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The original was posted on /r/tifu by /u/PurpleCaterpillar561 on 2026-03-02 21:16:04+00:00.
I (21yo F) was waiting in line at Dunkin Doughnuts when very suddenly, the left side of my face went numb. This was weird, because my normal paralysis doesn't include numbness, and didn't often affect my face (I have a mystery medical condition of tow years that causes my body to randomly become immobile).
Anyway, I had an iced matcha latte to order, and though it was difficult to speak with half of my face immobile, I was a regular enough customer that the lovely staff were able to piece together what I was saying and my matcha was secured! I continued on with my day, going to classes and work. I had been sick the week prior, and was wearing a mask to reduce the chance of infecting anyone else.
The next day, my face was still numb, which was frustrating because I had to teach. With enough focus, I was able to enunciate my words well enough to be understood by my students, and I focused on completing a worksheet with them that they could read without my speaking. All was well.
This pattern continued with me finding ways to communicate with limited words for about a week, until I got sick of not being able to talk properly and finally went to urgent care. They sent me to the ER, gave me a ct scan, and, "There's an area of blood on your brain that wasn't there before." What? How did it get there? No clue. Will it go away on its own? Eventually. And then will I be able to speak again? "Probably." I thought, great! I should get back to my dorm to study for an upcoming exam, but alas, they insisted I go to another hospital over an hour away for more testing.
Thus began my two night stay in the ICU followed by another three days admitted to the general hospital. I was going to be released after just one day in the hospital, but I had ONE seizure and that delayed my great escape significantly.
Here's where I fucked up. I had no idea until day four in the hospital that brain bleed=stroke, and even once I knew I had a stroke, I didn't know how bad that was. So I had emailed all of my professors and bosses explaining that I wouldn't be able to come into work for a few days because I had a brain bleed, and that I would be in touch once all of my blood was back where it was supposed to be. I received so many get well soon baskets and hospital visits over the next few days, and so many texts from people wishing me a swift recovery and offering me so many favors to aid in my recovery.
Turns out, strokes are often lethal, and I freaked out everyone I know with how non-chalantly I referenced my apparent medical emergency. Moral of the story: strokes are bad, and if half of your face suddenly goes numb, that's a good reason to shell out and go to the ER.
TLDR; I had a stroke, walked it off for a week then proceeded to terrify everyone in my life by telling them every detail of my medical crisis with disturbing casualty.