Ask a stroke victim anything.

[Mark R]

My doctor described it that way, but I thought he was telling me that it was "big" and that I was damn lucky.

Very lucky indeed. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

A 'big' stroke on CAT scan is a reason NOT to give the blood-thinning drugs, because they're so dangerous.
Also very lucky because if the embolism is in the carotid artery it rarely unblocks with the drugs.

Just to remind people that time is everything when treating stroke, as it needs to be treated within 3 hours of symptoms starting. So, if you get symptoms of a stroke - sudden onset of facial weakness/drooping, difficulty speaking, weakness of one arm or leg, then it is a 911 emergency - no waiting to see if things get better.

 

[rbV5]

thanks. So now i know if i get a constant "aaarrrg" for 3 days i am in trouble.

lol!

 

[rbV5]

Very lucky indeed. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

A 'big' stroke on CAT scan is a reason NOT to give the blood-thinning drugs, because they're so dangerous.
Also very lucky because if the embolism is in the carotid artery it rarely unblocks with the drugs.

Just to remind people that time is everything when treating stroke, as it needs to be treated within 3 hours of symptoms starting. So, if you get symptoms of a stroke - sudden onset of facial weakness/drooping, difficulty speaking, weakness of one arm or leg, then it is a 911 emergency - no waiting to see if things get better.

Unfortunately, we couldn't determine that the symptoms had started within the 3 hours (they told us 4) so, my wife wouldn't let them try the drugs because of a "bleed out". They were able to use blood thinners, but not the type you're referring to.

 

[Kadarin]

Did you have an angiogram to look at the clot? Were they able to clear the blockage only with blood thinners, or did they have to go in and remove it?

 

[rbV5]

Did you have an angiogram to look at the clot? Were they able to clear the blockage only with blood thinners, or did they have to go in and remove it?

The blood thinners were able to clear the blockage. I had an angiogram (I think? (I took the stuff and they crammed this thing down my throat), a couple of weeks after I was released to look at my heart for holes that may have lend to my stroke. They found 2 holes, but t he holes were small and they didn't operate.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Well this sucks, I have a headache right now -_- Hopefully Ill still be fine tomorrow LOL

Thanks. So now I know if I get a constant "aaarrrg" for 3 days I am in trouble.

About 3 years ago, I had this continuous headache for about a month... It was just a mild headache of course, but it still scared the hell out of me... Then it went away and never happened again and Im not the kind of person to have headaches either, just when Im really lacking sleep or so

 

[Miramonti]

Ask a stroke victim anything.

After recovering, how has having had the stroke changed your life?

-NYT Forum Journalist


(asking seriously tho)

 

[rbV5]

After recovering, how has having had the stroke changed your life?

-NYT Forum Journalist


(asking seriously tho)

I'm still recovering, but I've regained quite a lot. Mostly, I have a little trouble with words.

I don't know? I'm a little "lost", but "coming" out of it. Its kind of surreal, amost like I shouldn't be around, but here I am. I'm very thankful, and l tell my wife everyday how much I love her.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

What is your favorite color?

(obligatory humor post)

 

[rbV5]

What is your favorite color?

(obligatory humor post)

All of them!

 

[lxskllr]

What are the long term implications? Anything, or are you a normal person now. Glad you're still with us :^)

 

[her209]

Why did you wait 6+ months to post this?

 

[her209]

Also, what did the headache feel like, i.e., did the pain emanate from one side of your head only, on top, front, back, etc.?

 

[rbV5]

What are the long term implications? Anything, or are you a normal person now. Glad you're still with us :^)

Thankfully, I am a normal person now, and doctors expect me to make a full recovery.

I am glad to be with you'all!

Oddly, I had no pain at all (headaches stopped before I woke up that day)
and I didn't realy think I had much problem with my speech at the time. I was telling Lynda a couple of weeks how bad I was getting with my speech and all, but she assured me that I was actually getting better the whole time.

Go figure? The mind works in mysterious ways. Its like I've been on even keel the whole time when in fact I could barely talk at first. Amazing!

 

[Azraele]

Glad to hear you are ok.

 

[rbV5]

Why did you wait 6+ months to post this?

I've posted maybe a couple times in the past 6 months, and a few messages to my friend Drew...thats been it.

My computer broke down a few months ago, and I couldn't fix it. I finally broke down and bought a laptop a couple weeks ago and here I am!

It does help to have this thread so I can read and answer questions. I'm a little slow, and I have to reread and change everything...but it does me good, and its good to see friends from before.

Basically, I'm a work in progress

 

[rbV5]

Also, what did the headache feel like, i.e., did the pain emanate from one side of your head only, on top, front, back, etc.?

I felt it on the left side of my head...throbbing, I guess.

 

[rbV5]

Glad to hear you are ok.

Me too man! Thanks!

 

[JSt0rm]

My ex is a neurologist and worked extensively with the doctor who developed the procedure for the medicine you took. Normally it was only to be given up to 48 hours after initial headache but he has that extended well past 72 hours now. He works at the NIH in Washington, dc. He could make a killing (harhar) in private practice but he loves doing research like this.

 

[rbV5]

My ex is a neurologist and worked extensively with the doctor who developed the procedure for the medicine you took. Normally it was only to be given up to 48 hours after initial headache but he has that extended well past 72 hours now. He works at the NIH in Washington, dc. He could make a killing (harhar) in private practice but he loves doing research like this.

I'm not sure what they gave me exactly, but it started working very quickly.

It wasn't the "clot buster", it had to be given within 4 hours (or 3 hours someone said in the thread), but a blood thinner of some sort, so it very well could have been from your ex's colleague. If it was, maybe you can that him for me

 

[classy]

Strokes are very serious. My grandmother had 3 of them. The last one she never came home after that one.

 

[rbV5]

Strokes are very serious. My grandmother had 3 of them. The last one she never came home after that one.

I'm hearing about them all the time now...lots of them fatal

They tell me, I have no more chance of another stroke than I had before my stroke...I guess thats comforting, other than the fact that I did have one...LOL.

 

[classy]

I'm hearing about them all the time now...lots of them fatal

They tell me, I have no more chance of another stroke than I had before my stroke...I guess thats comforting, other than the fact that I did have one...LOL.

They didn't think she would survive the second one. She had slurred speech, partial paralysis, and her face was contorted. But she pulled through and made a complete recovery, but a few years later the last one just totally devastated her. And I am going to tell lil story here. My mother is a pastor and has been for many years. We learned how to pray and believe in Jesus Christ. When grandmom had that 2nd one the doctors said she had a slim chance at survival but would be brain damaged. And like I said she pulled through completely. When she had the 3rd one. She could talk and knew who you was but she just looked tired. As usual we just you know, grandmom will get well and be home in no time. On Thursday morning my mom went to the hospital to see her as usual.

She said when she got there, grandmom looked at her and said I have been waiting for you to get here. My mom said she asked her why? She said I am going home today, Jesus came and visited me last night and its time for me to go. She said that she just told her just to keep resting. She grandmom said I love all of yall and I want you to do the funeral. My mom said she told her okay and told her to get some rest thinking she would be okay after resting some more. 3PM that afternoon grandmom passed. That has been with me ever since, every so often I'll think about it. She suffered from high blood pressure and as most african american folks didn't eat the most healthy. Now we know more, so take good care of yourself, and do what the doctor tells you. Strokes are serious business and can totally leave you disabled, even if it doesn't kill you.

 

[Nik]

Dec 2nd, 2009 - Went to work, made my rounds but I had a headache. Told my partner that I wasn't feeling well and went home.

Dec 3rd, 2009 - called into work, I'm not coming in tonight. The civil war game was on that night, I had a headache and I crash out instead.

Dec 4th, 2009 04:00 - Got up with my wife this morning....After a few minutes, Lynda notices something is wrong with me. I'm not realy talking, and acting strange, like I was messing with her.

One thing led to another, my wife calls an ambulance.

One minute, everything is fine, the next minute, I'm in the fight of my life. Thankfully, I had a couple of things going for me; My wife recognized the warning signs and called the ambulance, and the Emergency rescue gave me the blood thinners that ultimately saved my life.

Thank you Lynda! Thank you to the firemen from Forest Grove!

hey, I know some of those guys

Glad you're OK.

 

[GasX]

It behooves everyone to learn the acronym FAST as it relates to a suspected stroke victim.

F - Face - Does one side of the face droop?
A - Arm - Is there weakness in one or more arms? You can have the person hold both arms out in front and watch for one to fall
S - Speech - Is the persons speech affected?
T - Time - When did the symptoms start?

Speedy diagnosis and treatment is vital for a full blown stroke.