Strokes

Can anyone who have experienced with strokes described in details how it feels like? Is it painful and where does it hurt? What is it like before or just about it happens? What are the real symptoms like? Thanks for your inputs.

11 Comments

kmom

by Tracey_E - 2014-02-13 01:02:58

That's what happened to me. Symptoms went away in a few hours, all tests were negative. They kept me overnight since sometimes a small stroke is the warning for a larger one. They called it a stroke but really, they didn't know what it was. I did some research and wonder if it was a migraine. I don't have the links anymore, but apparently sometimes migraines can mimic a TIA.

I've had 4 minis

by Vmurph - 2014-02-13 02:02:12

My first one was the worst. My jaw felt numb and then the left side of my body wouldn't function. I could think clearly, but when I tried to speak to call for help I realized I couldn't. Everything that came out was a mumble and it wasn't coherent speech even though I knew what I wanted to say. I was able to text for help and got the the hospital within the hour. It took 6 hours for my speech to return and almost 2 weeks for my left side to be completely normal... The other few I've has weren't that bad but I notice my speech will slow down severely, it takes A LOT of effort to talk and even then it comes out slurred. and then the motor functions of my hands wont work. It's hard to hold onto things etc. I'm on a blood thinner for them now.

They say they're a prelude to a bigger one which is scary. especially because I had 4 in one year. But I know as soon as I start feeling any of those symptoms I need to make a phone call to my Neurologist or go to the E.R.

Good Luck. If you even think for a second you're having symptoms, go the the Dr. because if you wait, it can't always be reversed. The first 3 hours are critical like Don said.

stroke

by Shell - 2014-02-13 02:02:29

When I had mine (in 1994 so I might not get everything) I woke up with a major headache. I was getting ready for work and my right side was weak/getting numb. Kept dropping my comb. (but managed to get my contacts in ) I did fall once. It was a Saturday so my mother (still living at home at the time) brought me to the walk in clinic. I was starting to have trouble talking. The doctor took one look at me and had her bring me to the emergency room. They even called ahead. I was lucky they diagnosed it so quickly because I was only 22 (1 month till my birthday, still remember the day) and you don't usually expect it in someone so young.

Strokes are different

by clarencio - 2014-02-13 03:02:25

Since you asked- I will tell you about my mini stroke.
I was a store manager and I was trying to straighten out items on my shelves but all I did was to knock them all down. I would not give up until I destroyed the appearance of several shelves --and --made a lot of noise. Then I realised something was wrong, so I retired to my office where I lited a cigarette. It kept falling out of my (right) hand. The third time I lost it I couldn't find it, until I saw smoke coming from behind my chair. Then an employee asked me if something was wrong and I answered him in what sounded like mumbo-jumbo. I called an emergency phone number, directly to Doctors on call. I could not explain my problem to him, but he was smart enough to tell me I was having a stroke and said get right to the emergency room. I did. I came home the next day, none for the worse. On the other hand my sister in law had a stroke, was made blind and died in 2 days.
As you can see, it is a tricky and sometimes interesting experience.
So be careful and don't take any chances.
Clarencio

If you think

by donr - 2014-02-13 07:02:38

...you are having ne, it's too late now. three hrs after yu suspect it to get to the ER & have a really good outcome. They need to see you w/i the firts hour of symptoms

Don

Here are the first signs for...

by donr - 2014-02-13 07:02:56

...a stroke for future reference. There is not necessarily any pain.

Don



F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. When you can spot the signs, you'll know that you need to call 9-1-1 for help right away. F.A.S.T. is:
F.A.S.T. Letter F Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
F.A.S.T. Letter A Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
F.A.S.T. Letter S Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
F.A.S.T. Letter T Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Scare

by kmom - 2014-02-13 10:02:05

I had a scare about 2 weeks ago where the whole upper half of body was like it had gone to sleep or someone had drowned me in Vicks this happened at work I was also very dizzy and my balance was affected. Someone had offered me a ride to the er a few blocks from where I work but management over ruled and ALS was called. After 5 hrs in er they couldn't find anything and most of symptoms had vanished within 45 min or so. But it was scary never the less

mini stroke

by Tracey_E - 2014-02-13 10:02:59

I had a mini one a few years ago. Nothing hurt and my mind was clear, a little slow motion. I was typing and suddenly could not control the fingers of my left hand, tried to talk and the left side of my face was numb. I called a friend to get the kids, calmly asked my husband to take me to the ER. In hindsight that was stupid, should have called an ambulance but I didn't want to scare the kids. The time it took to drive and be seen was time I wasn't getting treatment, which could have made a difference in recovery.

As Don said, time is of the essence getting treatment. The new drugs are truly amazing, but minutes count. If you even suspect a stroke, call 911.

@TraceyE

by kmom - 2014-02-13 11:02:30

They thought my episode was vertigo although my primary doc didn't buy it. he thought it was my heart rate dipping nobody said anything about a small TIA which is still in the back of my mind although i'm on Pradoxa which should prevent that sort of thing. I just "wired" myself to a 30 day monitor so hopefully if something's showing up on my heart rhythm it will manifest itself.

TIA

by donr - 2014-02-14 01:02:24

TIA= Transient Ischemic Attack - symptoms are ANY of the symptoms of a stroke.

A minor stroke. I had one once following a cardiac Cath. The Dr said that he probably touched a section of my Aorta when he was running the catheter into the coronary arteries & caused a small clot to be released that went to my brain. All the same symptoms as a stroke - loss of feeling in right hand, loss of coordination - that was what I suffered. The neurologist who treated me told me that if it resolved itself in three days it was not considered a stroke. Mine started resolving in just hours & was completely gone by the third day. No medical trace of what happened. Oh, I first realized what happened when I awoke at 8 AM & my fingers were slightly numb on my right hand. Tried to type & my right hand was off by at least 3 keys. When I was eating breakfast, I actually shoved my first forkful of scrambled eggs up my nose. That was it - didn't finish eating. LEFT FOR Hosp immediately. It happened while I was asleep.

I walked into the ER reception desk & said "I think I've had a stroke." Literally before I said another word I was on a bed, a Dr beside me & they started a Heparin drip to hopefully take care of any further damage that might occur.

Don

Thank you all..

by Duke999 - 2014-02-14 12:02:02

Thank you all for your comments. Kmom & TraceyE, what is TIA? Thanks again.

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