Suspect I have had a mini stroke TIA...what should I do?

[DizzyD]

Hi all, just want to run this you guys and ladies.

I know folk here are not medical professionals, but sure some of you will identify with my experience and hopefully point me in the right direction.

I suspect that I had a mini stroke about a week ago. Let me explain. My morning routine is kicking ball around garden playing with my dog for 1 hour which gets my circulation going. Moderate exercise really. All was well, felt great.

After rest for ten minutes sat at table, to check my BP. Was calm and relaxed. I take 6 consecutive BP readings to see if there are any variations. 1 through to 3 were fine, dropping nicely. During the 4 reading I felt a sharp shooting pain in a artery, going up from top of forehead (left side) into top of brain on the left side. It was quite surreal, I could actually visualise blood shunting through the artery. In all of lasted about 10 seconds.

4th BP (in process of being taken while sharp pain occured) was high in comparison to previous 3 normal ones. I was not at all concerned because the sharp pain had stopped. The final two BP reading were normal. Everything was fine...or so I thought!

About half hour later, could be more, really bad headache all on left hand side on top of head and forehead. Then came very hot sensation down left hand side of face which gradually subsided. The headache stayed...Was not relieved with paracetamol.

The headache came and went, in the same area, for about four days.

Since this happened generally feeling unwell, no energy tightness in chest, can't walk far. At present I take apixaban, verapamil and ramipril. Diagnosed with AFib, enlarged heart.

What should I do if anything?

Kind regards

Have a rewarding day.

[Hidden]

I would suggest at the very least calling 111 and asking for their advice, if not just skipping that and presenting at A&E: I wouldn’t be at all surprised if 111 suggest A&E after triaging you. My understanding from a family member having had them is that TIAs tend to pass without leaving you feel any worse for wear in the aftermath because they’re exactly that - transient. The fact that you’re still feeling unwell is a worry, almost regardless of what the original issue was. You need to checking out, in my opinion, sooner rather than later. Not one to ignore or wait and see what happens.

[DizzyD in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Charlie for your most welcome reply. I have taken your advice on board but sad to say I am loosing faith in my local a+e which is really bad. Not blaming people who work there, but when it comes to post code lottery there is a big difference as to how you are treated in a+e. In all honestly, I am seriously considering going to India to get heart issues sorted, than can be sorted. Sorry I have gone of track.Great you mentioned that TIAs are transient. Really helpful.

As for feeling unwell, this could be down to new meds Verapamil and Ramipril. Unfortunately, my body is very sensitive and reacts to medication in very strange ways. Sometimes, I can't see the forest for the trees, that is what is side effects of medications and what is an actual additional health condition.

Thanks again Charlie

[Hidden in reply to DizzyD]

Shouldn't really say this, but if you go to a&E as I did a few years ago with haemorraghing(can't spell that!!) and had to wait 1 1/2 hrs to be seen, sitting on a chair which I covered with plastic bags! Someone came in and went to the desk and promptly fainted-he was taken straight in! whether it was genuine or a ploy to bypass the 20 or so people already waiting I don't know but that's the way to be seen quickly! I contemplated it, but decided against it!

[Nettekin]

Hi dizzyd. You have already had sound advice from Charlie.My personal opinion is that any symptoms that are new to you should be reported and monitored. They raise the "red flag".You are concerned enough to post here so please follow through with the professionals. I understand your reluctance to go to a & e and it is difficult to fight your corner when you are unwell, but such is the reality these days.

Wishing you all the best x

[Millbrook]

Do go to A&E n hv yourself checked out as advised by members. A blood test will show if your heart enzymes are out due to an event.

[Hephzibar]

Definitely get some advice. I had weird dizzy spell, phoned 111 who got me an appt with GP who then sent me through to the TIA clinic at local hospital. Thoroughly checked out - ECGs , blood, carotid artery Doppler and reassured that it was not a TIA, but pre syncope. Always worth with checking out xx

[JSCAPM]

You’ve been given the right advice, ie. get it checked by a healthcare professional.

Three years ago I had a TIA and the symptoms only lasted about half an hour. Unfortunately I didn’t recognise it as a warning sign and simply put it down to a ‘funny turn’. I then went on to have a stroke two days later.

Hope you get it sorted.

[Fullofheart]

Definitely agree with others. I've had some vision issues post ablation this last week. Went to A And E and optician following advice of cardiologist and 111 and thoroughly checked out...no sign of stroke but been referred for TIA assessment. Not worth taking chances. Yes it's miserable in A and E and I didn't want to go but ultimately I was relatively reassured and the referral is now in place. Good luck!

[Pollypuss]

About 8 years ago I had a terrifying experience whereby I started a sentence during a migraine and could not get the words out, I went to A&E and they examined me and referred me to a neurologist. He was excellent and said he suffered from migraines himself so understood and thought I had a “complex migraine” not a mini stroke. I’m glad I went now to A&E . It’s very worrying if something happens that never happened before and should always be investigated

[Bishop1]

Good morning hope you feeling better today. Please ring 111 for advice. I had a total of 7 TIA,s over the years. The first few I lost my speech and use of my hands when driving ( with 2 of my beautiful grandchildren in the car). They didn't last long but NO was very high. Then I got a migraine aura and was hospitalised for a week. I had 4 mini strokes while in hospital. Advised it I ever got pins and needles in hands of feet, to please ring 999 immediatly. I have been ok since x

[Auiron]

Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

nhs.uk/conditions/transient...

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or "mini stroke" is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain.

The disruption in blood supply results in a lack of oxygen to the brain.

This can cause sudden symptoms similar to a stroke, such as speech and visual disturbance, and numbness or weakness in the face, arms and legs.

But a TIA does not last as long as a stroke. The effects last a few minutes to a few hours and fully resolve within 24 hours.

---

A TIA is a warning sign that you may be at risk of having a full stroke in the near future, and an assessment can help doctors determine the best way to reduce the chances of that happening.

If you think you may have had a TIA previously, but the symptoms have passed and you did not seek medical advice at the time, make an urgent appointment with a GP.

[Heather1957]

No we are not medical professional and TBH from the way you have described what happened it could be anything, even just a migraine.

I have had a full blown stroke (identified after an MRI) my symptoms were nothing like you described.

Granted it wasn't (luckily) a major stroke, I felt a 'ping' in my head, I couldn't walk in a straight line and my eyes couldn't focus.

No headache and I could do all the things the medics asked of me apart from walk in a straight line.

No-one (IMHO) should even attempt to diagnose you from the description you have given and the only place you should ask is at a hospital or a GP.

It can be very difficult to diagnose a TIA, mini-stroke or even a full blown stroke by the medics so we certainly shouldn't even try.

[Mollhon]

Please do get properly checked out.

A friend of mine had a TIA in early January this year, symptoms were....mainly a bad headache for a few days, then feeling wobbly in the legs.

A week later.......an Ischemic stroke, which has left him struggling with speech due to the brain damage and paralysis on right side,

DON’T WAIT.

[thehypnotist]

Regardless of a TIA being transient, it is used as a diagnostic measure for further strokes. I had an undiagnosed Tia and a couple of years later I have had two different strokes fortunately, on the area’s of my brain that didn’t cause too much damage!! These were only diagnosed after telling my GP I felt funny 😵‍💫

[Anji46]

I had a bad headache and felt generally unwell a week before I had a stroke 4 weeks ago . Lost my speech for a week but it has returned and discharged from hospital after 4 days with changed meds . Now on Proxa and statins . I still have a headache when I wake up ( always on left side) but take paracetamol and it subsides . It is scary but I would seek further advice