I've had a TIA/ mini stroke, any changes I should be making?

[Fermit and Sexy Sarah]

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"

[Trevor555]

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.

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.

[HustleRussell]

Lets be honest, in the fullness of time, vaping is going to eventually prove to have negative consequences even if without nicotine.

If you are vaping nicotine it will absolutely contribute to increased HR & BP.

Also people on this forum speak in a very blasé way about significant alcohol consumption- in some of the drinking threads you'll find people on 100+ units. However that is not to say that 60 units is moderate. It is far from typical and it is excessive.

Edited by HustleRussell on Wednesday 27th May 11:09

[Fermit and Sexy Sarah]

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.

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.

This would be the ideal outcome! I have been under a moderate amount of stress over recent weeks, and let S know. This has I presume come about from lockdown getting to me, along with worries about work and money in-turn. The latter point doesn't worry me now, I've got a full months work booked in.

[Fermit and Sexy Sarah]

I've just taken a call from the local hospital, and the first step, a telephone consultation with a Stroke Consultant, has been booked in for tomorrrow morning. I'll also ask questions with him RE vaping. We've also ordered a BP device on Prime, which should arrive this evening.

[Mikebentley]

Hope you stay well Fermit. Not to bang on but steps to reduce the alcohol are definitely going to help. The vaping thing worries me generally. I have never smoked but occasionally work with a guy who does and every time I do I immediately get a sore throat from the vapour. It can’t ultimately be healthy ingesting/ breathing in hot flavoured junk.

Ten years ago and the same age you are now I was Senior Officer in charge of a local prison working nights. I had an episode whilst walking to a wing where I had a pain and a semi paralysis on my left side of my face, neck and upper body. It lasted only a few hours until full motion returned. I was very scared by it. It was Subsequently put down to a possible trapped nerve or spasm. I believe it was due to a cumulative build up of stress.

I changed a few things including where I worked (same job just better resources) and have never had a repeat. Recent events have meant we are all carrying that extra bit of stress.

You seem from previous posts quite a well centred guy (porch ignored) and I just want to send you my best wishes.

[MYOB]

All the best Fermit. Think I've heard that many people have had mini strokes without realising but these were discovered after a major attack.

You're doing the right thing in order to minimise your risks. Just take advice from the medical folks and you should be fine.

Re the vaping. I vape and in no way do I believe it's harmless. It's just the lesser evil compared to cigarettes. But I suspect in future years there will be a lot of health problems for vapers.

Knock it on the head if you can.

Best of luck.

[MSBravo]

Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:

I've just taken a call from the local hospital, and the first step, a telephone consultation with a Stroke Consultant, has been booked in for tomorrrow morning. I'll also ask questions with him RE vaping. We've also ordered a BP device on Prime, which should arrive this evening.

If it is of any reassurance, well over half of TIA clinic referrals turn out to be migraines.

In the meantime:
- stop drinking completely. 60 units is 4 times the recommended allowance.
- stop vaping, it is not without its own risks

I wish you the very best of luck.

[Monkeylegend]

MSBravo said:

Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:

I've just taken a call from the local hospital, and the first step, a telephone consultation with a Stroke Consultant, has been booked in for tomorrrow morning. I'll also ask questions with him RE vaping. We've also ordered a BP device on Prime, which should arrive this evening.

If it is of any reassurance, well over half of TIA clinic referrals turn out to be migraines.

In the meantime:
- stop drinking completely. 60 units is 4 times the recommended allowance.
- stop vaping, it is not without its own risks

I wish you the very best of luck.

You will also find that you should not drive for 1 month if you have been diagnosed as such and not start again until given medical clearance by your doctor.

[The Moose]

Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:

RE the vaping, is there really any risk with it?

https://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20190130/vaping-tied-to-rise-in-stroke-heart-attack-risk#1

[MYOB]

Monkeylegend said:

You will also find that you should not drive for 1 month if you have been diagnosed as such and not start again until given medical clearance by your doctor.

I'm not sure there's an automatic ban from driving? I'm pretty sure he would need to inform DVLA only if the consultant recommend it?

Besides, we are jumping the gun here as he hasn't been diagnosed yet and hopefully there's nothing serious to worry about.

[The Moose]

Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:

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.

I’m no expect, but that sounds like a dependency to me.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Sorry to hear this Fermit, no help from me other than to say look after yourself.

[ReverendCounter]

Do you take fish oil supplements? Bearing in mind any effect they might have on any medication that is offered, of course.

https://www.cochrane.org/CD012815/STROKE_marine-de...

"Omega-3 fatty acids — eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) — present in oily fish have important functions in the brain. In animal research, they appear to protect the brain cells after stroke particularly if they are administered very early. However, the effects of EPA and DHA as a treatment for stroke in humans are unclear."

However:

"We are very uncertain of the effect of marine-derived n-3 PUFAs therapy on functional outcomes and dependence after stroke as there is insufficient high-quality evidence"

Personally I take 2000mg of fish oil + 2000mg cod liver oil per day.

[Monkeylegend]

MYOB said:

Monkeylegend said:

You will also find that you should not drive for 1 month if you have been diagnosed as such and not start again until given medical clearance by your doctor.

I'm not sure there's an automatic ban from driving? I'm pretty sure he would need to inform DVLA only if the consultant recommend it?

Besides, we are jumping the gun here as he hasn't been diagnosed yet and hopefully there's nothing serious to worry about.

Fermit said his doctor stated it was a tia/mini stroke.

Check the Gvt website for the not driving for a month bit..

[CAPP0]

Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:

RE the vaping, is there really any risk with it?

Someone in the 1920s probably said:

RE the tobacco, is there really any risk with it?

Disclosure: I get very uncomfortable very quickly if anyone is smoking or vaping anywhere near me; it irritates my nose first and if it goes on I get a tight chest, so I'm pretty "anti".

That aside, just about everything chemical which releases an aerosol or other vapour carries warnings on the packaging about inhalation, albeit the level of potential harm will range from "irritant" to "fatal poison". I don't think it would ever be wise to ingest on purpose, and particularly not if you (now) have an underlying medical issue.

Chuck it in the bin!

[Mastodon2]

Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:

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.

Sixty units a week, jesus. The NHS guideline for a week is 14 units max. I know you say you're not dependent on alcohol but it sounds suspiciously like alcohol dependency. If you think you need it to sleep and you're putting away 60 units a week, it sounds like you've become dependent on the drink. This is definitely something to discuss with the doctors as you meet them, though I'm sure the stroke specialist will want to know about your intake.

I'd probably knock the vaping on the head too. A lot of people seem to think it's a harmless activity since the NHS stated they think it's less harmful than smoking, which is a bit of a case of people hearing what they want to hear. The dangers will become more apparent in the future as research into vaping-related pathologies begins to produce results.

Still, it should be obvious that vaporising unregulated concoctions of chemicals and breathing them in is a harmful practice. It's good that you're treating this event as a wake up call though, many would just bury their heads in the sand.

[silversurfer1]

I wish you a speedy recovery ! what ever happens don't leave it 4 days next time get yourself straight to A&E ASAP


SS

[phope]

Read carefully

https://www.gov.uk/transient-ischaemic-attacks-and...

Details

Car or motorcycle licence

You must stop driving for at least 1 month after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke. You can restart only when your doctor tells you it is safe.




https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1883...

Details

You do not need to tell us if you have had a TIA if you have a car or motorcycle licence.

If you have had a stroke you need to tell us if you have suffered any complications.

If you have had a stroke or TIA and hold a bus or lorry licence you must tell DVLA.

Edited by phope on Wednesday 27th May 13:52

[MYOB]

Monkeylegend said:

Fermit said his doctor stated it was a tia/mini stroke

A GP cannot give such a concrete diagnosis without scans etc. GPs rely on symptoms to guess what is wrong.