TIA After Stoke

Hi Adam,

Great that you have posted, I'm sorry that there is such misunderstanding about your concerns.  

Yes I would agree that there is a lot of misunderstanding and lack of compassion about peoples concerns when it comes to brain stuff.  It leave us survivors at a loss, we know our history and are vigilant on following up anything which raises our alarm bells.  Yet the reception on doing this - doesn't match.

I reckon that by posting your concerns is a job well done and I really hope that by sharing your lack of clarity received helps in the long run.

Have you called Strokeline?

Sue

Hi Adam,

I am sorry to hear of your recent experience of having a TIA, and that you are now feeling uncertain about the results of your scan and where to from here. Asking questions is certainly the way to allay this uncertainty.

A good place to start would be making an appointment with your GP. They may be able to link you in with follow up tests and/or specialists, such as an outpatient neurologist who can advise on what tests would be of benefit to you.

The My Stroke Journey resource has more information on stroke and TIAs. Of particular interest may be the explanations of tests that may be completed as part of early assessment of stroke. This can be found on page 12.

It can be found here: 

file://nsf.local/Company/Users/JShort/Downloads/NSF1543_MSJclassic_2017web%20(3).pdf

It is reasonable to feel worried about future strokes or TIAs following an event such as yours. There are things you can do to reduce your risk of having another stroke, including:

• eating a balanced diet
• exercising regularly
• quitting smoking
• regularly checking your blood pressure
• reducing alcohol and salt intake

Further information regarding controlling your stroke risk factors can be found on page 26 of the My Stroke Journey resource (link found above)

Good work on asking the important questions, and seeking answers to your questions.

Jessica

StrokeConnect Officer

Hi Adam,
I had my original stroke in September 2013 and since then despite medication etc I have had three TIAs. Each one left me with deficits with an impact on my fatigue featuring. 
One thing I have discovered is taht the majority of literature and research focuses on 'typical' signs and effects of both stroke and TIA. I think a lot of people 'don't look' like they've had a stroke, me being one of them. My response to that now is "What should a person that's had a stroke look like?". Given that effects are based on hwere damage has occurred each person will present differently.
I feel your frustration re conflicting medical opinion. During my last TIA, which I was in hospital for about a week, I had neurologists and doctors stnding at the end of my bed arguing, in front of me, as to what they thought the next course of action should be. 
Something I read or heard the other day made a lot of sense to me and it was that stroke survivors shouldn't just rely on neurologists for advice. Cardiologists and another specialisation, that I can;t remember, were mentioned as being someone that should be referrde to. Seeing a cardiologist resulted in me having a PFO closure. 
My opinion is that as an individual we each know our own body, abd how it's feeling, the best and we owe it to ourselves to keep asking questions and seeking answers until we are happy with the response. I know this can be hard, and I'm one of the lucky ones as I have a brilliant GP who questions as much as I do, but you've started by asking on here so you're moving in the right directoin.
There's never been a reason found for my stroke or TIAs so when I do strokesafe presentations and mention that a TIA is a warnign sign of a stroke in the back of mind is "I wonder what that means for me?" but I'm glad to say it is a fleeting thought. My take on it is that there is so much about the brain and body yet to be discovered that I'm not going to live with this shadow following my footsteps. Rather, I'll dance in the sunshine (figuratively taht is as i'd lose my balance and fall over if I really did) and live my life the happiest and best I can.
Good luck with everything, Toni  

Hi Adam

I hope this comment finds you okay. 

There's nothing worse than the dizziness. Have you tried an MRI of the head and importantly the neck? An ultrasound of the neck is also something that should work. Hopefully, if there was a clot it dissipated. I mention the neck because this is where a brainstem stoke occurs. My kind of stroke. Hence why I'm cautious about the neck area. My ER doctors just checked the brain not the neck. And I was in the ER 8 eights and they never contemplated it. So, I'd highly recommend ruling the neck out.

It is rare though, so I'll cross my fingers for you. It is unlikely. Better to be safe than sorry though :)

Good luck

Rachel