Beth Carpenter has always had an active lifestyle and kept herself busy.  She enjoys playing golf, bowling, and exercises regularly.  Beth worked as a waitress at Bob Evans while she raised her children.  After they were grown, Beth attended classes at Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools in Groveport where she acquired computer skills that she used to obtain a job in medical records at a medical facility in Lancaster.  She returned to school and earned her license as an X-ray technician and worked at a podiatrist’s office until she retired four years ago.

On the morning of Saturday, March 18, Beth woke up and noticed that she had numbness and tingling in her right arm.  She initially thought that she had slept on it and that her hand had just fallen asleep.  Later in the day, Beth was in her kitchen preparing food.  She reached up to touch her face and noticed that her nose and right cheek were numb.  Knowing this was not a normal sensation for her, Beth took 325 mg of aspirin and went straight to Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) Emergency Department (ED).

When she arrived at the registration desk, Beth informed the receptionist of her symptoms and explained that she may be experiencing a stroke.  The ED staff worked quickly to bring Beth to an exam room.  The entire time she remained alert and displayed none of the outward symptoms of a stroke, such as weakness, facial droop, or difficulty speaking or walking.  Beth underwent two computed tomography (CT) scans, one with contrast and one without contrast.  Both CT scans revealed no abnormalities.

Although Beth does not have a history of heart disease, her mother died from a heart attack when she was 54 years old.  Because of her family history and her own history of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, Beth was taken to the Cardiology Unit for observation and was fully admitted to the Hospital on the following day.  On Sunday, Beth had an MRI procedure, which revealed evidence that she had indeed experienced a stroke.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, causing damage to the brain, and affecting the functions of the body.  Arteries narrow and harden as people age, which can increase the risk of stroke.  Certain medical factors, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, may also contribute to stroke risk.

After Beth was discharged from the Hospital, she had a follow-up visit with Noman Ahmed, M.D., of Licking Memorial Neurology.  “Dr. Ahmed was very nice and thorough in my follow-up examination.  He answered all my questions,” Beth said.  “He checked my list of medications that I was taking and increased the dosage of my cholesterol medication explaining that the higher dose will help to prevent future strokes.  He also suggested that I do a sleep study in June, which would be three months after my stroke.”

At the end of January, Beth had contracted COVID-19.  Although she made a full recovery, she has been experiencing arm pain on a regular basis.  She mentioned her concern during her visit with Dr. Ahmed, and he ordered an MRI of her cervical (neck) area.  The MRI did not show any stenosis or pinched nerves, so Dr. Ahmed suggested performing an electromyography (EMG) when she came in for her follow-up in June.  An EMG is a diagnostic test that helps detect neuromuscular abnormalities by measuring electrical activity in the muscles.

“Dr. Ahmed asked me if I would like to have a pain medication prescribed to cope with my arm pain during the time I had to wait for the EMG.  I thought that was very caring of him to be so considerate about my comfort level,” said Beth.

Beth is grateful to the staff at the LMH ED for responding quickly to her health needs.  “Everyone told me that I was very lucky that I came into the ED when I did.  When my symptoms did not go away, I knew something was wrong and trusted my instincts,” said Beth.  “By sharing my story, I hope that someone else who may be experiencing symptoms like mine will take action to save their own life.”
Beth continues to live an active lifestyle.  She lives with her 91-year-old father at her farmhouse in Thornville.  In addition to golfing, bowling, and regular exercise, Beth also enjoys gardening and tending to her flower beds and orchard she has on more than 5 acres of property.  Beth has 5 children, 13 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren who all live in Central Ohio, and she visits them as often as she can.