a stroke, at 26?

I've been in the hospital since Wednesday night. Tuesday evening during American Idol, the right side of my face went numb and heavy. I watched it for almost 24 hours and saw no change until my left arm started to feel hot needle sensations. I left work and went straight to the ER. I figured I'd go home that night. I didn't.

They admitted me at 9:00p.m. I had never stayed at a hospital at night. And Nick was in Indiana. I felt alone and emptly. I was also scared.

Due to my symptoms, they wanted to monitor me over night to be sure it didn't turn into a full-blown stroke. They hooked me up to a heart monitor and continued to check vital and neurological signs all night. I had an MRI and an MRA and a sonogram of my heart the next day. I figured they'd find nothing and I could go home. I didn't go home.

The nurse said that they saw what appeared to be a hole in my heart - a condition that can cause migraine headaches and strokes. They wanted me to stay another night and scheduled a TEE test for the next morning. I was told that if there was a hole, they would need to patch it by going in through a large artery in my groin.

The test consisted of a very sedated Jessi swallowing a garden hose with a camera attached to it. I don't remember much but I do know they didn't find a hole. And so, with no explaination to my symptoms and with no recommendations about how to avoid having this happen again or if I should or should not go skiing next week or if I should worry or if it really was a stroke, they sent me home.

So, here I sit. Face still partially numb, very confused and kind of unsettled. But I am glad to be home and I am glad that I have such good husband and friends and a family that took care of me when I wasn't at home.