Stroke | Arthritis Information

 

I was shocked when pcp said there was nothing more they could do now that it has been 3 days since stroke.  My question is - I have very scary post stroke symptoms - the chains in my head have not stopped AND the electrical impulses and tingling are as bad or worse.  I even get shocked if I touch the door knob.  Crazy huh?  Not so crazy when you feel this scared.  I want advice.  Have any of you had a stroke or known someone who has.  Did they do any post stroke treatment.  It seems so absurd that I am not seeing a neurologist.  Lovie,  would you go to 4 RAtalk to ask wonderful Wayney if she can research for me.  I am so weak.  My other question is very important to me - does anyone know if any of the meds we are on can cause a stroke?  Thank you so so so so much.  I am asking a lot but when you say is there anything I can do for you - I am taking that quite literally

I wish I had more information for you; but I'm at a lose myself. I'll post a general thread over there and see if anyone has any experience or can offer any help at all. You still have a lot of people there that would be worried about you and want to know what you're going through.

Hang in there.

Sorry to hear about your stroke. My grandfather had several strokes when he was fairly young. After his first stroke when he was 50 they put him on blood thinners, blood pressure meds and put him through physical therapy. He had symptoms such as you including shocking sensations and noises in his head but he also lost use of one of his arms and hand. The physical therapy helped with the arm and hand. Unfortunately, when there is damage from a stroke it is almost always permanent and there is nothing they can do other than start treatment to prevent another. Nonetheless, I agree you should be seeing a Neurologist with treatment to prevent another one. Not to scare you but after my grandfathers 2nd stroke it messed him up pretty bad and he went down hill fast. Definately, seek preventative treatment and make necessary changes to avoid another. You don't want a second one.

Do you have high blood pressure?

 

As far as medications do you still take Relafen. A possible complication with Relafen is stroke. I take Relafen too and this has been of concern to me since strokes run in the family.

Take care and be well.

Ta2d39178.4214467593High doses of Fish Oil will thin your blood and it also can be helpful with
your RA. Sorry I don't have more to offer.

Hi Roxy,

I don't come here much anymore, but read about your stroke. I'm sorry you are going thru this. I'll keep you in my prayers and I hope that you find out what is causing it and get better.

 

Sorry to hear this terrible news.I am so shocked to hear it was a stroke. PT is normally done after a stroke to help with mobility and a speech therapist if your speech was affected. I have a friend who had a stroke at 40 but it took her speech and the use of one side of her body.She has been in a special care unit for a while but with the help of a specialist team she is doing much better.

I wish you a speedy recovery and with a neurolgists help a full recovery.Take care Roxy, you are in my thoughts and prayers

Are you taking celebrex, Roxy?  Celebrex has been linked to strokes.Oh Roxy. Hugs to you.

Have you been back to the doctor yet? Or did they just call you and tell you that you had one and that was it? To me that sounds strange. Wouldn't or shouldn't they want to see you right away to make sure you are doing everything possible to prevent another (possible worse) stroke?

I just don't know enough about this.....but it's very concerning to say the least.

roxy, have you seen a dr. since you checked yourself out of the hosptital? you need to go in! mini strokes can lead to a full blown stroke! You need to go to the dr. if you havent yet! Also if you are feeling so weak, you may be dehydrated again. Drink lots of fluids, and make a dr. appointment. it is very commen to have a full blown stoke if you are having mini strokes, and need to be in care of a doctor! please call the doctor!

kelly

Hey Roxy...WOW. I am just now reading about the stroke as I havent been online much. I am stunned. I am just so sorry this happened.

I would certainly expect you to be doing to PT/OT post-CVA. My brother-in-law has had 3 strokes in the past 5 years. His first one was when he was 27. He has undergone PT each time and came out fully recovered within 2-3 months. I feel like he is pretty lucky, but it can be done in many cases.

If you have concerns that the doctor you are seeing is not covering all of the bases, you really should get a 2nd opinion.

Geeze girl, I just cant believe this has happened to you. You are in my prayers.

XOXO

I hope you are feeling better soon. You have got a lot on your plate!

I am sorry that all this is happening at one time.

Becky
I found this and heres my story.

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Roxy, When I was 50 I had an unexplained stroke. My symptoms were a sort of wavy vision and I would feel dizzy. This happened first on a commuter train when I was getting off.

The the next day I woke up and I seemed to forget my house. I thought, Oh, did I redecorate?/ Gee, I dont remember this place.  I saw some cigaettes on the table and couldnt remember if I smoked. Later I fgured out I was wearing the patch to quit smoking. Anyway I woke up my husband and said I forgot stuff and it all started to come back. My husband thought it was just  ( A WOMAN THING) and off to work I went.

Called my nurse sister from work and she got me to a hospital. Doctor thought I was having a occular migraine and kept me for observation.  
God I told him about the lost memory#$##$%%^&&^##%
THE IDIOT doctor didnt order any kind of scan OR ANYTHING. This is why I think doctors are idiots. to make a lonG story short that night as I was in the protection of being in a hospital I had a stroke with losing my feeling on the left side arms and legs and my speech. My speech war weird. really weird.

I cant run but I can walk now. No thanks to any doctor. My speech got back after about 5 months. I only slur when I'm really tired.
Doctors are just a bunch of trained monkeys.

Strokes can have a lot of different signs. One of the most obvious is to get numb on one side or your speech gets real slurry and weird. Generally if you are talking O.K. you are not having a stroke.  I havent heard of the tingling and am thinking it could be bad circulation. I get tingling when I lay on my hands or sit on my feet too long.

I dont know if this will help but it's all my experience. Ill be happy to answer any specific questions if you have any more.


Roxy,
I'm new to the board and you don't really know me, but PLEASE get
yourself to a doctor, as soon as possible.

It doesn't matter if you have to beg, borrow, or steal a ride to
another doctor. You really need to find
out what the next step is, in order to prevent further strokes.

There are so many options nowadays and many of them have already
been mentioned on this thread. Cholesterol-lowering meds, blood-
thinners, PT, consult w/ a neurologist, etc.

Take good care.Jinx39178.5083101852Hi Roxy,
I'm so sorry to hear that you are going through this.  I'd like to send you my best wishes and hopes for the comfort and caring you deserve.
Take care.

I did go to doctor where my Cat Scan was sent.  That was when I was told I had a stroke.  They said hospital would have kept me for observation but after three days they could not do anything but to tell me to take care of myself.  I am taking relafin, I will quit.  I do not have high bp but do have high cholesterol.  I did have some slur in speech, thought it was drugs I am taking as I had not eaten.  It was the day Brett left me.  Symptoms now are just very weak, electrical "shocks" and a chain sound in my head.  PCP said he could do nothing for those symptoms.  He said it could take up to a month to see a neurologist and he said I am lucky (which I know I am) that it did not effect me more BUT I would probably find other effects that I have not noticed yet.  My short term memory is really bad.  No paralysis thank God.  I am just scared and trying to stay calm.  Thank you all and Lovie, thank you so much for checking over there.  I have not talked to my rd yet but not going to take Humira on PCP advice.  Only taking pain meds, very few so I can be aware if anything more happens and aspirin.  Again, I am so grateful to you all.  Pray for me.  I really want to live.

PS  The stroke was in the lower half of the back of my brain.

roxy39178.5818634259

Roxy, I am so sorry this happened! I agree that you need to see another doctor. I would strongly suggest a neurologist or neurosurgeon.

I would want to know what the blood vessels in the brain showed, also have them check the arteries in  your neck. When my father-in-law had a stroke, he was still  pretty functional but his memory, etc were affected. They kept telling him there was nothing they could do and he continued having small strokes.

Finally one doctor checked his arteries in his neck (sorry, I forget what they-re called. Don't know if it's carotid or not). Anyway, they said, by then, the arteries were completely blocked. If they had seen that earlier, before blockage was complete, they might have been able to clean out the artery and prevent further damage.

My oldest sister, who was 66 at the time, had a stroke a little over a year ago. She has never been to a doctor about it, and it scares me to death. She has some sort of phobia about doctors, and hasn't been to a doctor in about 35 years! Without therapy or tests or meds, she is still slurring quite badly, and has no use of her r.arm/hand. Also drags r. leg. We just can't get her to go to doctor!

My point is, I really think you need someone to check the arteries for blockage, and maybe set up some physical therapy/rehab. for you. They need to find out the likelihood of a second stroke.

It is just dropping the ball to say, you had a stroke and there is nothing we can do! You need someone who is better trained in the intricacies of the brain!

If nothing else, talk to your social worker and ask their advice.

My prayers are with you, Sweetie! You are strong and a fighter! You just need to get the help you deserve!

Much love,

Nini

Hi Roxy,
I found some additional signs of a stroke for you to keep any eye out for that are unique to women:

• Sudden face and arm or leg pain
• Sudden hiccups
• Sudden nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
• Sudden tiredness
• Sudden chest pain
• Sudden shortness of breath (feeling like you can’t get enough air)
• Sudden pounding or racing heartbeat

I know this is a scary time for you, but know that many people recover very well from strokes, as you can see from the postings here.

I'm not much on prayer, but have said one for you.  Best wishes and hopes for you.

I sure hope you are feeling better. Do you have anyone that can help you with everyday chores and misc.? Is anyone cooking for you or are you able to do it on your own?

I do not know about the Brett thing  which is fine, just ...Roxy, you will need to have someone around to help.

lots and lots of hugs and prayers,

jode

 

Roxy, I am so very sorry sweetie.  I just logged on for a couple of minutes this morning than got busy, than went home to bed.  This is very scary.  How can we help you????  What sort of treatment are they going to do to prevent another one from happening.  I am so worried as I am sure most everyone here is.  We are here for you!

Roxy, I'm sorry to hear what happened to you.  I have been praying for your recovery.  I have the found the mayo clinic website to be a very reliable source of information so I'm including their discussion of treatment, both emergency and follow up to prevent a recurrence.  I hope this is helpful.

Treatment

Getting prompt medical treatment for stroke is of utmost importance. Treatment itself depends on the type of stroke.

Ischemic stroke
To treat an ischemic stroke, doctors must remove any obstruction and restore blood flow to your brain.

Emergency treatment. Therapy with clot-busting drugs must start within three hours. Quick treatment not only improves your chances of survival, but may also reduce the amount of disability resulting from the stroke.

Injection of a clot-busting (thrombolytic) drug — such as a tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) — into your veins to dissolve a blood clot may be more effective in increasing your chances of a full recovery, compared with other treatment methods. Currently, though, only a small proportion of Americans who have had a stroke receive thrombolytic therapy. Reasons for this include:

• A limited time window. Three hours has long been considered the window within which clot-busting drugs should be administered intravenously. Whether people can still gain some benefit from receiving clot-busting drugs beyond three hours is uncertain. After too much time has passed, the risks of bleeding or other complications from this type of therapy begin to outweigh the potential benefits.
• A limited group of people who benefit from this therapy. TPA-type therapy doesn't treat hemorrhagic stroke. In fact, it may dramatically worsen a hemorrhagic stroke. Also, not everyone who has had an ischemic stroke is an ideal candidate for thrombolytic therapy. The ability of TPA-type agents to dissolve blood clots carries with it a risk of brain hemorrhage and bleeding elsewhere. With the diagnosis of an acute stroke, you and your doctor can work together to weigh the risks versus benefits of thrombolytic therapy in your individual case. Your doctor may not give you clot-busting medications if your blood pressure isn't controllable at the time when the TPA is being considered.

Surgical and other procedures. Your doctor may recommend a procedure to open up an artery that's moderately to severely narrowed by plaques. This may include:

• Carotid endarterectomy. Your surgeon makes an incision in your neck to expose your carotid artery. The artery is opened, the plaques are removed, and your surgeon closes the artery. In people with marked blockages in the carotid artery who are candidates for the surgery, the procedure may reduce the risk of ischemic stroke. However, in addition to the usual risks associated with any surgery, a carotid endarterectomy itself can also trigger a stroke or heart attack by releasing a blood clot or fatty debris, although surgeons now place filters (distal protection devices) at strategic points in your bloodstream to "catch" any material that may break free during the procedure.
• Angioplasty. Used less commonly than carotid endarterectomy, angioplasty can widen the inside of an artery leading to your brain, usually the carotid artery. In this procedure, a balloon-tipped catheter is maneuvered into the obstructed area of your artery. The balloon is inflated, compressing the plaques against your artery walls. A metallic mesh tube (stent) is usually left in the artery to prevent recurrent narrowing. Distal protection devices also may be used with angioplasty.
• Other techniques. Doctors are also exploring new ways to remove clots. In a catheter embolectomy, a catheter is threaded into one of the arteries that lead to the brain and used to remove clots. You may also receive thrombolytic drugs directly into these arteries, via a catheter.

Preventive medications. If you've had an ischemic stroke, it's important to determine why the stroke occurred and to prevent another. Your doctor may recommend medications to help reduce your risk of having a TIA or stroke. These include:

• Anti-platelet drugs. Platelets are cells in your blood that initiate clots. Anti-platelet drugs make your platelets less sticky and less likely to clot. The most frequently used anti-platelet medication is aspirin. Your doctor may also consider prescribing Aggrenox, a combination of low-dose aspirin and the anti-platelet drug dipyridamole, to reduce blood clotting. If aspirin doesn't prevent your TIA or stroke or if you can't take aspirin, your doctor may instead prescribe an anti-platelet drug such as clopidogrel (Plavix) or ticlopidine (Ticlid).
• Anticoagulants. These drugs include heparin and warfarin (Coumadin). They affect the clotting mechanism in a different manner than do anti-platelet medications. Heparin is fast acting and is used over the short term in the hospital. Slower acting warfarin is used over a longer term. These drugs have a profound effect on blood clotting and require that you work with your doctor to monitor them closely. Your doctor may prescribe these drugs if you have certain blood-clotting disorders, certain arterial abnormalities, an abnormal heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation, or other heart problems.

Hemorrhagic stroke
Surgery may be used to treat a hemorrhagic stroke or prevent another one. The most common procedures — aneurysm clipping and arteriovenous malformation (AVM) removal — carry some risks. Your doctor may recommend one of these procedures if you're at high risk of spontaneous aneurysm or AVM rupture:

• Aneurysm clipping. A tiny clamp is placed at the base of the aneurysm, isolating it from the circulation of the artery to which it's attached. This can keep the aneurysm from bursting, or it can prevent re-bleeding of an aneurysm that has recently hemorrhaged.
• Coiling (aneurysm embolization). In an embolization procedure, a catheter is maneuvered into the aneurysm. A tiny platinum coil is pushed through the catheter and positioned inside the aneurysm. The coil fills the aneurysm, causing clotting and sealing the aneurysm off from connecting arteries.
• Surgical AVM removal. It's not always possible to remove an AVM if it's too large or if it's located deep within the brain. Surgical removal of a smaller AVM from a more accessible portion of the brain, though, can eliminate the risk of rupture, lowering the overall risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Other treatment options for AVMs include focused radiation or embolization, in which the small arteries supplying the blood to the AVM are blocked, shrinking the AVM.

Recovery and rehabilitation
Stroke survivors who can go home to a healthy spouse or other companion are more likely to become independent and productive again. Encouragement and early treatment are important.

Recovery and rehabilitation depend on the area of the brain involved and the amount of tissue damaged. Harm to the right side of the brain may impair movement and sensation on the left side of the body. Damage to brain tissue on the left side may affect movement on the right side; this damage may also cause speech and language disorders. In addition, people who've had a stroke may have problems with breathing, swallowing, balancing and hearing, and loss of vision and bladder or bowel function.

Because numerous impairments may be involved, rehabilitation is facilitated by a diverse team, which may include a:

• Rehabilitation doctor (physiatrist)
• Nurse
• Dietitian
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Recreational therapist
• Speech therapist
• Social worker
• Psychologist or psychiatrist
• Chaplain

The goal of rehabilitation is to help you recover as much of your independence and functioning as possible. Much of rehabilitation involves relearning skills you may have lost, such as walking or communicating.

With advances in research and brain-imaging techniques, doctors are gaining a new understanding of how brain systems adapt after stroke to regain function (brain plasticity). Research suggests that normal brain cells are highly adaptable and can undergo changes in function and shape that allow them to take on the functions of nearby damaged cells. As a result, rehabilitation efforts are being geared toward retraining unaffected brain tissue to compensate for the lost functions of damaged tissue.

Roxy sorry to hear what happen you better be taking care of yourself young lady get your rest too.  xoxoxo  meme

Just clear it out. Everyone has been trying to reach you that way.

Roxy, did the doctor start you on any meds after your stroke....like Plavix.
Where I work, we have a protocol and it involves meds and getting
cholesterol and other labs into normal ranges. These symptoms should
resolve over time but if they don't, call your doctor and make sure your
stroke is not extending. I had asked you in the other thread of you are on
any cholesterol lowering meds. They are now finding good antiinflammatory
effects to these statin drugs. Don't let these symptoms linger without
seeking some medical attention. You don't want damage that is permanent.
Please be persistent if you feel ignored by your medical team. Please keep
me posted. You are in my thoughts.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com