At the age of 39, I thought I would be safe from a stroke! No such luck, I had a migraine, but it turned out to be so much worse! After laying down for an hour I decided to get up for some fresh air. I was terrified, I was unable to move my left arm, my mouth and eye had begun to slant.

It took days for me to finally admit that something had happened and go and see my GP, luckily I'm very familiar with our GP and she immediately noticed something was very wrong, I was then sent into hospital for tests! Even at this point I was in total denial, the doctors kept throwing out the word CVA. I had a CT scan, which showed the stroke, even at this point I believed they had misdiagnosed me.

I lead a stressful life as I'm a carer to my thirteen year old son, he is autistic and is unable to cope at school, so I was home schooling him, teaching him life skills etc. I was unable to stay in hospital as my son would have been unable to function so I have been lucky to have my recovery at home.

I am struggling at the moment as I feel very vulnerable, scared and burst into tears on a regular basis. I don't understand how this could have happened to me, surely strokes only happen to older people! Obviously after looking into strokes I have found that out to be untrue, and can happen at any age.

I just want everybody to aware that strokes aren't age discriminate and just because you're young doesn't mean it can't happen to you!

I hope things get better soon as life is hard enough with an autistic child but having no use of my left arm is making my life much much harder. My emotions are all over the place!

Is this normal after suffering a stroke?

Sometimes I wake up in the morning and wish I could blank out the world today, I don't want friends and family looking at me as my face has changed, and my arm just dangles.

Thank you for spending your time reading this post, and would love to hear from people feeling the same was.

Kind wishes. Hayley.

Hiya all!
im 29 yrs old and suffered an intracerebral haemorrhage (right side)which resulted in a stroke. I dnt smoke, drink or live an unhealthy lifestyle just one day at work get an awful headache next thing i am in a&e waiting to be transfered to Nottingham QMC. MY whole life changed- from being active to not being able to move my left side esp my arm at all!!! few weeks in hosp ad 3 mths in rehab got me from bed ridden to being able to walk not perfectly but gets me by. My arm movement are getting there but no movement in fingers which has restricted me alot in every day activities and found there are not very items for "one handed" people! Its been the toughest journey for me and my husband(who gets the brunt of it all) but mostly learning to be positive the same time its bee so hard being positive. Many people who have suffered whatever trauma used to tell make the most of your life - as usual i thought ok i will, but never took that to heart until i went through this and i am telling everyone not to hold back an life if definatly short and you dnt know whats around the corner. I found it very difficult to find people around my age who hve suffered a stroke and hence became a media volunteer to make awareness that strokes dont happen to older people- esp thats what i always thought.

im at the point where work is looking bleak as in my job role i have to have 2 working hands and wondered if anyone has still got one hand weakness and is working- if so what options are there???

thank you and if any questions please do not hesitate to write.xx

I had my stroke on 21st September, 2007. I took my son to school.
It happeaned all of a sudden, one minute I was fine and the next minute, the next minute I told my partner I was dizzy!
I made it to the road by my house and collapsed. My partner, was with me ran up for help at my neighbour's house, luckily he was in.
They carried me in, my feet dragging, was still very dizzy.
I had a 6 sense of not staying at home, which was good move.
My partner had phoned for the rapid response doctor, he took one look at me and phoned for an ambulance to come and get me, all the time I was putting my tongue out and vomitting everywhere!, not a nice sight!
I was then rushed to A&E.
A cat scan and MRI were performed, but I felt o.k and wanted to go home!
I was then put in a ward and the rest is history to me as I woke up on Monday in the ICU!
I was told by my partner, my condition deteroited aafter he left me on Friday and was told to sign a consent form as I was so near to end my life.
I was woken up by a nurse on Monday. My brorher who was on active duty was told to get on the same plane and fly back again.My brother said I was a fighter and still am.
My twin sister was flying in from The Netherlands.
My sister in law came to stay and look after my kids. My family and I have been through quite a lot of real life dramas, I could write a book about my life, achievements and dramas in my life!I am not boasting.
It took me 9 weeks to being hospitalized, rehabilitated and I was home for Christmas 2007!
There is life after a stroke but there are limitations in what you can do.
What has come out of this experience is a friendship that I have formed with one of the nurses and a support worker from the stroke association!
As a stroke victim every day is a learning curve for me and I have to overcome the hurdles that are thrown at me. Believe you, me there are a lot out there.
There are a lot of pros and cons in living with a stroke.
All of us who have had a stroke need to have a positive outlook in live, motivatation and determination!

just thought i would share a stroke story about my recovering mum who cant use a compuer at the moment

in agust last year a wekk before my mum was due to start voleneering for the stroke association i recieved a phone call from my dad telling me my mum has had a stroke but not to worry as it was only a minor stroke and he will keep me informed. i then recieved another call a little while later telling me i should drive down as things are complicated. after much confusion at the hospital we where told after many hours and scans she had had a major stroke and they might have to operate. after being iduced into a coma trasfered and operated on a week and a half later she was still asleep and was told there was no hope. but im glad to say two weeks after she opened a eye, then it shut, she opened another one and then both, she moved a finger and then a arm.it took a few weeks for her to start to come back round until she could be allowed back home. she managed to come out of it with only slight vision problems in her right eye and she struggles to read and get her words out but it is all improving every day i speak to her. we where told time is a healer and it is proving it is. she still needs to have one more operation to repair her head but we are hopefull she is going to make a 95% recovery from bieng told there was a 95% chance there was nothing there.

just thought i would share that and hopefully when she is able to we both can spend some time helping this assiciation that she was about to help before this horrible event happened

Hi all

I feel I must share my experience to all after having a Stroke, It all started when I had an operation on my knee at Southend Hospital on 17th December 2008 and being a paramedic who works at a Kent Station was looking forward to being at home for Christmas as being of sick for about 6 weeks, I thought Yahoo.
This changed 1 week later when my wife who is a Dr saw my symptoms early in the morning and told me I was having a stroke, but I told her to go away in lots of very rude words and made a cup of tea, but she had phoned for an emergency Ambulance which arrived and asked me some questions, which I got all wrong, so I was taken to Southend Hospital again this time into A &E and had a crowd around me, giving me lots of injections and a scan, then onto the stroke ward.
I denied everything that was said to me and I believed I was ok, but of course they were right and I was wrong.
My speech, memory,focus & my whole demeaner was not right, also I could not read but I could do Soduku ?
I was very lucky to be able to go home for Christmas but I could not realy understand the whole day and my wife put some comedy programs on telly to cheer me up, but to me they were not funny.

I had about 3 visits to the consultant and lots of visits to the speech therapy unit. I also had lots of home visits from the OT who gave me tests and lots of homework to do, this was very hard for me as my brain had a problem
that did not understand any question that I had to read.
I was starting to feel better except crowds, when all I could hear was strange noises unless I saw what was making such noises like doors, mobile phones, even the sounds of different steps made by different shoes
I had to filter each one so I could undersand it.
My wife had an idea to go to the Gym to get fitter and to polish up my coordination and confidence, so we played Badminton, I thought a harmless game but then I broke my leg and had to have an operation on it.
Once I got over that I had a gradual return to work and one year after my stroke I re-passed my ambulance driving test with the highest score ever recorded in the region!!
I occasionally get a word wrong or cannot think of a word but other than that people I meet are amazed that I have had a stroke. I am lucky I think but the excellent medical care I got made a huge difference

Since my last TIA I have become inpatient, I swear and get very angry with myself. Is this common?
With my TIA's I get symptoms a few days before and they last a week,yet TIA;s are said to only last a few minutes up to a day?
For the past few days I have had a really painful left leg, from the foot up to my hip. It wakes me at night. My leg, from the knee to my foot feels numb, feels colder than my other leg and is slightly more discoloured. Does anyone have this or know the cause? My left instep is very swollen, like a fluid cushion and is painful to touch.
I have had several strokes which have affected my left side and if I raise my left leg it shakes violently from the knee. Any suggestions here? Comments would be appreciated.

after a stroke you will experiance many emotions, how many and how often you wont know, but accept each one as natural, also accept each one and know that you will come out the other side of those emotions in a better place. for example if you feel like a cry then have one but understand that just as you have started to cry you will stop. its like walking down the street and coming across a big hole too big to step over or jump over so you have to climb in and then climb out the other side.

ultimatley youre emotions form part of youre recovery.

sean
stroke survivor

3years ago I had a mild stroke, and since that day, ive been having TIA type attacks near daily. WHY? I need answers and help PLEASE.

Hi my name is Dave.
I am requiring any help feedback, as to whether anyone else seems to have or have had recurring stroke like symptoms, 3years after a small stroke.

With the help of my wife and others, I have compiled this.

8years ago, at the age of 39 yrs. I was a high flying energetic senior manager within a large uk-ftse. company, I had worked for many large UK corporations in a senior position very successfully, and also Director of my own businesses, when I suffered a large nervous breakdown.
This was due to 20years 15hour day 6/7days a week workaholic lifestyle, in senior business management working for private and public companies.

I suffered and am still suffering with hypertension, high cholesterol, and abnormal electrical QT wave diagnosed when I was 24years old.
Due to constantly having heart pain, I underwent stress tests which I was unable to complete, after having an angiogram, it was then found that under stress, my heart arteries and blood vessels constrict severely causing me pain.

All this eventually with my high work ethic, caused me to have a nervous breakdown, I then was unable to work and I fell into severe depression, all this was been treated with medication as below.

Then 3years ago whilst having a nice stroll near the beach at Cleethorpes, with my wife, I experienced loss of feeling in my left leg for approx. 10minutes and then the same thing in the left arm.
My wife and I laughed it off, wondering what was going off, I also felt unwell and dizzy so we decided to drive back home to Doncaster.
My left side felt weak, so after having a couple of drinks we went to bed early.

The next morning I was unable to wake up and get up properly, so my wife came upstairs and noticed that the left hand side of my mouth and eye had drooped on the left side of my face.
I was very dizzy and unsteady and weak on my left leg and left arm, and I had this very severe pain behind my left eye socket, and my wife states that I was slurring and unsteady due to dizziness.
Luckily my 24year old daughter who had just popped in mentioned to my wife, that this looked like a stroke, the paramedics who came out were shocked that on inspection,I had not gone to the hospital for treatment the day before, they immediately took me into Doncaster Royal Infirmary for hospital treatment.

I was treated for a stroke and subsequent CT, MRI scans and the consultant reports within the first 48hrs states as follows;
‘‘ This gentleman’s symptoms suggestive of ataxic hemiparesis, would be in keeping with a lacunar syndrome although the white matter changes in the MRI are more predominant in the left hemisphere than the right and I cannot identify any clear brain stem lesion on review on the PACS today.
Undoubtedly there is some functional overlay component. This gentleman’s presentation is in keeping with his significant history of depression. His signs would be in keeping with a lacunar stroke and I note that carotid dopplers show carotid atheromatous disease in the asymptomatic artery, Therefore it is entirely reasonable for him to be on appropriate vascular preventative therapy. He is aware of persistent sensory deficit which is causing him anxiety.’’

I have been diagnosed as having cerebral vascular disease, hypertension, angina, diabetes type2, reflux, glaucoma, asthma, depression. early stages of diabetic retinopathy.

I am on medication for my above health issues as follows,
Clopidogrel 75mg, Amlodopine 10mg, Montelukast 10mg, Atorvastatin 40mg, Irbesartan 300mg, Bendroflumethaizide 2.5mg, Pregabalin 600mg, Metformin 500mg, Isosorbide Mononitrate 60mg, Lansoprazole 30mg. Salbutamol and Seretide inhalers. Glyceryl Nitrate GTN spray for angina. Cocodamol and Paracetamol for pain management.

However from the moment I had this mild stroke I have been getting recurring stroke like symptoms, for now 3years after.

Initially my left leg had a small shake uncontrollably, however since being prescribed Pregabalin in the 1stsix months, I have not hardly had a recurrence, just slight shakes now and then.

These episodic attacks are now as frequent as three times a day and sometimes 7days a week, where I suffer episodes of stroke type symptoms, during my sleep, and twice during the day.

These attacks which can be from light to severe attacks are as follows, a light attack feels like an electrical current going through my head and dizziness, and then a bad attack sometimes precedes with a tingling numb-like feeling in left-hand side of my face, which then ends with me displaying the symptoms as already described on numerous occasions and literally ends with me sleeping heavily, and my leg and arm feels like a lead weight, these have been seen by many medical professionals within Royal Hallamshire Sheffield Hospital, Doncaster Hospital, the nurses at the local GP and local CMHT.

A heavy attack has the following symptoms, dizziness, pain in my head, a drooped mouth and left eye and left hand-side face, weakness in left arm and left leg, unable to walk, slurred speech, tingling in the left-hand side of face, blurry vision. These attacks whether light, medium or heavy, always ends up with myself being completely fatigued, confused with dizziness and then my brain forces me to sleep, from 2 to 4 hrs. or so.

These attacks happen during my sleep, as my wife is unable to wake me up in the morning and when i do finally wake up, i have the tell-tale left sided face droop etc, they can happen anytime of the day, whilst I am sat watching tv etc. sometimes 2 to 3 times a day for up-to 7days.
My memory is terrible, i am unable to concentrate for long periods, i also lose my balance a lot, and I sometimes have a very severe pain, behind my left eye socket, and this does not go away with painkillers.
However after an attack, my limbs are weak for a day after.
Once i have recovered ie woken up after a sleep from 2 to 4hrs, i feels sometimes like I am drunk and very hung-over for a day or two, I am completely washed out, with varying pains, headaches and i am unable to walk once these attacks happen and i am very weak on my left side leg and arm daily and on-going.
I get dizzy spells during an attack and also when im not having an attack.

Also I am slurring, or mumbling during an attack, my speech is clear when I am not suffering attacks however my wife and children have stated that sometimes i say the wrong words or whilst speaking sometimes put the wrong words that im trying to say, in the wrong part of a sentence, which they find amusing, and i find frustrating and angry with myself for doing that, but i do not have slurred speech outside an attack unless I am tired.
.
My vision has deteriorated since the stroke, and my left eyesight is terrible, i have just been diagnosed with glaucoma and diabetes and early stages of diabetic retinopathy, however the medics are looking into my eyesight issues but with no joy.
I have also been experiencing in addition to the other symptoms, severe pain in my bones on my left side and back, especially when i retires to bed at night, to the point where we have had to obtain a loan to purchase, a £3000 hospital type adjustable bed, which has not really alleviated the pain and no painkillers seem to help.

I am under a psychiatrist for depression, but nothing seems to be working for me, I am on medication, I have been tried on different medication over the 8years and im currently on 40mg of fluoxetine a day. My depression seems deeper since the stroke and i am struggling daily.
Im under a neurologists at Sheffield Royal, but they have put it down to functional symptoms due to stress, I have been recommended for psychotherapy, but will not be allowed down this road until my depression stabilises, we need help or any information from stroke survivors, have you suffered anything like this...

I feel like im a pain to the medical profession, and as a previous troubleshooter in management and business, in working as a consultant in performance and productive environments and with working knowledge of performance measures within the national health service, i feel I am a problem to performance and productivity figures as i am still on the consultants caseload. However these are just my feelings, and does not reflect on anyone’s professional expertise.

My local GP, is understanding and very GOOD at helping me emotionally and with medication to control my symptoms.

Ive been tested for bells palsy, ms, but no joy, does anyone have these effects or symptoms after 3 yrs after a stroke?

I have never ever regained the full strength in my left leg or arm, this was only a small stroke, due to clotting from furred up carotid artery the consultants have informed me.

I am constantly in turmoil over this, feeling very depressed and even suicidal on a daily basis,

My stroke was not a bleed, it was a mild stroke, possibly caused by a clot from the diagnosed furred up carotid artery in my neck.

I just need some answers or other experiences and how they have coped or resolved.
My grown up children, aged 30, 24 and 21 and myself and wife are getting exceedingly worried, as I am having more of these episodes especially over the last 8-10months.
This is affecting my whole family too, in a depressive way.
I need help and answers and im praying for answers, please help someone, all this makes me feel very suicidal.

Doing this email is very hard mentally as i am constantly drained, it has taken me 3 weeks on and off to try and compile this email with the help of my wife and others.

Thanks

Kind Regards

Dave and Nicola