Hello Anne- Louise
I’m glad you had your neurology review, but it does sound as if you didn’t get the answers you needed from the neurologist. This can feel very confusing. You can request a second opinion, as it is very important to feel confident and have your questions answered in a way you can understand. You can ask your GP for a referral to a different neurologist.
We are not medical here at StrokeLine, so cannot specifically say the type of stroke you have experienced, or explain the mechanism surrounding it . This will need to be confirmed by your neurologist or perhaps start with talking to your GP and asking your specific questions. You can also have a look at your discharge summary from the hospital, if you have one, as this will generally give your specific diagnosis. If you don’t have a copy, your GP should have this and can go through it with you.
Given you’ve been prescribed aspirin (a blood thinner) and statins (cholesterol-lowering medication), these are usually prescribed for someone after they have experienced an ischaemic stroke. An ischaemic stroke happens when a blood vessel is blocked, often by a clot. Treatment usually involves aspirin and statins as you’ve been prescribed.
Haemorrhagic strokes happens when a blood vessel bursts and bleeds into the brain. Aspirin is usually avoided after these, since it can increase the risk of bleeding.
According to the Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management, all ischaemic stroke and TIA patients should have antiplatelet therapy (aspirin) commenced as soon as possible. The Clinical Guidelines also recommend all patients with ischaemic stroke or TIA should be prescribed a high-potency statin, regardless of baseline lipid levels.
Given the new aspirin and statins you have been prescribed, it suggests you may have experienced an ischaemic (clot) stroke, rather than a haemorrhagic (bleed) stroke. Sometimes doctors describe it as a “small vessel that blocked off,” which can sound like “broke,” but the key point is it closed off rather than continued bleeding. Once again, we cannot confirm this specific diagnosis, but your neurologist or GP should be able to help with this.
It is your right to have information about your health, so do go and speak to your GP about your concerns, and perhaps consider seeking a new neurologist if you don’t feel confident in asking for a follow up appointment with your current neurologist.
Given all you are going through, you are very welcome to give StrokeLine a call on Ph 1800 787 653. or email StrokeLine on strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au We are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and would be happy to talk with you in more detail. We cannot provide medical advice, but can support you to understand what has happened to you.
Kind regards Siobhan (StrokeLine)
