Just had a Transient Ischaemic Attack
Discussion
I’m fit, 46 years old, ride BMX, bit of road & downhill MTB, prob 50 miles a week & run maybe 5 miles a week. Don’t smoke, not over weight, drink a bit but no more than most, ex-Army & look after myself. Tuesday eve I have a pain in my neck & shoulders which after 10 mins was agony, it then went down my left arm & got worse. I Couldn’t sit down & watch TV so went to lay down on the bed. Needed a wee after 20 mins & when I stood up it felt like I was walking on a bouncy castle, legs were really light, felt funny rather than scary. My wife called 101 & they said your best getting to A&E so off we went.
Got to A&E & I stumbled in feeling hotter & hotter, after 10 mins sat down amongst the people with broken fingers & cuts on their arms & now feeling like I’m going to pass out I was sick just as the Dr called me in to be checked, I couldn’t stand let alone walk. They checked me out & blood pressure was 235/135 so admitted straight away & had a CT scan about 15 mins later.
Thankfully after an hour or so my body sorted it out & I was able to walk about & actually felt fine. I was admitted to the stroke ward & this was the first time any medical bod said the word stroke, they then told me that the rear right artery was blocked & explained about TIA. It seemed the 3 other artery’s sorted out the blood loss & as I’m fit & not that old my body sorted it self out. On the ward I was next to 3 older gents (60+) who had drips in them & only one could talk. My blood pressure came right down so I was discharged yesterday & back to the normal world. I guess I have to take it easy, no training for a triathlon for a bit & keep away from skateparks on my BMX. With a wife & 4 & 7 year old boys to look after I guess I should take the Docs advice.
It’s scary when you have never really had health issues & think you don’t need to worry about this sort of thing until your 50 or 60. If anyone gets these symptoms don’t try & be a man & shrug it off as you need help and quickly. You don’t need to have slurring speech or dropping on one side, just a pain & that thought that this doesn’t feel quite right is enough. I guess I just wanted to raise a bit of awareness as if it can happen to me I can to anyone. People moan about the NHS but if you really need help & an angel by your side to watch over you then they are out there, they work for the NHS.
Got to A&E & I stumbled in feeling hotter & hotter, after 10 mins sat down amongst the people with broken fingers & cuts on their arms & now feeling like I’m going to pass out I was sick just as the Dr called me in to be checked, I couldn’t stand let alone walk. They checked me out & blood pressure was 235/135 so admitted straight away & had a CT scan about 15 mins later.
Thankfully after an hour or so my body sorted it out & I was able to walk about & actually felt fine. I was admitted to the stroke ward & this was the first time any medical bod said the word stroke, they then told me that the rear right artery was blocked & explained about TIA. It seemed the 3 other artery’s sorted out the blood loss & as I’m fit & not that old my body sorted it self out. On the ward I was next to 3 older gents (60+) who had drips in them & only one could talk. My blood pressure came right down so I was discharged yesterday & back to the normal world. I guess I have to take it easy, no training for a triathlon for a bit & keep away from skateparks on my BMX. With a wife & 4 & 7 year old boys to look after I guess I should take the Docs advice.
It’s scary when you have never really had health issues & think you don’t need to worry about this sort of thing until your 50 or 60. If anyone gets these symptoms don’t try & be a man & shrug it off as you need help and quickly. You don’t need to have slurring speech or dropping on one side, just a pain & that thought that this doesn’t feel quite right is enough. I guess I just wanted to raise a bit of awareness as if it can happen to me I can to anyone. People moan about the NHS but if you really need help & an angel by your side to watch over you then they are out there, they work for the NHS.
Edited by splodge s4 on Friday 23 June 16:17
My wife and my mate had one both unexpected. The wife's was diagnosed by the optician as she had gone for a check up due to a 'black spot' affecting vision in one eye. My mate was out walking and suddenly began to 'drag' one leg and then started mumbling. Both OK now but scary nonetheless.
Out of interest what's your cholesterol level as this might have an impact?
Out of interest what's your cholesterol level as this might have an impact?
OP did anyone mention PFO? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrial_septal_defect...
Get yourself a check with a cardiologist (Saline contrast study (bubble study)) and don't do any diving before you have the answer!
Get yourself a check with a cardiologist (Saline contrast study (bubble study)) and don't do any diving before you have the answer!
Driller said:
OP did anyone mention PFO?
Yes, only realised what it was after I looked at the link but yes they did a scan & it looked fine. Also cholesterol level checked & all fine, it was a proper MOT, MRI scan the day after being admitted & that was all clear. This was probably caused when i fell off my bike around 11 days ago & fell heavily on my right shoulder. Although I was fine at the time & had a totally normal week it just decided to happen then. Got a Dr apt Monday for a check to see how its all going & hopefully its getting better & I can crack on as normal.
Thanks for your replies chaps.
Wow, scary stuff, I am also 46 and it makes you realise that you can be affected at any age, but especially the older you get, sounds like you are in great shape but it was caused by falling off your bike, a lad I know had what he thought was a heart attack, turned out to be a virus that attacks the heart muscle.
Does make me concerned doing weights and stuff but my thinking is, get the blood pumping, keep everything used to being put under duress, and if something does happen at some point you dont feel like you didnt make an effort, must be so many folk that let things slide (including me) and then got ill because of it, then you cant do much, viscious circle.
Does make me concerned doing weights and stuff but my thinking is, get the blood pumping, keep everything used to being put under duress, and if something does happen at some point you dont feel like you didnt make an effort, must be so many folk that let things slide (including me) and then got ill because of it, then you cant do much, viscious circle.
I had a stroke 8 years ago at 54 yrs .
Caused by a rare liver infection releasing a blood clot .
It depends where the clot parks itself as to what the damage is called .
Mine parked in the left of the brain.
Lost speech droopy side of face and weakness in the arm , just like the TV ads .
Scary at the time as most of my other problems up until then had been injury/ sport related .
But recovery was 98% ,just a bit of memory loss and tiredness if doing paperwork or written stuff .
All until March this year and suspected angina and yesterday Atrieal Fibrillation.
Caused by a rare liver infection releasing a blood clot .
It depends where the clot parks itself as to what the damage is called .
Mine parked in the left of the brain.
Lost speech droopy side of face and weakness in the arm , just like the TV ads .
Scary at the time as most of my other problems up until then had been injury/ sport related .
But recovery was 98% ,just a bit of memory loss and tiredness if doing paperwork or written stuff .
All until March this year and suspected angina and yesterday Atrieal Fibrillation.
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