So, I had a stroke....and not the smoking kind:-)
- Thread starter wab
- Start date
wab
Been Around the Block
Re: So, I had a stroke....and not the smoking kind
Update
Ok a quick update for anyone who might be interested, I think I am pretty much recovered from my stroke apart from the anxiety of maybe having another one. I have had a few different tests, none of which found anything until I had a bubble echocardiogram.
From what I understand when we are born we have a flap which is between the right and left chambers of the heart. As we grow this flap seals shut. However on about 20% of people it doesn't, including myself.
Anyway when they do the test they have two syringes attached to your arm which they fill with a solution and then agitate it back and forth to form bubbles. They then get you to strain like when you go to the toilet,this has the effect of forcing the bubbles from one side of the heart to the other if there is a issue with the flap. Needless to say when they did mine I could see many bubbles on the ultrasound going from one side to the other.
At first I was elated to have found a possible cause for my stroke. It is possible a clot managed to enter my heart and from there up to my brain. This quickly turned to fear and depression.
Doctors are saying to keep taking the blood thinners and maybe have a operation to close the hole if I have another stroke.... excuse me, wait until I have another one?! F**k off,next time I might not be so lucky with my outcome. The operation is non invasive and quite routine these days apparently, so I am feeling give me the damn thing now! Am I being unreasonable? So a bit of a fight ahead of me.
Other symptoms of POF as it is known is the lowering of blood oxygen levels as not all the blood goes via the lungs. This causes fatigue and general unwellness. Sounds a bit familiar to me... not felt myself for a couple of years. Could this be the cause of it...?
Anyway I hope you don't mind me dribbling on,just helps to write it down somewhere.
Update Ok a quick update for anyone who might be interested, I think I am pretty much recovered from my stroke apart from the anxiety of maybe having another one. I have had a few different tests, none of which found anything until I had a bubble echocardiogram.
From what I understand when we are born we have a flap which is between the right and left chambers of the heart. As we grow this flap seals shut. However on about 20% of people it doesn't, including myself.
Anyway when they do the test they have two syringes attached to your arm which they fill with a solution and then agitate it back and forth to form bubbles. They then get you to strain like when you go to the toilet,this has the effect of forcing the bubbles from one side of the heart to the other if there is a issue with the flap. Needless to say when they did mine I could see many bubbles on the ultrasound going from one side to the other.
At first I was elated to have found a possible cause for my stroke. It is possible a clot managed to enter my heart and from there up to my brain. This quickly turned to fear and depression.
Doctors are saying to keep taking the blood thinners and maybe have a operation to close the hole if I have another stroke.... excuse me, wait until I have another one?! F**k off,next time I might not be so lucky with my outcome. The operation is non invasive and quite routine these days apparently, so I am feeling give me the damn thing now! Am I being unreasonable? So a bit of a fight ahead of me.
Other symptoms of POF as it is known is the lowering of blood oxygen levels as not all the blood goes via the lungs. This causes fatigue and general unwellness. Sounds a bit familiar to me... not felt myself for a couple of years. Could this be the cause of it...?
Anyway I hope you don't mind me dribbling on,just helps to write it down somewhere.
MNBikerPup
Newbie Rider into all motorcycles.
I would talk to a Cardiologist further on this. Surgery can be risky no matter how routine and it's a matter of weighing the benefits to the risks. Considering you already had a stroke at a young age and that you have felt run down and fatigued for the last few years, it might just be a good idea to get the surgery out of the way. A second opinion can never hurt. Good luck to ya and best wishes.
wab
Been Around the Block
Re: So, I had a stroke....and not the smoking kind
I have a follow up appointment soon so I can put my views across then. I have also read that taking these drugs for the amount of time I will be is not a great idea either. See what happens I suppose.
Thanks for your reply.
I have a follow up appointment soon so I can put my views across then. I have also read that taking these drugs for the amount of time I will be is not a great idea either. See what happens I suppose.
Thanks for your reply.
Good to hear you are on the road to recovery and that you have options.
My best friend had 2 what the doctors called mini strokes over the last 5 years. The second one left him with some memory loss. He forgets to turn off the water when he gets a drink or forgets to shut the fridge door and sometimes in the middle of a conversation he cant say the next word which leads to a long pause while he searches for the word he is trying to say. Its very frustrating for him to the point his wife says he sometimes begins to cry. Its tough seeing him go through this but hopefully he will recover fully some day. He was a smoker but has since quit, hopefully not too late.
My best friend had 2 what the doctors called mini strokes over the last 5 years. The second one left him with some memory loss. He forgets to turn off the water when he gets a drink or forgets to shut the fridge door and sometimes in the middle of a conversation he cant say the next word which leads to a long pause while he searches for the word he is trying to say. Its very frustrating for him to the point his wife says he sometimes begins to cry. Its tough seeing him go through this but hopefully he will recover fully some day. He was a smoker but has since quit, hopefully not too late.
MNBikerPup
Newbie Rider into all motorcycles.
What makes quitting the hardest is when the whole act of smoking with the nicotine relieves the symptoms of other underlying issues. Like depression and anxiety. The body is an amazing machine though with the ability to heal itself.
