topic Re: silent stroke in Wellness

silent stroke

elruth — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 05:31:04 GMT

A cast iron skillet fell off the wall of my pantry and fell on my head while I was reaching up on the top sheIf. had a CAT scan. No bleeding was shown and I thought all was ok. My Dr called and said the scan showed I had had a major stroke...could be years ago....and he was shocked that I didn't have paralysis or speech problems. I don't remember ever having any problems. I am now taking 81 mg of aspirin a day. Anyone here have a silent stroke? I am 78.

Re: silent stroke

Kitlynn — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 06:08:48 GMT

@elruth wrote:
A cast iron skillet fell off the wall of my pantry and fell on my head while I was reaching up on the top sheIf. had a CAT scan. No bleeding was shown and I thought all was ok. My Dr called and said the scan showed I had had a major stroke...could be years ago....and he was shocked that I didn't have paralysis or speech problems. I don't remember ever having any problems. I am now taking 81 mg of aspirin a day. Anyone here have a silent stroke? I am 78.

I have not but my Aunt had several mini strokes a few years ago and was really shocked when she found out. She was always going to Curves to work out and one day her knee when she got up was just like a limp noodle. She thought she might have done something to it working out. Turns out she had had several mini strokes and it finally had caused her knee to not work. Good rehab and she was back up and running. She was eighty two when that happended. I am glad you are doing good and have no damage of any kind.

Re: silent stroke

hckynut — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 07:05:17 GMT

My wife had a stroke on 12-20-13. She asked me what I thought, and I said "we are going to the ER". She still has weakness on her left side. Silent? Not exactly sure what constitutes a "silent stroke".

I have a friend that found out he had 2 of them. He told me he "knew something was not right", but he was not big on doctors. His 3rd one was bad enough to get him to the ER, that is how he learned he was on #3. But "silent"? In his case I call it stupidity!

hckynut(john)

Re: silent stroke

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 10:22:22 GMT

First of all, I am glad you are okay.

I've been told I could have had a heart attack somewhere along the way, based on an EKG I had prior to a surgery. For all intents and purposes, the ticker is fine.

Best of health to you!🔮

Re: silent stroke

ID2 — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 11:27:22 GMT

I'm 64 and my doctor has had me on 81mg of aspirin daily for the past 10 years. Its a great precautionary drug.

Re: silent stroke

HLP — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 11:36:41 GMT

@elruthI must implore any one reading this to have yearly sonograms on your carotid arterys.I had a TIA 12;15 This NYE. I made it to my bedroom,with a slight limp in my right leg. I'm fine after a few days in the hospital.In 2006, I was expierenceing some dizziness, and had the sonogram test, my left carotid was 80 percent blocked,had an endarterectomy, I was cut and my artery cleaned out.Every 6 months or yearly I have a sonogram. This year it was found to be filling up again, On July 30th I had a stent put in the artery to open. Was done through my groin, I was awake the whole time, I can honestly say, I had no pain, as I told my Son, it was a piece of cake. I'm 84 years old. Please ,please if you have never had a carotid sonogram, get one.They are simply lying down and it only takes a few minutes.It is well worth the money. I too was told my CAT Scans showed I had had a few before.

Re: silent stroke

violann — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 12:00:41 GMT

Many blessings to all of you who are, or who know, resilient survivors!

Some years ago I was experiencing elevated blood pressure, and my doctor attempted to work with me to find a prescription medication that would help me to lower it.

Everything he tried for me caused me to be either sleeping or coughing or some other maddening side effect, so in desperation I tried natural remedies and weight loss, which worked.

Recently I have experienced a cascade of complicated life problems, and my BP shot up again. I’m now taking a small dose of a mild tranquilizer, taking my BP twice a day, and addressing the issues in my life, so my BP is back to its normal, reasonable numbers.

I bought the blood pressure measuring device for less than $20 on Amazon, and for me, it’s worth many times that amount, AND I’m seeing my doctor a little more often to be SURE that it stays put.

Some of your posts may describe situations that had little if anything to do with elevated BP, but elevated BP CAN be a major cause in strokes. I feel at least a little safer knowing where my BP is.

Re: silent stroke

puttypiesmom — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 12:07:30 GMT

@HLP wrote:
@elruthI must implore any one reading this to have yearly sonograms on your carotid arterys.I had a TIA 12;15 This NYE. I made it to my bedroom,with a slight limp in my right leg. I'm fine after a few days in the hospital.In 2006, I was expierenceing some dizziness, and had the sonogram test, my left carotid was 80 percent blocked,had an endarterectomy, I was cut and my artery cleaned out.Every 6 months or yearly I have a sonogram. This year it was found to be filling up again, On July 30th I had a stent put in the artery to open. Was done through my groin, I was awake the whole time, I can honestly say, I had no pain, as I told my Son, it was a piece of cake. I'm 84 years old. Please ,please if you have never had a carotid sonogram, get one.They are simply lying down and it only takes a few minutes.It is well worth the money. I too was told my CAT Scans showed I had had a few before.

What about a yearly lipid panel too. I mean I assume that it would show elevated cholesterol and then a doctor would perscribe a statin to bring it down. Do statins or some statins anyway clean out the cholesterol in our arteries? I feel confused about the role of statins. Thank you for any info you may want to share.

Re: silent stroke

Imaoldhippie — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 12:41:37 GMT

@elruth..................Ouch! Bet you have a nice sized lump. Im glad you are ok. Hint>>>>>>>>> put your cast iron skillet on the bottom shelf.

Re: silent stroke

151949 — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 12:45:03 GMT

My DH had symptoms of a stroke a couple years ago. IT only lasted a few min but on his MRI there it was- a small stroke. It could easily have been ignored.He has been on Plavix since to avoid another stroke. His father had several strokes before he finally had a massive one and died at 54 yr old.

Re: silent stroke

MarkeieMark — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:16:27 GMT

My father had a silent stroke at the stove. I hope you keep the cast iron on a lower shelf now.

Re: silent stroke

Fressa — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:21:59 GMT

My grandmother had a series of silent strokes that affected her vocal cords. She could only say a few words. It took the doctors a long time to locate the problem. That was years ago.

Re: silent stroke

SeaMaiden — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:25:33 GMT

DH and I have been taking an 81 mg baby asprin daily for at least 10 years. Of course we also take a lot of other supplements like vitamin K2 and such.

Re: silent stroke

Justice4all — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 16:24:48 GMT

@hckynut wrote:

My wife had a stroke on 12-20-13. She asked me what I thought, and I said "we are going to the ER". She still has weakness on her left side. Silent? Not exactly sure what constitutes a "silent stroke".

I have a friend that found out he had 2 of them. He told me he "knew something was not right", but he was not big on doctors. His 3rd one was bad enough to get him to the ER, that is how he learned he was on #3. But "silent"? In his case I call it stupidity!

hckynut(john)

A doctor told me he was having a stroke while giving a lecture in a hospital, and he did not know...he just couldn't find the words..the doctors in the audience realized it...this doctor said you don't know when having a stroke...I add 'necessarily.'

Re: silent stroke

151949 — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 16:50:56 GMT

My DH certainly knew he was having his. He ran to me trying to speak and couldn't.We rushed to the hospital and by the time we got there he was ok. However, he had indeed had a actual stroke , not a TIA.

Re: silent stroke

chrystaltree — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 18:49:01 GMT

I work in healthcare and yes, I have heard of silent strokes. I have reviewd thousands of medical records so I have seen them. My understanding from neurosurgeons is that this type of stroke interrupts blood flow in the brain and destroys brain cells but not in vital areas so there is no loss of function. Hence...the silent part. The patients have no symptoms so they don't know anything happened. The damage is permanent but not in any areas that cause symptoms or deficits. People only know they have had one when they have a brain mri for some other reason. It's an "incidental" finding.

Re: silent stroke

chrystaltree — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 18:51:50 GMT

@Kitlynn wrote:
@elruth wrote:
A cast iron skillet fell off the wall of my pantry and fell on my head while I was reaching up on the top sheIf. had a CAT scan. No bleeding was shown and I thought all was ok. My Dr called and said the scan showed I had had a major stroke...could be years ago....and he was shocked that I didn't have paralysis or speech problems. I don't remember ever having any problems. I am now taking 81 mg of aspirin a day. Anyone here have a silent stroke? I am 78.
I have not but my Aunt had several mini strokes a few years ago and was really shocked when she found out. She was always going to Curves to work out and one day her knee when she got up was just like a limp noodle. She thought she might have done something to it working out. Turns out she had had several mini strokes and it finally had caused her knee to not work. Good rehab and she was back up and running. She was eighty two when that happended. I am glad you are doing good and have no damage of any kind.

Mini strokes are not silent strokes. There are always symptoms with mini strokes. Patients often don't recognize the symptoms and they don't realize they are having strokes.

Re: silent stroke

qbetzforreal — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 23:26:35 GMT

@hckynut wrote:

My wife had a stroke on 12-20-13. She asked me what I thought, and I said "we are going to the ER". She still has weakness on her left side. Silent? Not exactly sure what constitutes a "silent stroke".

I have a friend that found out he had 2 of them. He told me he "knew something was not right", but he was not big on doctors. His 3rd one was bad enough to get him to the ER, that is how he learned he was on #3. But "silent"? In his case I call it stupidity!

hckynut(john)

A silent stroke is a stroke that does not have any outward symptoms associated with stroke, and the patient is typically unaware they have suffered a stroke. Despite not causing identifiable symptoms a silent stroke still causes damage to the brain, and places the patient at increased risk for both transient ischemic attack and major stroke in the future.

Re: silent stroke

HLP — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 08:59:11 GMT

@puttypiesmom I have been on statins and high blood pressure meds for years, I have them checked every 6 months, and mine are always good. No the arteries still clog up. Also I took aspirin for probably 50 years and that didn't help me from having a heart attack during a gall bladder surgery. A lot of places have different test they give in the community for say $100.00 dollars.The carotid test is in this. My insurance, and I think most insurances pay for this at a regular Dr. office. Ask your Dr. I was in excellent health all my life till I reached 70. also was very active, mowed did what ever. I'm 84 now, and think I'm still doing good, but sometimes you hit that bump in the road, and it's smart to know it's coming. Hope you stay ahead of this too.

Re: silent stroke

halfpint1 — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 16:41:12 GMT

I have my usual 3 month visit with my doctor and will tell him. I was trying my phone since I saw it blinking. Was trying to talk to my son and this--All of a sudden I was stammering and couldn't get the words out plainly for a couple of minutes. My son asked if I was having a stroke for I was blubbering like. Anyone have something like this?