This is so true. A TIA is never something to take lightly, and can be an important warning sign of a full-blown stroke to follow in as little as 7 days.
It is my understanding that a TIA does not cause any noticeable lasting effects ("Transient", right?) so if there are lingering or worsening symptoms it would be a true stroke, albeit a light one. Something not mentioned here are the cumulative effects of multiple TIAs on the brain, which is a cause of Vascular Dementia.
My husband had a mini stroke and was hospitalized for 15 Days. The Dr sent him home with just his blood pressure meds and now all he does is sleep both day and night. He confusion is in and out. But he cannot concentrate. Is this what I can expect long term?
I'm currently taking Xarelto in the hope of stopping minis. My minis, however, have not been taken seriously by some doctors because they don't seem to last as long as even a typical mini. I have had one near pass out, but mainly they come as a wave of heat and disorientation (NOT vertigo) and they go before traditional TIA or even minis would last. Because I had chemotherapy, my oncologist did a variety of follow-up tests, especially after the near passing out. He found small dots on my brain and that's why he prescribed the Xarelto. Even with the Rx, I've had two episodes since I went into the hospital to try and figure this out. Have documented them, but they don't fit anything the doctors are considering. I don't know what to do next to diagnose and treat this.
Everything was covered well in this article - my aunt had many of these mini strokes over the past several years and a major stroke ended up taking her life.
My son is 42 now. He has PTSD and a lot of other mental health problems. Every day is different and nothing surprises me anymore. I believe he had a mini stroke yesterday. He could not understand anything I said and he could not speak. His right arm and hand were affected. Normally, I would rush him to the ER, but get this: 9 months ago I found him unresponsive for quite a while, then he couldn't talk or understand, he was unsteady and couldn't focus. This is serious stuff, so I called 911. When he got to the ER at Kaiser, there was no rushing around, though I stressed that he had Stroke symptoms. By the time the doctor came in, he could speak a little....he was better, but on physical exam, he had no strength in his left arm. The doctor ordered a CT. Result - he must have had a non headache migraine or seizure. He was also too young and didn't have the risk factors....? Bad doctor, I say. Many young people, even babies have strokes. He does have both of those on a regular basis, but his was different. No one seemed to listen or care. His neurologist was called and the ER doctor was told he has occasional seizures. He has had many seizures (pseudo and convulsive!). I found out that strokes don't show up on CTs for a few days, so I called his neurologist and had to talk him into doing another CT or MRI. He was condescending and said he would order an MRI to satisfy me. Then I get the condescending email (no phone call) that said "As I thought, Justin's MRI was negative for stroke." Maybe he did have a "migraine" or something that mimicked a stroke, but still, he was not given the attention, given his symptoms. We are getting out of Kaiser soon. WE are in charge of our bodies and should stick up for ourselves or our loved ones. Even though I wasn't proven right for a stroke, something is happening to my son. Sometimes he's fine and brilliant and a little manic, but a lot of the time he doesn't remember what happened that day or the day before. No one takes his physical symptoms seriously and his mental symptoms are not being treated like they should be. I'm hoping by changing health systems, we find some doctors and therapists who really care. Thanks for reading this and hope it helps someone.
Article is great and would wish that more people would take it seriously when they have symptoms instead of brushing it off. I live in a community of many stroke victims and wonder how many of them missed or ignored important signs of impending TIA's or mini strokes. There is still a lot of argument about the difference between a TIA and a Mini Stroke - wish the medical profession would clarify with certaintt that they are (or not) one in the same. Thanks for your article.
10 Comments
First Oldest
First
‘Mini Strokes’ Can Have Mega Health Effects
Something not mentioned here are the cumulative effects of multiple TIAs on the brain, which is a cause of Vascular Dementia.
Because I had chemotherapy, my oncologist did a variety of follow-up tests, especially after the near passing out. He found small dots on my brain and that's why he prescribed the Xarelto. Even with the Rx, I've had two episodes since I went into the hospital to try and figure this out. Have documented them, but they don't fit anything the doctors are considering.
I don't know what to do next to diagnose and treat this.
I believe he had a mini stroke yesterday. He could not understand anything I said and he could not speak. His right arm and hand were affected. Normally, I would rush him to the ER, but get this: 9 months ago I found him unresponsive for quite a while, then he couldn't talk or understand, he was unsteady and couldn't focus. This is serious stuff, so I called 911. When he got to the ER at Kaiser, there was no rushing around, though I stressed that he had Stroke symptoms. By the time the doctor came in, he could speak a little....he was better, but on physical exam, he had no strength in his left arm. The doctor ordered a CT. Result - he must have had a non headache migraine or seizure. He was also too young and didn't have the risk factors....? Bad doctor, I say. Many young people, even babies have strokes. He does have both of those on a regular basis, but his was different. No one seemed to listen or care. His neurologist was called and the ER doctor was told he has occasional seizures. He has had many seizures (pseudo and convulsive!). I found out that strokes don't show up on CTs for a few days, so I called his neurologist and had to talk him into doing another CT or MRI. He was condescending and said he would order an MRI to satisfy me. Then I get the condescending email (no phone call) that said "As I thought, Justin's MRI was negative for stroke." Maybe he did have a "migraine" or something that mimicked a stroke, but still, he was not given the attention, given his symptoms. We are getting out of Kaiser soon. WE are in charge of our bodies and should stick up for ourselves or our loved ones. Even though I wasn't proven right for a stroke, something is happening to my son. Sometimes he's fine and brilliant and a little manic, but a lot of the time he doesn't remember what happened that day or the day before. No one takes his physical symptoms seriously and his mental symptoms are not being treated like they should be. I'm hoping by changing health systems, we find some doctors and therapists who really care. Thanks for reading this and hope it helps someone.
certaintt that they are (or not) one in the same. Thanks for your article.
Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson