Seizures but tests say not stroke

[seventhgate]

My elderly mother has just been taken back into hospital today after only being out 2 weeks, with suspect stroke symptoms i.e slurred speech. Previously she had a similar symptoms with loss of bowels and being sick they done tests and said it was not a stroke, but gastroenteritis. They kept her in for 18 days, then released her back home, then after 2 weeks she had a similar episode collapsing on the toilet and going into a seizure, then speech all slurred, she was admitted and they said it wasn't a stroke but possible vasovagal episode but not sure. She was kept in for 13 days . Now today paramedics say they are unsure if she has had a minor stroke as her oxygen, BP, are all fine, but they have taken her into hospital. Anyone here got any suggestions what the causes may be as I'm feeling so frustrated

[Heather1957]

Having had a stroke and now about 98% recovered I believe the only way to be sure is to have an MRI/CT scan of the brain.

I did have an MRI (may have been a CT scan) and it showed a dead area of my brain, it was grey and it should be pink.

I would ask for an MRI to totally rule out a stroke.

[Anon2023 in reply to Heather1957]

I think a ct scan can also detect a stroke. I had a stroke in nov 21 and I don’t think they could do an mri as I have a mechanical valve. I’m sure they did a few ct scans that showed the damage. I was lucky to have a thrombectomy and nearly fully recovered. X

[Heather1957 in reply to Anon2023]

It could have been a CT scan I had done, TBH I can't really remember.

[Anon2023 in reply to Heather1957]

I imagine that if your experience of having a stoke was anything like mine, it would have been truly awful. I hope that you are feeling better now. X

[Heather1957 in reply to Anon2023]

I actually count my blessings as it was so mild. I was working in Coventry and just felt a ping in the back of my head, my eyes were all over the place and I couldn't walk in a straight line. I would try and walk from A to B and end up at C.

Work called the paramedics who made me do several tests but said I was fine so off they went. I live in S Wales, so my sister and husband came for me and the car and drove me to a local hospital.

They again gave me physical tests which I could do and by now (it was the next day) I could walk in a line but my eyes were still all over the place.

Long story short I spend the night on a bed behind A & E, I was kept another night on a ward but had a scan, the next day I was taken by ambulance to a stroke ward in a different hospital. I was kept in for 3 days, had to make a tea and toast and was sent home.

No-one actually told me I had a stroke but I asked at one of the out patients appointments and the Dr there explained about the dead part of the brain. I had an angiogram 4 days before the stroke so I think that caused it.

I am left with a twitch in my right hand (minor) and I think I have a squiffy eye but I am very lucky!!

[Anon2023 in reply to Heather1957]

I’m pleased that you are mostly recovered, strokes are terrifying. I couldn’t walk, talk or even pee for a short while after mine but I was incredibly lucky that surgery removed the clot. I’m left with a slight tremor in my hand and loss of some balance but it could have been a lot worse. I hope the lady who posted this gets the help she needs and that they give her a definitive diagnosis. X

[Heather1957 in reply to Anon2023]

Totally agree re the support needed.

Depending where the stroke hits is the extent of the damage, short term or long term.

The paramedics didn't even give me an injection of blood thinners so I was really lucky!! I have been on Clopidogrel since apart from 6 months when I was put on another thinner following 2 stents being fitted.

Thank goodness my work wasn't as a surgeon as my twitch happens at the most bizarre and unexpected moment. I do notice the turn in my eye especially when trying to apply eye make up!

I think you are right though, it is best to focus on the positives.

[seventhgate]

No she hasn't been assessed by neurology as they don't have a department at the hospital she has been taken too, and paramedic said she could not be taken the hospital that does because of local boundaries., I would like to think that this time she needs to be investigated fully. paramedic said she could have a bleed somewhere, and said to me that this is the third time she has been admitted in the past 2 months , and gastroenteritis was a poor excuse.

[Digger0 in reply to seventhgate]

Neurologists can visit the hospital she is in to see her! What area do you live in that you don't have a local near unit? Goos luck

[Blondie12345]

my grandma has been through similar.

Also has tods paralysis which mimics a stroke with numbness on one side. She also has had many seizures which were not strokes as confirmed by scans until very recently where one of the ‘seizures’ was a mini stroke this time. Comparison of scans confirmed.

So i think a scan is key

[Wooodsie]

Hello seventhgate. My father was treated for strokes after repeated episodes such as you describe. On attending A&E for the nth time, a lady consultant came ro me and explained that he wasn't having strokes, but he did have a brain tumour. She explained that because his notes said stroke, she was helpless ti change the diagnosis and had to send him back to the stroke ward. She said to advocate on his behalf about the brain tumour. After about 3 weeks they finally agreed.

[seventhgate]

They are discharging her, but said I wasn't happy and didn't want her back home until further investigation, so now they are wanting to put her in a care home to discharge her! I'm arguing with the doctors here as last night physio signed her off to come back home and because i challenged the doctors i believe they are now being arsy with me. But I am not having her go into a care home it will destroy her.

[WardijaWardija]

Sorry to hear about your Mum.I'll keep this short.I am a stroke survivor.The gold standard test for exact results is a MRI.

There's no, yes, no or maybe.

If you've had a stroke/TIA the evidence will be clear for the Neuroloist to see.

You're either had a stroke or you haven't.

Best wishes

[seventhgate]

My mother is back home now discharge notification said “reviewed by stroke team for ? TIA it is difficult to know whether this is the diagnosis from the history given”

Follow up in Brainsafe clinic organised. I’ve no idea what that is, I do believe that because of her age they’re not prepared to offer any surgery due to the risks .

[seventhgate]

no there’s no follow up, they’ve just brushed her to one side , I mean “brainsafe clinic” there’s no such thing. The fact is it’s her age and they don’t want to do anything for her.