Sandra Lee, who is better known as Dr. Pimple Popper, just opened up about the stroke she suffered while filming her show last November.
For the first time, the 55-year-old board certified dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon shared what led up to her stroke. While filming her hit show, Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out, started sweating and felt off, which just happened to be the first symptoms of her stroke.
"It happened while I was filming the show," Sandra told People. "I had what I thought was a hot flash. I got super sweaty and didn't feel like myself."
© Getty ImagesInside the day of Sandra's stroke
The dermatologist wrapped, went to her parents' house, and continued feeling sick. "I just felt very restless," she explained. "In one leg I kept feeling shooting pains," adding: "I noticed that I was having a tough time walking down the stairs."
Sandra decided to go to bed, hoping that a good night's sleep would make her feel better. But, when she woke up, she noticed that the left side of her body wasn't behaving like it did a day before.
© Getty Images"I would hold my hand out, and it would just slowly collapse," she told the publication. "I noticed that I had a tough time articulating and just enunciating. I thought, 'Am I having a stroke?'"
Sandra's dad, who is also a dermatologist, encouraged her to go to the emergency room. After undergoing an MRI test, Sandra learned that she suffered ischemic stroke, where blood vessels supplying the brain are blocked, depriving cells of critical oxygen and nutrients.
When she got her diagnosis, Sandra said she was shocked. "As a physician I couldn't deny that I had slurred speech, that I was having weakness on one side, but I was like, 'Well, this is a dream, right?'"
© Getty Images"What essentially happened is I had a part of my brain that died," she added.
Sandra's recovery after her stroke
Sandra immediately paused filming on Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out and started her recovery process. She underwent two months of physical and occupational therapy to regain her balance and movement.
"I don't like that I don’t have total control of my left hand or the grip wasn't as strong," Sandra told the publication. "If I feel like I'm not at my best – it's very scary."
© Getty ImagesSandra reflected on her life before her stroke. "My blood pressure and my cholesterol were not under control, and I have a lot of stress in my life, dealing with my patients and the show," she explained. "I want to think about it as a blessing in disguise. Because it reminds you to take better care of yourself."
Dr. Pimple Popper returned to work in January, but was nervous to do so. "It was very scary for me," Sandra admitted. "There's a lot of PTSD because it happened while I was filming the show." But now, five months after her stroke, Sandra said: "I'm pretty much back to normal," noting: "It really makes you realize how precious life is."
