I got one of those forwarded emails today, typically I never read them, but my mother does, and she called me freaking out as though I were going to die, which I’m not… I don’t take that brand. Anyways, here’s the original message from the girl herself, heed her warning…
I was encouraged to write this, even though I tend to not read forwards from others, myself. But, this isn’t some anonymous safety warning, this is about me and what I’ve been through the in the last 2 weeks. I don’t know of any other way to get the word out and, lest you think it’s fake, feel free to email me back at heatherroberts@bendbroadband.com to verify. I will answer any questions I can. I already checked snopes and found another, similar story, but without specifics. Here we go:
I am 32 and have been taking various brands of birth control for about 10 years now, switching to Yaz in Nov., 2007. I’ve never had any problems with them, until now.http://www.steadyhealth.com/WARNING_ABOUT_YAZ_BIRTH_CONTROL_PILLS-t128290-0-asc-30.html
I had no other risk factors for stroke, do not smoke and am under the age of 35. I know that all birth control brands carry a risk of stroke, but why does there seem to be a higher risk if you take Yaz? Why when you google any other brand + “stroke” do you not get anything near what you get when you google “yaz stroke”?
After experiencing isolated, “transient” numbness for about 3 weeks (just my left pinkie, just the left side of my tongue, just my left eye/vision, etc) I collapsed at work, in the middle of the newsroom, on the afternoon of Dec. 29, 2008 (Monday). I had fallen after losing all ability to use of the left side of my body while standing. 911 was called, along with my husband (who works just down the street). While the EMTs worked on me I had another “episode.” Each time, I could feel it coming, never lost consciousness and was aware of everything going on, although my brain felt ”cloudy.” While in the ambulance, I started experiencing slurred speech and asked the medic if I was having a stroke. He said he just really didn’t think so, because I’m so young… this was a common theme as I entered the ER at St. Charles Medical Ctr in Bend, as they said I had just had a panic attack, and must have been over-stressed (This was my first day back afte r a 5 day vacation and an easy day at work).
Somehow a smart Neurologist pushed the ER doctor to get me down for an MRI where they discovered a cluster of mini strokes, dating back about 3 weeks (corresponding with the onset of my symptoms). They admitted me and proceeded with an angiogram Tuesday morning. After the angiogram they confirmed that I’d, in fact, suffered a stroke. I’d regained the use of my left side shortly after getting to the ER, but was still experiencing a lot of numbness in my left arm. They didn’t get a lot of answers from the angiogram, so decided to keep me one more night until they could run another test, this time in my heart (TEE: trans-esophogial echocardiogram). Luckily I was still in the hospital, when I suffered the most damaging stroke in my sleep Tuesday night. I awoke at 2am, Wednesday and couldn’t roll over… at all. My entire left side was useless. I immediately called the nurse in, as I tried to remember not to panic. They couldn’t imagine I’d had another stroke, so assumed I had a brain bleed, they sent me for a head CT, which came back clear. Later they did another MRI (with contrast) and found a new “event”- this time higher up in the brain, although I was already on baby aspirin and Plavix- a common blood thinner. The paralysis lasted 3 days and a week later, am still dealing with left side weakness which I receive physical and occupational therapy for.
Now, to make a long story short, they have run a battery of tests and still can’t figure out how I got a blood clot in my brain. But, after the urging of a nurse friend, we did some checking online and found that I am not alone. Many other woman have posted to a blog, along with myself:
There is no definitive test to prove the pill caused my strokes, but there seems to be absolutely nothing else wrong with me.
I received heavy doses of blood thinners via injection while in the hospital and will be on prescription blood thinners for at least 6 months while they wait for the Yaz to make it’s way out of my system. They hope that then I’ll be able to get off of the blood thinners.
I don’t know any other way to get the word out to the women I know to let people know that what the pharmaceutical company advertises as a “wonder drug for PMS and acne” is no wonder drug at all. I don’t know how the FDA has managed to let this through.
If you, or someone you know is taking Yaz, or Yasmin (its old name) please share this information with them. Some may choose to stay on it, but pay attention to what your body is telling you. No one else should have to go through what I did, and I was very lucky, I am expected to make a complete recovery.
Heather Roberts