TIA Advice: Hi all, I have recently... - British Heart Fou...

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TIA Advice

Titanic65 profile image
15 Replies

Hi all, I have recently suffered a TIA which came out of nowhere. I have had a great service from NHS as had a CT scan and vascular ultra sound both of which showed no concerns. I was told I would see the consultant today after the ultra sound but they just sent me home and I had some questions. A friend of mine told me to try this group as others will be in the same situation.

I dont smoke, drink very little and had no issues prior to the TIA and suspect the event was caused by stress. I have been given medicatiton which I am taking but am experiencing feelings of light headiness. Is this normal? Could it be the medication.

Many thanks.

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Titanic65 profile image
Titanic65
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15 Replies
BeKind28- profile image
BeKind28-

Hello :-)

Sorry to hear what you have just been through and so sorry you did not get to see a Consultant to ask the questions you needed to that would have been such a help

Obviously your body needs time to get over things as well as yes some medications can make you feel dizzy not sure if you are on Bisoprolol as that is one that makes a lot of us feel this way

Give yourself a little time to adjust to things and if this continues make a appointment to see your Doctor and talk it through with them

I hope others when they see your post will give you some good advice as to how they felt I know I took quite a while to get used to the meds after my heart attacks and Bypasses :-)

Let us know how you get on :-) x

Titanic65 profile image
Titanic65 in reply to BeKind28-

BeKind28 thank you for your reply. I will try and see my GP if the dizziness does not lessen at least. Take care x

BeKind28- profile image
BeKind28- in reply to Titanic65

:-) x

Paula233 profile image
Paula233 in reply to Titanic65

Hi. I woukd suggest a visit to your doctor just to discuss what happened. They will be able to help with your questions and will probably want to check your cholestrol levels if they weren't checked in hospital. They would have received a copy if your discharge letter so will be aware of what happened. X

2wheeler profile image
2wheeler

Hi there, hope you are feeling ok. I too had a TIA November last year. I have had a triple bypass and been diagnosed with heart failure. However, the two are not related I was told. I've had all the scan possible and everything came back clear. The waiting time for the results can make you quite anxious but hopefully all will come back clear. I had an appointment last week with the Stroke doctor and i am happy to say i was discharged.

It was the last thing I expected to have so you are not on your own

take care

Pat

Titanic65 profile image
Titanic65 in reply to 2wheeler

Thank you for your reply. I am so glad you are now improved and discharged Take care

Quaddie profile image
Quaddie

Some medications do have that effect for first few weeks but side effects are usually seen to be outweighed by the benefits. What were the symptons of your TIA please? 😊

Titanic65 profile image
Titanic65 in reply to Quaddie

Hi so my symptoms, it started with everything in my view moving as if I was on drugs. Abit like a marshmallow world. I remember saying whats happening and then I just hit the floor. I couldnt move my right arm or leg. But the ambulance arrived very quickly and slowly my mobility came back - thank goodness.

I suspect I will get used to the side effects. Thank you for your reply.

Peter-l-h profile image
Peter-l-h

my historic brush with TIA’ s was also inconclusive. My only symptom was my sight was poor for instance a tree appeared as a green mass but I could not see the detail of th the leaves.

when my heart episode started almost 20 years later doubt was cast on if it was a TIA !

Not helpful - to you but shows how complicated such conditions can be.

The diagnosis of a TIA however sends travel insurers running for cover !

Hope yours is a mild as mine was.

PLH

Titanic65 profile image
Titanic65 in reply to Peter-l-h

Thank you for your reply - I did think this will affect my insurance should i go travelling!!

It appears to be mild as am almost back to normal aside from the dizziness.

Doggyday profile image
Doggyday

Hi Titanic65,I had a TIA about 4 years ago now,I was at work and suddenly couldn't use the credit card machine or till and felt completely disorientated,taken to A and E and had CT scan then MRI also ultra sound on neck,also sent home with normal reason why it happened,I was very stressed at the time.Been on clopidogrel for blood thinning,amlodipine for blood pressure(which was through the roof by the way)and statins ever since,I felt very dizzy to start with partly due to medication,also because I was so worried about every ache or pain I was going to have a full blown stroke my stress levels were awful!! Honestly you'll get used to medication and I always remember being told I was lucky as this was a warning and many stroke victims dont get the chance we have had.Please take care,lots tlc and rest you deserve it.x

Titanic65 profile image
Titanic65 in reply to Doggyday

Hi Doggyday thank you for your reply. Your story sounds like a mirror of mine. I am on the same medications but also agree that worry enhances the feeling of unease. I do feel lucky as you say many dont get a second chance so am now focusing on the future.

You take care xx

Doggyday profile image
Doggyday

Normal should read no real!!

ROBBO36 profile image
ROBBO36

Hi there,

Similar to yourself I suffered a TIA out of the blue (December) which was exactly a year to the date since my HA, also out the blue. The TIA was caused by a blood clot in my neck but no compelling factors for why it should happen. Again, similar to yourself.

I’ve been screened for thrombophilic and it’s fine. However, I’ve been referred to a Lipid specialist as it’s been shown I have above average lipoprotein (a) levels (known as LP (a) ) and that’s ordinarily driven by genetics.

That’s possibly something you could ask to be screened for? There’s currently no meds out there for it though. Statins can only be used to control normal cholesterol.

Wishing you all the best.

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop

My mother in law had a TIA when she was at our house. My GP reluctantly came out to see her ( You can tell it was a few years back) and he simply said what it was, to let her sleep it off and absolutely nothing else was ever done. She never had another. However a few months later she started fainting; was taken into hospital where they took her off all medication and discovered she'd been on blood pressure tablets for 40 years for absolutely no reason. She didn't have high BP and the tablets were therefore dropping her BP so low that she passed out. We never knew whether that was the cause of her T IA. It was s imply never mentioned again and she lived to 98. Literally her only ailment after that was one urine infection which gave her hallucinations.

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