if they could still carry me). That is, of course, unless whatever was wrong with me was preventing me from thinking clearly. Then I might have done what she did.
Dr. G -- I suppose the positive part of the whole experience was that I ran home and looked up all of the "stroke symptoms" on MD Consult, since my neuro knowledge is REALLY REALLY rusty.
I also concluded that I enjoyed reading about it, which reminded me that I need to forget about those pesky other specialties and just be a neurologist already!
Gah! I meant "stroke SYNDROMES." I really should know better than to type right when I get up in the morning.
How long did you interact with her that day? I would definitely have called her husband then, and even after the fact, I think that you should follow up with him, or her directly.
I would have said something to! I'd always rather my friends be healthy and taken care of, even if they're mad at me for a few days.
I interacted with her for 5-10 minutes.
I'll probably ask her husband (or her) if she's ok when I see them. I don't know her THAT well and my hope is that her husband saw something was amiss when she got home.
I would have said something as well. Sometimes with certain migraines that happens to me...it mimics the symptoms of stroke. I feel like this is really dangerous for me because I don't want to write off the symptoms as migraine related and actually be having a stroke!!
omdg- you did exactly the right thing.-....and....-i apologize for the out of place post, but abb does not allow, and you asked about facial fractures. they are repaired with tiny plate fixation through hidden incisions that should become barely detectable scars. and on the scan she shows, there may be an orbital floor fracture, but it is not blown out, and it is not surgical until so demonstrated by other images or clinical findings.
Sounds like Bell's Palsy!
Debra -- I was thinking the same thing, but I don't think that Bell's Palsy is accompanied by slurred speech. Anyone - am I remembering this wrong?
Anon -- Thanks for the description! What kind of surgeon usually does that kind of procedure?
omdg- like wellington's army, the scum of the earth.
You did the right thing. It will not hurt to ask her husband. Good luck.
I heard about someone coming into work with a facial droop, and they had Lyme meningitis...
Yep, that could do it to. Any chance you know what department she/he was in?
You did the right thing. It could have been Botox gone wrong and maybe that's why she got offended, but better be safe than sorry!
I would have done what you did. Better to mention and plant the seed to get them to the ER than to assume they will take care of it.
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