Jamie Foxx says doctors initially dismissed first symptom of 'bad headache' which turned out to be brain bleed

Jamie Foxx has spoken out about his terrifying health scare which he claimed was initially dismissed by medics.

In April 2023, Foxx was hospitalized while filming action comedy Back in Action in Atlanta, US following a 'medical complication'.

And in his Netflix special Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was..., the 56-year-old has opened up further about the circumstances surrounding when he experienced a 'brain bleed that led to a stroke'.

Foxx nearly died after 'bad headache' turned deadly

At the time, Foxx's daughter Corrine released a statement to Instagram revealing the actor had experienced a medical emergency but 'luckily due to quick action and great care' was 'already on his way to recovery'.

In his TV special - released on December 10 - the actor recalled experiencing a 'bad headache' in April last year but before he could even take an aspirin he passed out and the next '20 days' were a blur.

However, in the special, he also opened up about the response of the first doctor he saw when he began feeling unwell, claiming they dismissed his initial symptom.

First doctor's response

Foxx says he was taken to a doctor and given a shot of cortisone, which according to Cleveland Clinic 'delivers a dose of medication directly to a problem spot in your body'.

And the actor reveals the doctor then sent him home.

Still worried about him, Foxx's younger sister took him to Piedmont Hospital where it was quickly determined he'd actually suffered a brain aneurysm that led to a stroke.

Cleveland Clinic notes: "A brain (cerebral) aneurysm is a bulge in a weak area of a blood vessel in or around your brain. Most aneurysms are small and don’t cause issues.

"But a ruptured brain aneurysm is life-threatening.

"The first sign of a ruptured brain aneurysm is usually a severe headache - the worst headache you’ve ever had."

Other symptoms of a brain aneurysm

Other symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Blurred of double vision
• A stiff neck
• Sensitivity to light
• Seizures
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness
• Drooping eyelid

Cleveland Clinic notes 'most unruptured (intact) brain aneurysms don’t cause symptoms' but 'if they become large enough, the bulge in your artery can put pressure on nearby nerves or brain tissue' and that's when symptoms may become more noticeable.

It urges: "Seek medical care immediately if you have symptoms of a brain aneurysm rupture."

In his special, Foxx said he 'appreciate[d] every prayer' he received from loved ones and fans because he 'needed every prayer,' finding himself in a wheelchair when he woke up and ending up having to be flown to Chicago for rehabilitation - his sister told by medical professionals he would make a full recovery but would experience 'the worst year of his life'.

The actor resolved: "I lost everything, but the only thing I could hold onto was my sense of humor.

"I couldn't necessarily walk that good, I couldn't talk that good, but I didn't let go of my funny... I was always crackin' jokes, to the point where the nurses thought I was really losing my mind."