I had a stroke...still can't hardly believe it.

I haven't stepped foot into my sixth decade yet. Blood pressure is a bit high but easily treated to very good levels. Cholesterol is OK without treatment. I have arthritis and some back issues (I usually use a cane)that require painkillers, and oh yeah, could stand to lose 40 pounds or so (on a 6'3 frame).

I had a stroke. One perfectly normal morning I got out of bed and headed for the washroom. I noted that my right hand seemed to be a bit out of sorts....seemed a bit sloppy in handling the cane...must have slept on it wrong, maybe a bit numb or clumsy? More than that - that right hand seemed a bit disconnected, not handling the cane well at all. Instead of leading the way, it seemed that cane was falling behind...very strange. Began to seem like I was watching a videotape of my own hand without actually feeling it. Stubbornly tried to shake it off. Ignoring it doesn't seem to work...

OK, something is wrong. I made it to the living room to explain my problem to my wife. Words would NOT form into sentences. I could HEAR gibberish, but that couldn't be me? Here or there a proper word or phrase might pop out...but NOT what I wanted. By now, I wanted to say one thing: "Call 911!", but nothing like that was coming out. By now, my wife was really wondering...and I could begin to see the first hint of panic in her eyes. She tried a test phrase or two, then finally understood my weak pantomime and made the call..

What to do...I was having a stroke...I knew it and was aware of it. I crunched a couple baby aspirin waiting for the EMT's. I got a seriously quick ride to the local hospital...got a few critical meds flowing, then off on another ride (this time about 75 miles) to the next hospital. After about 2 1/2 days in hospital, I came home.

NO remaining symptoms or issues. NO indication on any scan of scarring or any physical damage to the brain. Back to doing everything I was doing before.

I had a stroke - but it was NOT a life-changing affair, at least partially because my wife and I recognized the symptoms and reacted accordingly..
- check the person's FACE for any signs of drooping or changes
to one side, make them smile and show their teeth.
- have them raise both ARMS and try to hold both at the same level.
- check SPEECH, have them recite simple and familiar names and phrases.
-TREAT: call 911! Do NOT delay!

As they say...if even one person reviews this with family...

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Do or do not. There is no try.

Excellent advice! Glad to find you recovered completely. Most folks don't. And lose those 40 pounds!!

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S&W SW22 Victory

A few months ago I posted an almost carbon copy of your story about my brother (57).

He was doing laundry, dropped a sock, bent over to pick it up and his hand wouldn't grasp it. Like you, he tried to speak and couldn't understand what was coming out.

He grabbed his cell phone, went upstairs to where his wife was, laid the phone in front of her and pushed 911. She took it from there.

Later, it was determined that he had a mini stroke and returned to normal. He is doing fine.

We have a family history of stroke and heart disease (it has caught up with me) so we all know and look for the signs.

I'm glad it turned out well for you as my dad never did recover his ability to speak.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I suffered a similar event at the age of 65. Took a shower to get ready for work and felt dizzy. Sat down to relax thinking it would go away. I was watching the stock market report and I couldn't remember what I read before it ran off screen. Then my eyes got so blurry that I couldn't focus at all. Kept thinking it would go away. Eventually called in to work because there was no way I could drive. As luck would have it, a retired Army medic answered the phone. He says," you're having a stroke, I'm calling an ambulance". The EMTs asked me a couple of questions which I couldn't answer. Loaded me up and hauled me to a trauma center that only treats strokes and heart attacks. Immediate treatment and like you no after effects. Just lucky as I was living all alone since my wife had passed. A quick thinking medic saved my bacon.

An informative but scary story. Glad your OK.

Glad your home and on the recovery steps.Strokes have no age limit. Time is never on folks side that fall Victim. Glad you had a rapid reponse team on your side. Stay well

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Spin The Wheel

You and your wife exercised the best of situational awareness. It is a key to survival. Glad to hear that no permanent damage was incurred. Hope all goes well in the future.

My son had a stroke 4 1/2 yrs ago at 36. With a lot of work, he is doing so well he finished the Boston Marathon this past March. Turned 40 today, says he's in the best shape in 15 yrs. As his Dad I am so freaking proud of him and his wife


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I'm glad you've pulled through in good shape. I appreciate you sharing what happened, what to look for, and what to do when a stroke occurs. And while strokes are more likely to happen to us geezers, as wingriderz reminds us:

My youngest daughter had a good friend who had a stroke in her early 20s, so this thread is good info for all of us.

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What, me worry?

Two of my friends stroked in their early 40s.Both had seemed perfectly healthy before that.One has recovered nicely (bad genes)The other made it to 60,but it was his lifestyle that caused the first and it had done a lot of damage.Thank God we have the ability to treat this!

Great advice!
F (ace)
A (rms)
S (peech)
T (reat). -- call 911

Remember FAST!
Speed in treatment counts big time!

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Loving retirement!

Hell of an eye opener.
I'll be 57 next month and my knuckle's sore from knocking wood.
Thanks Above

Glad you're OK. Strokes and heart attacks for that matter, are typically caused by a blood clot that breaks loose from wherever it formed, and traveled through the blood stream until it came to a vein it can't get through and thus causes loss of blood flow to that section. That's why they tell you to take an aspirin, to help thin the blood and get past the clot.

As we get older, we tend to bruise more easily because our veins are weaker. If there's a bruise, there's a clot, or several.

Growing old ain't for sissies.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

I had a little stroke 2 years ago. One little trick I learned to test myself was to recite the vowels. If I can, fine. If not, it's off to the emergency room for me.

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NRA Benefactor

Glad you are now ok.

Thanks for the kind replies, and the similar experiences that have been noted...

One additional thing to note: We are all human beings, and often suffer from being embarrassed when in fact we need help. When I was being questioned (by my wife, then EMT's, and finally nurses and doctors) by those who were trying to diagnose what I was aware of, I became embarrassed by not knowing the answers to such simple questions... I found myself muttering, changing the subject, rolling my eyes, anything to prove I wasn't stupid. Be PERSISTENT with a victim, and make sure you get an accurate idea of what is going on with that person. I think of hearing about choking victims in restaurants who try to avoid creating "a scene", and retreat to a restroom, where they may end up unconscious (or worse). Our embarrassment can lead us to make foolish choices!

A final note about being in the hospital - (the food is awful, any real rest is impossible due to constant interruptions, test after test, one needle stick after another, the total eclipse of one's dignity, etc., etc.). And yet, I find that there always seem to be nurses who manage to deal with (I imagine) any and every kind of ill-mannered patients imaginable...and still manage to bring a smile and genuine concern for those complete strangers in their care. I tip my hat to those who have chosen such a demanding career and provide such an outstanding and valuable service!!

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Do or do not. There is no try.

Glad to hear that you are ok, but please, do not, I repeat do NOT ever take aspirin, if you think you are having a stoke!

While the majority (approx. 87%) of strokes are Ischemic (think a clot), the other approx. 13% are Hemorrhagic (bleeding) and if I remember correctly, those 13% (Hemorrhagic) result in approx. 40% of all stroke deaths, and aspirin can make them worse.

In the Pre-Hospital (EMS) setting, this is why we do NOT give potential stroke victims aspirin, they must first have a CT scan at the hospital, to rule out a Hemorrhagic stroke.

But again, I am very glad to hear that you are doing well.

Glad the good Lord was looking your way. Take care going forward.

Here's some good reading on what you SHOULD do if you think you're having a stroke.......

If Someone is Having a Stroke 3 Things To Do and 3 Things Not To Do – Penn Medicine

Interesting! From the article:

It was brow beat into my brain to give the person an aspirin, but I see now where that may be a mistake.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Glad you had a good out come.

I had a very sweet lady some time after my wife passed. She was a type 1 diabetic. She often went low and acted odd. But, then she had a bad stroke, looked like she was not going to pull trough, but did and recovered fairly well, but had a couple small stokes. I learned from the first bad one I wasn't home when it occurred. Anytime I suspected a problem I asked her to stick out her tongue. If tongue is crooked it is a stroke as the stroke almost always effects one side and it shows up well in muscle control. She was a great lady, but then had a heart attack on top of everything else and left this world.

Wow - that is really a sad story. I am glad you were there for her during her struggles.

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Do or do not. There is no try.

Something about the age...My dad had a stroke at age 58 due mainly to his HORRIBLE lifestyle-alcoholic and HEAVY chain smoker. Recovered and lived untill 82. My litle brother runs every day never smoked and VERY moderate alcohol use. His stroke was at age 57-again full recovery.
My father in law got his carotid arteries opened and two days later his brain literally blew up -couldn't handle the newly increased pressure-again a life long smoker and heavy drinker-dead at 63.
Stroke scares the **** out of me and I am careful as hell as I am in the prime time slot right now at age 61. Good luck to you and all pther posters who had one and to those whe are scared like me.
Exercise do healthy things don't do unhealthy things and give thanks for every day you have good health. Oh. and the occasional snickers bar won't kill you

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Forum consigliere

Thanks for the report and for the explanation of what all those F.A.S.T. billboards I've been seeing mean. And thank God for your good results!

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Now go make God proud...

The need for speed.

If the stroke is caused by a clod they can give you something to dissolve the clot. BUT, there is only a small window of time that they can do this. Try to know when the event occurred. Tell EMS WHEN it happened. After the time window passes administering the drug may well kill the person.

Don't delay in case of a stroke, the difference between good and bad outcomes because of treatment times can be huge.

The med is called TPA. No, I don't know what the letters stand for, but my daughter has had it several times. She has a central line for administering IV's, and it gets clotted to where she might be able to put fluids in, but can't draw blood back out. The time limit for patients with strokes is three hours. The drug has the potential side effect of causing cerebral bleeding though, and after the 3 hour time frame, the risks are deemed to be more than acceptable. I understand there is a cancer drug that can mitigate the bleeding risk, but I know nothing about it.

The bottom line is TPA can save your life, but it's not risk free.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

My good friend and dog walking buddy had a stroke 2 months ago. His wife took Him to CU Med Center in Aurora. They did the CT scan and then administered TPA as it was not caused by a hemmorage. The Dr's there told us the window for good recovery is 3 hours. In other words, don't go lay down thinking it will go away, or go to bed and hope You'll feel better in the morning. Call 911!!!
Glad You are doing better and pray for Your full recovery.

Glad this turned out for the better for you. About 8 or 9 years ago I had a similar event, mine didn't turn out so well. We were spending a weekend at a ranch resort in Fredricksburg, Texas, went to bed around 10, got up around six am and couldn't see out of my right eye. Kept thinking I must have slept on it wrong. Drove back home, a 4 hour drive and still no vision in that eye. Went to Dr. the next morning, said you had a stroke. I didn't feel a thing. Long story short, 3 lazer treatments 6 eye injections and retinal surgery, still no vision in that eye. Folks don't take ANY chances with stroke, it's fast and silent.

About 3:30 last Wednesday morning I had a stroke. I ain't skeered of much but that was the most terrifying experience of my life. It's hard to explain the helplessness that you feel from the inability to communicate.

My outcome could have hardly been better. I left the hospital Thursday around noon and went back to work Friday. It is hard to express how fortunate I feel....I was extremely lucky.

If not for my wife I might not be typing this & I would be remiss if I did not say that I feel very blessed to have her in my life.

Close call, quick recovery and excellent back up.
Be sure to check last night's lottery ticket, you might be on a roll.

Amen to that!! Every time I opened my eyes in the hospital she was there. "Blessed" says it all.

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Do or do not. There is no try.

Sounds like you had what is called a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). It is sometimes called a mini-stroke. It is a warning and MUST be heeded. You may not be so lucky next time. More info here:

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

I believe that is correct...and trust me, I took it as a warning...a shot across the bow. Thanks for the link.