Reporter has on-air stroke / seizure...?

[Perrella]

So very scary indeed. Sending prayers.

[JesStang]

Has anyone heard an update on this? A doctor has come forward and said that she needs to go to the emergency room immediately. Hope she did!

[CouversMom]

How scary. I agree, I think it was more than just nerves...

[Wylie's Mom]

Here is an update from the reporter herself - it was a migraine! I'm glad to hear it wasn't something more serious than this (although, migraines are so awful). Article link here, and pasted below:

TV reporter speaks about speech problem at Grammys

LOS ANGELES – A TV reporter who lapsed into gibberish during a live shot outside the Grammys said she was terrified when it happened and knew something was wrong as soon as she opened her mouth.

KCBS-TV reporter Serene Branson's incoherence Sunday fueled Internet speculation that she suffered an on-air stroke. But doctors at the University of California, Los Angeles where she went to get a brain scan and blood work done ruled it out. Doctors said she suffered a type of migraine that can mimic symptoms of a stroke.

Branson told the station in an interview Thursday that she "started to get a really bad headache" but assumed she was just tired.

"At around 10 o'clock that night I was sitting in the live truck with my field producer and the photographer and I was starting to look at some of my notes," she said. "I started to think, the words on the page are blurry and I could notice that my thoughts were not forming the way they normally do."

"As soon as I opened my mouth I knew something was wrong.," Branson said. "I was having trouble . remembering the word for Grammy," she said. "I knew what I wanted to say but I didn't have the words to say it."

The station quickly cut away, and she was examined by paramedics and recovered at home.

Most people with migraines don't have any warning. But about 20 to 30 percent experience sensations before or during a migraine attack.

"A migraine is not just a headache. It's a complicated brain event," said UCLA neurologist Dr. Andrew Charles, who examined Branson.

The most common sensations include seeing flashes of light or zigzag patterns. In Branson's case, she felt numbness on the right side of her face that affected her speech, Charles said.

"She was actually having the headache while she was having these other symptoms," he said.

Branson told doctors she's had migraines since a child, but never suffered an episode like this before, Charles said.

Branson, a Los Angeles native and two-time Emmy nominee, worked at the CBS affiliate in Sacramento before joining KCBS. Prior to that, she was a reporter and anchor at TV stations in Palm Springs and Santa Barbara.

[JasmineNoelle]

These are called complex, opthalmapaligic migraines. Mayo clinic has been doing clinical trials regarding these types of migraines. Some theorys suggest the invovlement of the third cranial nerve. Noise, stress, bright light, food among other things can trigger an eppisode. Slurred speech, tunnel vision, black spots, neruo. Defificit, can be some of the symptoms experienced. Feeling extreemly tired afterward is commmon. These types of migraines can be a precursor for a stroke. Some physicians prescrib antiseizure medication successfully for this condition.

[TammyJM]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Here is an update from the reporter herself - it was a migraine! I'm glad to hear it wasn't something more serious than this (although, migraines are so awful). Article link here, and pasted below:

TV reporter speaks about speech problem at Grammys

LOS ANGELES – A TV reporter who lapsed into gibberish during a live shot outside the Grammys said she was terrified when it happened and knew something was wrong as soon as she opened her mouth.

KCBS-TV reporter Serene Branson's incoherence Sunday fueled Internet speculation that she suffered an on-air stroke. But doctors at the University of California, Los Angeles where she went to get a brain scan and blood work done ruled it out. Doctors said she suffered a type of migraine that can mimic symptoms of a stroke.

Branson told the station in an interview Thursday that she "started to get a really bad headache" but assumed she was just tired.

"At around 10 o'clock that night I was sitting in the live truck with my field producer and the photographer and I was starting to look at some of my notes," she said. "I started to think, the words on the page are blurry and I could notice that my thoughts were not forming the way they normally do."

"As soon as I opened my mouth I knew something was wrong.," Branson said. "I was having trouble . remembering the word for Grammy," she said. "I knew what I wanted to say but I didn't have the words to say it."

The station quickly cut away, and she was examined by paramedics and recovered at home.

Most people with migraines don't have any warning. But about 20 to 30 percent experience sensations before or during a migraine attack.

"A migraine is not just a headache. It's a complicated brain event," said UCLA neurologist Dr. Andrew Charles, who examined Branson.

The most common sensations include seeing flashes of light or zigzag patterns. In Branson's case, she felt numbness on the right side of her face that affected her speech, Charles said.

"She was actually having the headache while she was having these other symptoms," he said.

Branson told doctors she's had migraines since a child, but never suffered an episode like this before, Charles said.

Branson, a Los Angeles native and two-time Emmy nominee, worked at the CBS affiliate in Sacramento before joining KCBS. Prior to that, she was a reporter and anchor at TV stations in Palm Springs and Santa Barbara.

I didn't know this type of migraine would cause speech impediments ...thought it was ocular related. I really do hope that she has received extensive testing because this was very serious!

[MauiGirl]

Glad to see they know the cause. Must be scary to many others who also suffer from migraines.

Still a word of caution: Time is important. Don't ever assume you know what it is if you see this in yourself or others. These events need to be checked out promptly by doctors. My friend's sister had similar symptoms, headache, odd speech, vision impaired; she said she just wanted to lay down and her family let her go to bed. Next day, she was worse and finally went to the doctor and found she had had a stroke. She suffered irreversible damage due to delayed diagnosis and treatment.