stroke confused :-(

Brain and nerves
1

Am 42 years old...had a mild stroke in December. Had lots of tests and they are none wiser what caused it. Potentially had hole in my heart..but further tests have ruled that out...whilst I am thankful of that feel confused and little scared as doesnt seem to be a reason and am so scared of it happening again. I do suffer from high blood pressure and fast heart rate which I take medicat for. They have recently doubled all my medication again but just cant get ny head round it all. Any help or reassurance appreciated. Thank you x

2

Hi Debbie, I really can empathise with you as our son had a stroke a couple of years ago aged 39.  A non-smoker, little alcohol, a frequent football and tennis player, and a gym bunny.  His stroke occurred in his sleep and when he awoke the following morning he became aware of a slight problem with his vision.  He ignored it for a couple of days and thethought he should get it checked out with an optician, who became concerned and referred him to a consultant who did an immediate MRI and confirmed a clot to the brain and immediate admission to a stroke ward.  He spent a couple of days there and was put on the blood thinning medication Clopidogrel and statins - the latter is an automatic treatment following stroke even in the case of normal cholesterol levels.  The cardiologist could find any problems apart from a slight thickening of his heart muscle but said that was subjective in that it could have been there for years, perhaps even since birth, and probably not related. His vision improved but not to perfect so he doesn't drive but continues with life as before, still playing tennis but has given up football and the gym of late.

I think the important thing for you now is to try and put it to the back of your mind (difficult I know) but your continuing anxiety will not help as it will place stress on your body, and stress can cause all sorts of problems in itself.  Good luck and stay well.

3

Hi Debbie, I had a mild stroke in December, I am waiting on one last heart test this month to check my arteries, I've had the neck one done and MRI I will still be waiting to see specialist  after all this time, still none the wiser, Normally high BP and Fast heart beat can be a cause, but won't happen again if your on right meds, I think mine was cholesterol or smoking and poor diet 

x

4

Thank you for yr replies..very much appreciated. I am also on clopidogrel..bisoprolol and losartan. Guess I am just searching for a reason and feel at a loss because they cant give me one. Find the memory and fatigue quite hard to deal with, but have an fantastic stroke nurse who helping me work through it. Just taken away my confidence. Thank you again for yr replies. Kindest regards

5

Yes it really does knock your  confidence, constantly thinking you are going to have another one, it gets a bit easier as time goes on 

x

6

Thanks...glad its not just me. Become obsessed with taking my phone everywhere just in case!! Its funny although relived not got hole in heart would have put my mind at rest to have been fixed..its like the not knowing is the hardest thing x

7

Hi Debbie, I had my stroke 3 years ago, I have never smoked or drank, played regular sport, Tennis, Badminton, Bowls etc. Seems thats no guarantee you would'nt have a stroke. The consultant could find no reason why I had the stroke, or the several TIA's that followed. I am on warfarin, blood pressure tablets and beta blockers. Still have problems with my memory, weakness on my right side.

Since being discharged from hospital, I've had no follow up consultations, or advice.

I have lost my confidence, for which I was being helped by a counsellor, but that has stopped now. 

Whenever I talk to my Doctor about other issues, he seems reluctant to prescribe any other medication in case it conflicts with the warfarin.

Sorry I haven't been much help, or offered re-assurance, but I wish you well for the future.

Pauline

8

If you have high blood pressure, would that not be the reason for the stroke?

9

Stroke risk increases linearly with blood pressure. High blood pressure was your problem. Keep taking that medication.

10

Blood Pressure was controlled by tablets, the Dr's said it wasn't high enough to have caused a stroke, but it is hereditary. They seemed dubious about any hereditary link.