CBS2 Reporter has Stroke as Camera Rolls

[Reality Orlando]

If not a stroke it could have been some sort of seizure. In any case, it must have been terrifying for her. Towards the end, you could see she was scared and struggling to regain control over whatever was happening.

I give her a lot of credit though. Despite how frightened she looked, she continued with her report in the best way she could. Hope she is okay.

 

[SuziQ]

Serene Branson had a 'complex migraine,' not a stroke, doctor says

TV reporter Serene Branson's garbled speech during a live Grammy broadcast spurred speculation that she had a stroke, but her doctor says a complex migraine can mimic the symptoms of a stroke.

More at link:
http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-branson-episode-20110217,0,2089242.story

ETA: The Video at the LATimes is actually a screen grab pic and not a clickable video. I will see if I can find the video discussed in the article.

 

[Melanie]

My first husband, who was diabetic, suffered TIA's several times in the last two years of his life. It was so frightening for him because he was aware that his speech sounded like gibberish, but he couldn't control it, just like Ms. Branson. I sure hope that she will have this checked out. In fact, I would think that her station manager would insist on it.

Hi Bessie,

Diabetic here too. If you don't control your sugars, and they get too high, you can sound slurred and incoherant. The one (and only) time my sugars went to 500 (should have been in a coma) I acted like I drank a bottle of tequila in one swig. My husband didn't know what to make of it, but when I tested my sugars it made sense. Out came the insulin and Metformin. I was soon back to normal levels. Though, I have NEVER talked like her. My speech would slur more like a drunken person

I sure hope she's okay.

Mel

 

[tlcya]

Bessie, my dad suffered from TIAs also towards the end the progression of his diabetes and heart disease, etc. It was really scary for all of us, including him.

I suffer from migraines but had never heard of a migraine causing symptoms like that. That is scary. I might have to do a little reading on complex migraines.

 

[Nancy2441]

Serene Branson talks about her live medical emergency:


http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/02/17/serene-branson-talks-about-her-live-medical-emergency/

 

[tlcya]

wow ty Nancy, the comments at that link from all the people who have experienced aphasia during migraine were enlightening. I am so thankful that has never happened during one of mine. I can only imagine how frightening that would be.

 

[Nancy2441]

I had no idea this could happen to someone from a migraine. That's why I thought that she had a TIA. I have a friend who suffers from migraines. I am definitely going to warn her about it. I have a lot of admiration for Serene Branson. Just watching the tape of herself. I think it that was me I wouldn't have wanted to see it. Best wishes for her recovery.

 

[Nancy2441]

From People Magazine:

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20467483,00.html

 

[eachandevery]

I had this happen once, and I'm always afraid it will happen again. In my case, I woke up with a migraine, unable to see out of one eye. I didn't recognize a television show that had been on for years when I was younger, and I forgot what numbers and letters looked like. The home phone number I had for 20 years? Couldn't remember it. I was lucky enough to finally press the right numbers, and was told to write something basic, like "hockey". I still have the paper, and it's a bunch of vertical lines. I had no idea where I was, and I'm thankful that I wasn't out at the time. It's a very odd, scary thing to say "What do letters look like? What's an h?" I saw a neurologist right away, and after going through numerous tests, the verdict came in: migraine. I couldn't believe it, I thought for sure I'd had a stroke; all the symptoms were present. I've always suffered from bad migraines, and still do, which isn't reassuring.

Anyway, I'm glad Serene's awful incident has turned out to be the result of a complex migraine and not something far more serious. If I hadn't suffered from something similar myself, I would have found this cause hard to believe. That was pure terror in her eyes, and I'll never be able to watch that video again.

ETA: The worst part is knowing that the situation isn't right, that something's wrong, at the same time this is happening.

 

[Nancy2441]

I had this happen once, and I'm always afraid it will happen again. In my case, I woke up with a migraine, unable to see out of one eye. I didn't recognize a television show that had been on for years when I was younger, and I forgot what numbers and letters looked like. The home phone number I had for 20 years? Couldn't remember it. I was lucky enough to finally press the right numbers, and was told to write something basic, like "hockey". I still have the paper, and it's a bunch of vertical lines. I had no idea where I was, and I'm thankful that I wasn't out at the time. It's a very odd, scary thing to say "What do letters look like? What's an h?" I saw a neurologist right away, and after going through numerous tests, the verdict came in: migraine. I couldn't believe it, I thought for sure I'd had a stroke; all the symptoms were present. I've always suffered from bad migraines, and still do, which isn't reassuring.

Anyway, I'm glad Serene's awful incident has turned out to be the result of a complex migraine and not something far more serious. If I hadn't suffered from something similar myself, I would have found this cause hard to believe. That was pure terror in her eyes, and I'll never be able to watch that video again.

ETA: The worst part is knowing that the situation isn't right, that something's wrong, at the same time this is happening.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. That must have been very terrifying for you. Stay well!

 

[JBean]

My migraine aura is severe dizzy spells to where I cannot walk without holding on. I am going to have to see if any of my mispeaks and inability to find words ever presents like this. I have never had any kind of speech issue like this woman did, but defintiely what I am thinking and what I am trying to say are not in sync from time to time. Never would have put that together.

 

[tlcya]

My Auras come before the migraine are dancing spots of lights in my vision and the strong smell that is a cross between burning rubber and burning hair. When that happens, I know it is goign to be a doozy and I have a limited time to get somewhere quite and dark before the vomitting and dizziness begin. Fortunately that doesn't happen too often (really bad ones) but I am so glad to have heard about this aphasia thing. If it ever does happen to me, at least having read and heard about it will maybe help me to not be so frightened by it.

TY to Serene for being fothcoming about this experience, she educated me and alot of other people by doing so.

 

[LinasK]

I'm thankful my migraines are nowhere near that bad, although it feels like my head is going to explode when they happen, and if I don't nip them in the bud with Excedrin, I get nauseous and can't tolerate any light or noise. I had a killer one between Christmas and New Year's ,even though I brought along Excedrin and flannel pillow cases. It was due to the cold weather, skiing and not eating enough carbos, and hormones...

 

[southcitymom]

I was fascinated to find out this was a migraine. I had my first migraine when I was about 10 years old (it coincided with the start of my period). Our mail man found me having seizures in the street and took me to my Mom. I was babbling, making no sense, and my Mom took me to the hospital, where I spent the night having tests - they thought I had had a stroke and wanted to rule it out.

My migraines continued apace (4-5 a year) until my early 20s, when they stopped suddenly and I have never had another one since!