22-Year-Old Woman Remembers Initial Stroke Symptoms That Doctors Misinterpreted as Vertigo

Last June, 22-year-old Aubrey Hasley started hearing a “really loud” ringing in her ears.

“It was hard to ignore—pretty terrifying for a few seconds,” she recalls, now 23 and living in the Chicago area. “It reminded me of when a microphone gets too close to a speaker and that odd vibrating noise starts.”

Then came a migraine, but it felt different from what she was used to. When her symptoms escalated, she went to the emergency room and found out she’d suffered a stroke.

“I was definitely scared, really hoping and praying for the best,” she shares.

Symptoms escalate leading to stroke

For much of her life, Hasley dealt with migraines with auras several times a year. But when the tinnitus first struck, she thought it was strange yet didn’t immediately link it to a migraine. Soon after, a strong pain hit her head.

“I thought I’d try to nap it off,” she mentions. “But when I lay down, the warning signs just kept piling up.”

Instead of typical auras, she felt “super dizzy” as the room seemed to spin. As she attempted to move, she noticed her coordination was off and her balance was shaky.

“I was home alone when things went south,” she admits. “I even texted my friends, saying, ‘I think I’m having a stroke.’”

Working with stroke patients made her more aware of the warning signs than many people might be. Still, she “wasn’t super positive” about what was happening to her, she recalls.

Her brother called, and when she said she wasn’t feeling well, her family soon returned home, with her mom taking her to the local ER.

“My brother helped get me to the car because walking was really tough,” she explains. “At the ER, they started treating me for vertigo.”

Unfortunately, the medications offered no relief, and Hasley began to deteriorate.

“I was talking to my mom in the room, and she noticed that I started speaking oddly,” she says.

They did a CT scan, but it came back normal. Still, she continued to experience symptoms.

“Things progressed—I had double vision, lost control of my right side,” she continues. “My face drooped, my jaw was numb, and my speech was slurred.”

These symptoms pointed to a stroke, prompting doctors to order another CT and an MRI for clarity.

“They did stroke tests, having me read and identify images, move my hands and legs,” she explains. “Eventually, they confirmed it was a stroke.”

Given how much time had passed since her symptoms began, doctors decided clot-busting drugs might not be as effective. They recommended a thrombectomy, a procedure designed to remove the clot blocking her blood vessel.

“That seemed like the better choice,” she notes.

She remained awake during the procedure.

“My surgeon walked me through what to expect, what I might feel,” she shares. “It felt like pressure—definitely not painful, and it didn’t last long.”

Stroke can affect any age

A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or bleeding occurs in the brain. While strokes are more common in those 65 and older, younger people are increasingly affected.

“We’re noticing a growing trend among younger individuals, particularly women,” says Dr. Mohammad Anadani, chief of neuroendovascular services at Endeavor Health Neurosciences Institute in Arlington Heights, Illinois. “Stroke can happen at any age.”

Anadani performed Hasley’s thrombectomy.

Recognizing stroke symptoms is crucial for timely treatment. They can be remembered using the acronym FAST:

• F: Facial weakness
• A: Arm or leg weakness
• S: Slurred speech
• T: Time—calling 911 immediately improves outcomes

While risk factors for strokes in older adults usually include high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, the factors for younger individuals can differ. These include:

• Family history of stroke
• Torn blood vessel
• Sickle cell disease
• Clotting disorder
• A congenital heart condition

Hasley had a congenital heart defect known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO), which allowed a blood clot to travel to her brain and trigger the stroke. Most people have a PFO during fetal development, but the hole typically closes in many individuals. However, those with PFOs often remain unaware of them, as they usually show no symptoms.

“Any patient who has had a stroke is at risk for another,” Anadani says. “Repairing the PFO significantly reduces the risk, though it doesn’t eliminate it entirely.”

Even with most stroke patients being older, Anadani emphasizes the need to raise awareness of strokes among younger people. If any symptoms arise, they should seek immediate help, and he hopes physicians will become more aware of strokes in younger patients.

“Unfortunately, patients and even doctors often overlook strokes in younger people, leading to potential misdiagnoses that could have terrible outcomes,” he emphasizes. “It can happen at any age. If you think it might be a stroke, act accordingly.”

Experiencing the patient side

As a graduate student in occupational therapy, Hasley is learning to treat stroke patients. Her personal experience has affected her approach to healthcare.

“Learning about it is one thing; actually experiencing it is another,” she reflects. “I want to be that encouraging person—having that support really made a difference for me when I was going through it.”

Thanks to prompt medical intervention, she didn’t need any rehabilitation to recover. In August 2024, she underwent surgery to repair her PFO and has noticed a significant difference since.

“Interestingly, I used to get migraines with auras a few times a year, but I haven’t had one since the surgery,” she states.

After physically healing, she started her master’s program and is on track to graduate in August 2026.

Sometimes, though, anxiety over her health still creeps in.

“I found myself back in the ER, feeling really anxious,” she recounts. “A bit of panic mode would kick in with any headache or other symptoms I started noticing.”

Hasley hopes her experience encourages others to learn stroke warning signs and seek medical help when feeling unwell. Reflecting on her stroke, she admits she was initially “a little hesitant to go to the ER” due to her age.

“I didn’t want to seem dramatic and have them send me home saying it was just a migraine,” she reflects. “But we know our bodies, and it’s crucial to listen to them.”