Vicki Gunvalson shares the health scare she says caused amnesia

Vicki Gunvalson is opening up after a recent serious health scare.

Monday, August 26th, real housewives of orange county The 62-year-old star was joined by her partner Michael Smith My friend, my soulmate, my podcastshe details her experiences in and out of the hospital—at least what she remembers.

The founder and CEO of Coto Insurance said she started “talking nonsense” while with a client last Thursday (August 22).

The man happened to be a retired doctor, and he alerted Smith’s daughter, Olivia, who worked in the office, that Gunvalson “might have had a stroke.”

“I don’t remember anything, and [Olivia] Took me to the hospital,” Gunvalson said.

Gunvalson said doctors at the hospital told her her symptoms were just a sinus infection and sent her home that night.

Smith was in Scottsdale, Arizona, when Olivia called him and asked him to come home.

After catching the first flight home, Smith found Gunvalson “almost passed out” in the bathtub, which he described as “one of the scariest moments” he had ever experienced.

“I grabbed her, pulled her out of the water and put her on the bed. The doctor said she just needed to sleep, so I put her on the bed and she slept for 13, 14 hours straight,” he recalled.

Smith said Gunvalson seemed “disoriented” and unable to walk when he tried to get her out of bed, so he took her back to the hospital.

“She had a severe infection… it was actually sepsis, but it was actually pneumonia,” Smith said. “the way [the doctors] Explaining that when your body is fighting an infection that big…your whole body attacks it and that affects the brain and everything else in your body because your body is sending everything it needs to fight it.

“It’s dangerous. It’s scary,” Smith added.

“I don’t remember much, it was brain trauma,” Gunvalson explained. “It’s very similar to a stroke or post-traumatic stress disorder, where the brain goes into quiet mode and just doesn’t remember to protect you.”

Gunvalson said she is “okay” now, but her energy levels were “very low” during the recovery process. The reality TV star also praised the “incredible” Smith for “giving me medications because I couldn’t remember when to take them” and his daughter Olivia’s help.

“I’ve slept enough – probably too much, but I don’t have the energy to walk now. But it’s very similar, it mimics a stroke and I’m just blank for three days. right ventricle Stars added.

PEOPLE reached out to Gunvalson’s rep for an update on her condition.

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Monday, Gunvalson right ventricle Partner Shannon Beador sent her blessings via social media.

“Love you my friend! ❤️ You are one of the strongest women I know and you get stronger every day!” she posted on Instagram with a photo of the two smiling in a selfie.

“Nothing can bring you down! You are always in my prayers! I love you, Aries Amiga! 🥰🥰🥰,” she concluded.