I've had a TIA/ mini stroke, any changes I should be making?
Discussion
I had some weird episodes on Friday. on 3-4 occasions I had up to an hour where I wasn't taking in things S was saying to me, and I couldn't get words out/ talk. In addition to this I was faint, and often had to prop myself up. Today was the first chance I had to have a telephone doctors appointment, talking through these and other symptoms he believes I've had a mini stroke.
I'm 42, don't smoke (do vape, quit 3 years ago) in a physically active job, walk dogs half an hour a day, active lifestyle, allotments, chickens, ducks etc. I do drink more than official recommendations, on average maybe 60 units a week.
The doc is referring me to a stroke consultant. What may visiting them involve?
We consider this a warning, and I'm not keen on the idea of a full blown stroke! What should I be changing/ doing differently to give me the best chance of no further health problems down this route?
On the doctors advice I am taking 300mg of aspirin a day until I see/ speak with the consultant.
I'm 42, don't smoke (do vape, quit 3 years ago) in a physically active job, walk dogs half an hour a day, active lifestyle, allotments, chickens, ducks etc. I do drink more than official recommendations, on average maybe 60 units a week.
The doc is referring me to a stroke consultant. What may visiting them involve?
We consider this a warning, and I'm not keen on the idea of a full blown stroke! What should I be changing/ doing differently to give me the best chance of no further health problems down this route?
On the doctors advice I am taking 300mg of aspirin a day until I see/ speak with the consultant.
Thanks all for the responses. S said whilst we were locking the birds up half an hour ago that she'd been Googling, and 47% of people who have a TIA have a full on stroke within a week. I'd read that the first 24 hours after are when you're most at risk. A little worried, but trying not to get too consumed by it. What's done is done.
sociopath said:
Speaking of which my GP has always pointed out that it's blood pressure + cholesterol together that increases risk, so do you know what they are?
Dad has high blood pressure. When I had a test a few years ago mine was fine. I'm seeing him later this week, I'll get him to bring his test device with him. catweasle said:
Sorry it was me that said Clopidogrel......all I meant was, probably not very well, if he is put on long term low dose Aspirin then I found it to be better....I would be surprised he could obtain it without a Dr prescribing it anyway.
There is something else the doctor has prescribed me, which should be on route to the village chemist soon.RE the vaping, is there really any risk with it?
RE the blood pressure, we'll look in to this, will also bring the matter up with the stroke consultant, if they don't.
V8covin said:
The tablets stop me from sleeping so I'm always tired.
That would be a huge concern to me, as I already have serious problems sleeping. That is part of the reason for drinking daily, I don't have any dependency, but without something to take the edge off (some alcohol/ sleeping pills) I will genuinely NOT be able to get to sleep.On a separate note, for years family and S have been telling me they think I have some form of ADHD. I've always dismissed it in my own mind, as I can't abide people who fall back on 'labels', which ADHD seems to be one when wrong sorts are trying to justify bad behaviour.
Researching about my sleep behaviour, landing on a page about ADD/ADHD, the majority of statements made about problem sleep suggest to me I mayy well have ADD.
Back on subject. To the last posters mentioning alcohol, I know this needs restraint applying. I'll get some Becks Blue in, and try to lower my intake by half, as a starting goal.
aclivity said:
Was it a TIA or a stroke? I suspect the former, as you can write normally... Mine was a stroke and it took me 3 months to be able to talk or write normally and if I get tired I still have problems talking and writing. I know I got off easily as well.
I would do as others gave stated - drop the drink a bit or preferably a lot. I would also consider dropping the vape as well. I need to lose weight, always need to do that!
I am on 5 tablets a day which I think will be forever - if you get prescribed 2 or more drugs then it is worth getting a prepaid card.
Check you insurance - both life and car. I had to tell my car insurance but as I wasn't stopped for more than a month they didn't change the cost. Life insurance did care - they paid out in full but means I can't get life insurance again.
The doctor stated a TIA/mini-stroke. By Saturday I was absolutely fine, with no reoccurrence of any of the events. I hadn't thought about car insurance, we'll put in a few calls to the van and car insurers. There was one moment of not being able to write a few letters correctly, but it was literally just that. Weight wise, I'm in a good place. 11 stone at 5'10"I would do as others gave stated - drop the drink a bit or preferably a lot. I would also consider dropping the vape as well. I need to lose weight, always need to do that!
I am on 5 tablets a day which I think will be forever - if you get prescribed 2 or more drugs then it is worth getting a prepaid card.
Check you insurance - both life and car. I had to tell my car insurance but as I wasn't stopped for more than a month they didn't change the cost. Life insurance did care - they paid out in full but means I can't get life insurance again.
Trevor555 said:
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
The doc is referring me to a stroke consultant. What may visiting them involve?
We consider this a warning, and I'm not keen on the idea of a full blown stroke! What should I be changing/ doing differently to give me the best chance of no further health problems down this route?
I had a similar experience a few years back.We consider this a warning, and I'm not keen on the idea of a full blown stroke! What should I be changing/ doing differently to give me the best chance of no further health problems down this route?
I've never smoked, drink very little, but I was under a lot of stress at the time.
I saw the stroke specialist who did a brain scan which he said was normal.
Ok since, so hopefully you'll be the same.
I've had the call from the stroke consultant. He's leaning towards me not having had a TIA, instead thinking it's more likely a combination of stress, too much booze, and the two meds I'm on for anxiety and sleep. He's arranging an MRI brain scan just so he can be sure. I've also taken my blood pressure this morning, and it's in the elevated range.
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
V8covin said:
Did he give you any idea when the MRI scan would take place ?
Waiting for one myself and not had any contact from the hospital
He didn't, but did say he'd speak to his colleagues today, and they'd post an appointment letter ASAP. Waiting for one myself and not had any contact from the hospital
Things went to pot on Saturday, sadly. 11am, I was cleaning eggs (we have a lot of hens and ducks) in preparation to sell to the local allotment shop. With no warning I became incredibly faint, so stepped back from the sink. Moments later, according to S, my legs collapsed under me, and I was out of it. A 999 call was made, my first memory was 3 paramedics in our front room trying to get anything other than cods
t out of me, to little to no avail.
What I describe now is from what I was told, rather than memory. I was blue lighted to hospital, and supposedly I had many nurses and the like try to get sense out of me, with no joy. I had a CT scan, relieving nothing, followed by an MRI scan which again, showed nothing of concern. The next steps are that I'm booked in for numerous heart scans, a neck scan (WTF?!) and some other tests, which have done little else but to serve to confuse me.
Right now I am finding this fking scary as st, like my body is failing me without reason.
stting it doesn't come close.
t out of me, to little to no avail. What I describe now is from what I was told, rather than memory. I was blue lighted to hospital, and supposedly I had many nurses and the like try to get sense out of me, with no joy. I had a CT scan, relieving nothing, followed by an MRI scan which again, showed nothing of concern. The next steps are that I'm booked in for numerous heart scans, a neck scan (WTF?!) and some other tests, which have done little else but to serve to confuse me.
Right now I am finding this f
king scary as st, like my body is failing me without reason. s
tting it doesn't come close.CAPP0 said:
Sorry to hear it's gone pear-shaped. I may be able to shed light on the neck scan - I've had that done, it's to check for something which I can't remember the name of (it's a word which is commonly used for something else) but is cholesterol build-up in your carotid arteries which, if bad, can obv reduce the flow of blood to the brain. Mine was done as part of a cholesterol study which I took part in, not due to an illness.
No idea what's wrong with you and I'm not going to try and guess, but I hope you've been knocking the liquid and gaseous stimulants on the head?
That's really useful to know RE the neck scan Cappo, cheers for the heads up. RE the consumption of alcohol and nicotine, the answer is that I've managed to reduce these both, circa 90%. It's not perfect, but for me that is a result! No idea what's wrong with you and I'm not going to try and guess, but I hope you've been knocking the liquid and gaseous stimulants on the head?
This thread reassures me that the people of Pistonheads are amongst the the very best the internet has to offer.
I'm feeling like utter total st, like the wheels have well and truly fallen off, and I'm getting nothing but kindness off internet strangers. The thank you is one I mean.
The important question mind, which one of you is going to adopt Sarah to look after her?
I'm feeling like utter total s
t, like the wheels have well and truly fallen off, and I'm getting nothing but kindness off internet strangers. The thank you is one I mean.The important question mind, which one of you is going to adopt Sarah to look after her?
talksthetorque said:
Hi Firmit. I’ve just found this thread and hope you are ok
I was thinking about getting my motorcycle seat refoamed and possibly re-covered and thought I’d look you up for advice as I know you’re local to me, seem on here like a lovely bloke and do magical things with leather items. I was utterly shocked to read through this thread and hope you are doing ok and at least on the way forward with a diagnosis. The NHS is a wonderful thing and you’re in the right hands.
TL:DR
I had a sore arse and I thought of you.
Hi TTT. Apologies, I've only just seen your post. It's not one for us, we simply restore pigment My recommendation would be to contact Auto-Trim in Leicester (just off A46, so easy to get to) on 0116 2169920. I was thinking about getting my motorcycle seat refoamed and possibly re-covered and thought I’d look you up for advice as I know you’re local to me, seem on here like a lovely bloke and do magical things with leather items. I was utterly shocked to read through this thread and hope you are doing ok and at least on the way forward with a diagnosis. The NHS is a wonderful thing and you’re in the right hands.
TL:DR
I had a sore arse and I thought of you.
talksthetorque said:
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
Hi TTT. Apologies, I've only just seen your post. It's not one for us, we simply restore pigment My recommendation would be to contact Auto-Trim in Leicester (just off A46, so easy to get to) on 0116 2169920.
Thanks and definitely no need to apologise - How you doing?LaurasOtherHalf said:
Just a nudge Fermit, hope you're doing ok at the moment and things have been going ok since the last update.
Not so great, but hanging in there. A brief synopsis:
A few more episodes since. The worst being last Friday, ironically 20 minutes in to one of my first jobs back! This resulted in the customer having to 999 it, and call S to pick me up, having lost most of my ability to form speech. Both my arms and hands crampped up, one of them having my inverted fingers turning a rather vivid mauve colour!
For 72 hours this week I had a Spider Flash monitor stuck to my chest, a device which records heart beat patterns and the like, for irregularities. Not yet had anything back.
During the last episode some shakes started. Either my right arm and hand, or left ankle and foot. Never simultaneously, but if ones still the other usually isn't. This has been perpetual for the last week.
Bad dreams every night for probably the last 10 days, and ringing between the ears continuously.
Work now on hold for a period, to try and take stock of things. I have some Porsche seats with one our trimmers, to work on from home when he's done his stuff, and a few cushions one of our upholsterers wants me to sort for him next week. Other than that emails and phone advising customers that work is on pause.
But thanks for caring enough to check in on an internet (relatively) stranger.
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