I have just had a Facebook message regarding this new indicator. This is in addition to the face and arm weakness and speech difficulties. The patient should be asked to stick his tongue out. If it is not straight then there is a potential problem.
There is firm advice about the urgency of medical attention. Problems can be reversed if treatment begins within 3 hours.
That's an interesting one, jennydog - thank you for posting.
I think I heard that a few months ago but don't need asking to put my tongue out.
I think everybody should be made aware of the symptoms of stroke. Some years ago I had a call from a distant relative nearby who asked me to pop round as her husband wasn't well. As soon as I arrived I suspected a stroke so asked how long since she called the ambulance. She hadn't so I did and waited . At least an hour lost! (Ambulance came in about 15 mins. )'
Sadly three days later after apparently making good progress he died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism a few minutes after I left his ward. He had squeezed my hand and smiled when I left. Such a waste.
Someone can pass these tests of the nost common symptoms and still have a stroke. On 6th July I had a stroke - not a TIA - and I passed all of these tests. For me the loss of sight on the right-hand side and feeling like I had been put in a concrete mixer were the clues. For the paramedics it was my speech and thought processes gradually slowing down. A stroke or in my case a subsequent reaction to Apixaban, can also result in a stiff / rigid painfull neck.
The consultant advised during thrombolysis that the affected area of the brain loses a million brain cells a minute. My treatment was completed within three hours by the wonderful team at Southmead especially Dr. Martinovic - I should get air miles for the number of visits to Southmead! - but I still have loss of vision on my right-hand side; however my "swiss-cheese" memory is almost restored. For a couple of weeks I didn't know where our bathroom was or how to work Outlook. I'm not driving and, the Council won't insure me for volunteer nature conservation work. Apart from those minor things I have a lot to be thankfull for.
For the record the stroke was "a random event" that didn't occur during exercise, work, or AF.
My body reacts strongly to some medication: dronedarone and amiodarone placed me close to death. Apixaban is an issue. It's down to trying different anticoagulants interspersed with gastro-resistant aspirin (no problems with aspirin).
Namaste
John
Thank you for such an inspirational and interesting post. With your continued determination you will continue to make good progress.
It's very disappointing that your conservation work is on hold. Surely they could find something that would not be considered risky?
Very best wishes.
Hi Jenny; thank you for your good wishes. I suspect the Council is concerned with my probable use of a NOAC whilst using a saw. I have 50 years of health and safety on construction sites including holding a professional level CSCS card and, I've been recently trained by the Council in health and safety for group leaders, also the use of power tools such as hedge cutters. The ruling has implications for other volunteers and the Equalities section of the Council are considering it. This may also apply to any volunteers who take anticoagulants or have health issues in other parts of the UK.
Thank you for posting on your experience. I think it would be helpful if people just understood that we all can have strokes and that being on a blood thinner just isn't that big a deal -- frankly if you cut yourself with a chainsaw you're in a bit of pickle no matter what eh? I admire your resilience and bravery -- I had a TIA a few years ago and was a bit freaked out but indeed Keeping Calm and Carrying On is the way to go.
As a newly diagnosed AF er, I'm so so scared of the possibility of a stroke.
I can't seem to relax and believe that taking an anti coagulant is on my side and doing its job.
After watching my father pass away due to a stroke, I m just anxious all the time and worrying. Which of course does nt help my AF!
Please tell me this will pass and most people have this worry in the first few months of being diagnosed.
We have all had this dreadful worry and for you it's so much worse because of your father's experience. With time we start to adjust to life with AF. Bob keeps telling us that it won't kill us but the stroke risk remains.
My best advice is to learn as much as you can about AF. There's a huge amount of information on this site. Eat sensibly, avoid stress and be kind to yourself. Above all, treat your anticoagulant as your best friend - because that's what it is.
If you have questions or worries then post on here. There's a wealth of support and understanding.
Very best wishes.
Thank you so much Jenny for your kind reply. And yes am trying to get all the information and knowledge I can about AF
To be honest after being discharged from hospital, without too much information, only medication, was so relieved to find this site and all the kind informative people on here. X
Hi Lizie-Loo. Three years ago I was reluctant to embark on anticoagulation because I was convinced it wasn't my best way forward. Half the doctors at my surgery stressed that a stroke could be right in front of me. I gave in with huge misgivings, feeling I had only weeks or even less to live. Dark days, because I felt so picked on, and so out of step and so cross as well as feeling I had been persuaded to take something that was going to do me no good. I've moved forwards a long way bit by bit and the bad feelings have completely evaporated now.
Thank you Rellim.
Yes I think just the mention of stroke overwhelms us. Like you I felt angry that suddenly my life had changed in such a blink of an eye!
I'm hoping that staying calm, not concentrating on the thought of a stroke and appreciating that the medication is there to do its work will gradually make me feel less worried.
Thank you for your kind words.
You're right. As time goes by and nothing dire happens, you do start to worry a lot less!
It will fade and pass. Something that my father said is that you are at where you are at. You can only move forwards but you can only look back to learn how to move forwards.
The fact that you are being anticoagulated significantly reduces the risk of a stroke. I suspect that your father may have had AF and probably wasn't anticoagulated.
Thank you Peter for your kind words. Know my worrying is kind of wasted energy, must try and put my faith in medication.
Hopefully, as you say, and your dad, it is what it is, be calm and try to relax.
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