mini stroke

[thundercrack]

hi, had a mini stroke on sunday night at 9.00 lasted 15 mins, paralysed down right side and face, taken to hospital in ambulance, heart o.k., chest x-ray o.k.. blood pressure high, as was cholesterol. sent home at 3.a.m. I need to know what I am supposed to do now.? take it easy, exercise, take medication or what? very scary experience, would like to avoid another if poss. what caused it? I had been sitting watching t.v. for two hours. although the day before I had been breaking concrete up in the garden and straining myself. anyone had similar? thanks, alf.

[PinkFizz]

Surely the hospital gave you advice on what to do when you got home?? If not sure then call them now.

Hope you're ok.xx

[bigmamma]

Hello thundercrack.
First of all let me ask you if you are ok now , apart from being scared out of your wits !!!
I had a minor stroke just over 2 weeks ago and was paralised down the right side and thoroughly confused for a couple of hours.The right side of me stayed weak for the next 12 hours or so . The doctor said they can last anywhere between a few minutes and 24 hrs.
I was started on Aspirin but was allergic to it so I am on Clopidogrel which is to prevent another clot by thinning the blood.
You should have been given either your prescription or a note to take to your GP as you should surely be on an anticoagulant too as well as something to keep your blood pressure down.
Also I have an appointment to see a stroke consultant as I am considered too young to have one.
If I can , may I suggest you go to your gp as soon as you can.
Try to relax love and rest up when you can .Keep us informed as how you get on .
All the best x :-)

[thundercrack]

hi, thanks for your support. went back to the doctors, he said that as I was already taking quarter of an aspirin every day and statins to lower cholesterol that there was no further treatment neccessary. I have got some tablets for blood pressure which I stopped taking months ago (that the doctor thought I was still taking,) so I have been taking them since monday and my pressure has gone down from 180/108 to 135/80. that is an amazing result which worries me a bit because thats the pressure of a 21 year old almost. I am feeling much better now, but the fear of another episode is always in the back of my mind. I am doing all I can to prevent it, but I had been sitting in a chair watching t.v. for two hours when it happened without any warning, I just tried to get more comfortable and found I was half paralysed and slid off the chair, so am worried it could sneak up on me again! I hope you are well bigmamma, and if you remember, how many aspirin a day were you prescribed? . thanks to both of you,
alf.

[bigmamma]

Hi thundercrack, so pleased you went to GP and are now back on your blood pressure tabs which have certainly brought it down from its high reading.
I do hope you are feeling a lot better. It is a scare and , llike me too , you are now worried if you will have another.
It happened while I had just sat down to watch tv in the afternoon after making a pot of tea .
I was given a dose of 75mg Aspirin a day although only had one and had an allergic reaction as I said.
Hope your are ok now x

[soxcox1]

Thundercrack - a BP of 135/80 is superb!! Don't fret.

It may be worth having a look at your diet to see if you have a high fat intake - aside from that - the aspirin and the statin will help.

The stroke association have a web site so have a look on there.

[thundercrack]

hi, thanks for the replies again. a bit of a follow up. nearly 4 weeks now. have stopped using salt and on a virtual salt and fat free diet. my blood pressure has gone from 180/100 to about 130/80( I am also taking 1/4 aspirin a day and candersartin blood pressure lowering tablets). feeling much better. went to my doctors yesterday to see about a follow up from the hospital, he said" oh yes, I got a letter from them last week asking if you wanted to be referred to the t.i.a. clinic". I said " yes please" he said" o.k. if you want to go, I'll drop them a note". so,he hd been sitting on the letter, if I hadn't gone to the doctors hewouldn't have bothered! one way for the n.h.s. to save money I suppose.
best regards, alf.