<p id=”par-1_46″>Usually, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/dr-pimple-popper-sandra-lee-revealed-how-she-never-gets-grossed-out.html/”>Dr. Sandra Lee</a> is the one counseling patients who are dealing with tough medical situations. But last fall, the Southern California dermatologist found the roles reversed when she experienced a stroke that forced her to take a two-month break from filming her Lifetime reality series. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-dr-pimple-popper-star-had-stroke-while-filming-her-reality-show”>‘Dr. Pimple Popper’ star had stroke while filming her reality show</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio” id=”emb-1″><div class=”wp-block-embed__wrapper”>
<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”One Moment | Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out – Season 2 | Lifetime” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/QyRN5iLbH54?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>
<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/my-600-lb-life-cast-member-gone-pattern-death-fans.html/”>
Another ‘My 600-lb Life’ Cast Member Gone: Pattern of Death Worries Fans </a>
</p>
</div>
<p id=”par-2_30″>“It happened while I was filming the show,” Lee recently told <a href=”https://people.com/dr-pimple-popper-sandra-lee-reveals-she-had-a-stroke-exclusive-11949147″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>People</a>. “I had what I thought was a hot flash. I got super sweaty and didn’t feel like myself.”</p>
<p id=”par-3_50″>Lee continued filming, then headed to her parents’ home, which is not far from her office. Her troubling symptoms continued, including a “restless” feeling and “shooting pains” in one leg. She was also having trouble walking down stairs. The next morning, she began to accept that something was seriously amiss. </p>
<p id=”par-4_21″>“I noticed that I had a tough time articulating and just enunciating,” she said. “I thought, ‘Am I having a stroke?’”</p>
<p id=”par-5_20″>Lee’s father, who is also a doctor, urged her to go to the emergency room, where her fears were confirmed. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-dr-sandra-lee-a-part-of-her-brain-died”>Dr. Sandra Lee a part of her brain ‘died’ </h2>
<p id=”par-6_36″>“It was just a shock,” she said. “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?’” </p>
<p id=”par-7_11″>“Essentiallly … a part of my brain that died,” she explained.</p>
<p id=”par-8_35″>After he stroke, Lee took a break from filming <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/dr-pimple-popper-breaking-outreality-series-april-2026-lifetime.html/”><em>Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out</em></a><em>. </em>She underwent physical therapy, with a special focus on regaining control of her hands – an essential skill in her profession. </p>
<p id=”par-9_11″>In hindsight, Lee realizes she should have prioritized her own health. </p>
<p id=”par-10_50″>“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 said. “I want to think about it as a blessing in disguise. Because it reminds you to take better care of yourself.” </p>
<p id=”par-11_40″>Her advice for her fans? If they experience any symptoms that could be a stroke, get checked out. Warning signs include vision changes, a loss of balance, face drooping, difficulty talking, and arm weakness, according to the <a href=”https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-symptoms” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>American Stroke Association</a>. </p>
<p id=”par-12_50″>“In Asian cultures in particular they don’t tell people they’ve had a stroke because it can be seen as a sign of weakness,” she said. “I want to get the word out that if you have symptoms like I had, make sure you see your doctor. Take care of yourself.”</p>
<p id=”par-13_16″><em>Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out </em>Season 2 premieres April 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime. </p>
<p id=”par-14_11″><em>For more news and exclusive interviews, follow </em><a href=”https://www.instagram.com/showbizcheatsheet/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”><em>Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram</em></a><em>.</em></p>