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Stroke symptoms

smellyloo

By smellyloo
in The Broadscot Lounge

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deebee29

deebee29

Posted
Posted

Thanks for this, had't seen this before.

My grandfather had several strokes before he passed away and lay in hospital for 13 weeks.

Things have improved in terms of awareness and treatment of strokes since then but the effects are still as devastating if not caught early

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MauriceMynah

MauriceMynah

Posted
Posted

Dajen, are you saying that there is wrong information in that link? or that it misses anything or is in any way misleading? I can't recall what "F.A.S.T." stands for at the moment, and I'm sure that in the heat of the moment I'd be all over the place anyway, BUT...

 

...To be perfectly honest, if that link is accurate and saves a life, I don't care if it's a chain letter sent out by Jimmy Savile himself, I'd still approve of it's existence!

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Arthur

Arthur

Posted
Posted

In many ways dajen    I have to agree with some of your comments.

 

What has not been considered in this push to get people to keep mailing this to people is the affect it has on those who have had a stroke and those currrently living with someone who has had a stroke.

 

It makes things very difficult, particularly for the carer when every envelope that comes through the door seems to be advertising the Stroke Organisation on the postmark.     The TV is constantly reminding people of stroke symptoms and now the risk of receiving one of these chain letters in the post.

 

I appreciate that not all situations are the same but many of those who have had a stroke are in denial about it and even the mention of the word can cause problems for those with them

 

Some members will be aware of why I have commented but I wont elaborate in opem forum.

 

It is good to be aware of symptoms to look out for but please think before posting on one of these things.  You might be adding problems for the recipiant rather than helping.

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MauriceMynah

MauriceMynah

Posted
Posted

I don't find the letter "ludicrous" and has the advantage that it can be read in just a couple of minutes. The website you have directed me to is far far longer, so much so I didn't read it all.

 

The website is also American and although I am well aware that phoning 911 would just waste valuable time, perhaps another reader may not.

 

I very much doubt that smellyloo had anything other than the very best of intentions when posting the link and I stand fast that if it does anyone any good, it is not a problem for me.

 

You say "Its the worst kind of chain letter". I disagree there too. In my opinion chain letters that threaten people with personal injury if they don't pass it on are  far worse.

 

You say "Burn it". It's a link to a computer file, Burning it might be tricky!

 

You ask "Why would a Cardiologist (Heart Doctor) be giving advice on a stroke?"  Because he knows more about strokes than an Antiques dealer (Vendor of old toot) is likely to. :)

 

As far as I'm concerned, this chain letter is harmless, and might even help somebody at some time. It's certainly not worth getting hot under the collar about, and even less worth crossing swords over.

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littlesprite

littlesprite

Posted
Posted

Thank you smellyloo,

The letter has achieved it's purpose, the thread has received many hit's and sparked discussion, people have frantically been googling strokes in their attempt to come over as knowledgeable which perversely means they have become more knowledgeable.

the letter has raised awareness, job done.

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smellyloo

smellyloo

Posted
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Just to clarify:-

 

I have no medical or first aid qualifications. That is why I posted the link without comment so that others could read and digest.

 

It certainly was not my intention to be confrontational or mischievious and had no desire to cause individuals to be grumpy. I really didn't expect this particular post to be contentious.

 

I confess that after Dajen's first post I felt a little concerned, I worried that the advice offered was incorrect.

 

In Dajens later reply he posted a link to the NHS's very worthy campaign which, to my untrained eye, appeared to confirm that the advice offered was correct.

 

Campaigns on social media do follow the principles of chain letter campaigns. They are very successful in getting a message out very quickly to millions, worldwide. I see nothing wrong with that particularly when carrying an important health message.

 

But as Littlesprite commented the fact that this topic has been debated has helped to strengthen the message so I thank all for your contributions.

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Timbo

Timbo

Posted
Posted

9-11

A date that marks a tragedy and a change in how many people saw the world.

It certainly changed my view of the world. For a start I woke up laid on the living room floor with a headache. A can of beer lay on the carpet, liquid dripping from it. The television was still switched on and the horror of transatlantic events were unfolding. I thought it was a film. I thought it was incredible how they had managed to get news presenters to take part in the film. After two hours I decided that although an interesting concept the 'film' was getting boring. Besides which, I was hungry.

 

The headache seemed to ease a little once I had dragged myself onto my feet and staggered into town. I had only moved to the town the day before. It had been a traumatic few months for me. An operation to remove two discs from my spine then pushed down the stairs and fractured my spine and pelvis two days after getting home from the hospital and now getting a divorce. As yet my new house had no cooking facilities. There seemed to be no fast food shops open, so I popped into the local Weatherspoons for something to eat. They refused to serve me and asked me to leave as I was drunk. This upset me somewhat. Still as I was deposited outside the pub, I spotted WHSmith...surely they would at least have a bar of chocolate. I got thrown out of WHSmiths for being drunk too. The headache was getting much worse so I decided to walk home to my new house.

 

The film was still playing. My Dad, Uncle Albert, turned up at the house.

"What the hell are you playing at boy? Its 2:30 in the afternoon and you are rat arsed!" he thundered.

I started to protest but was shoved out of the door and into the car.

"You stink of beer and can't string two words together!" he continued to rant as he drove me back to his house.

 

Back at his house I was told to get showered. I couldn't manage the buttons on the shirt. Uncle Albert dragged it off me, buttons popping. A vast bruise ran around the right hand side of my torso. Starting at my neck, running down my arm and across my chest and back. Uncle Albert swifty telephoned the doctor, who told him to drive me to hospital immediately. Living in the sticks its quicker to drive than ask for an ambulance.

 

I was totally disorientated at the hospital in Scunthorpe. I sat bare chested on a trolley in a corridor for an age. Someone came to take my details.

"What's your name?" asked the bored looking nurse.

"In my wallet!" I relied passing her the wallet and card.

"You're a doctor?" asked the now wide eyed nurse leaving me at a gallop.

"Not that sort..." I tried to reply to her rapidly disappearing back.

 

I seemed to be now floating along hospital corridors into a room stuffed with doctors and nurses.

 

Now I was in a hospital ward.

 

Now a doctor sat beside the bed.

"I don't want to panic you Dr but you're having a stroke." said the doctor as everything went black.

 

That was my first stroke. It took me a little over eight months to get out of hospital. Even then, my speech was awful, I had to walk with a stick. I lost my job, you can't lecture if you can't read, write or talk. The world was very different. You feel different. Your thoughts follow different paths, often abstract. Even the familiar is no longer comforting.

 

Before last Christmas I had stroke number 17, seventeen. Over the years the frequency has slowed. I have to admit that each one took a little bit more of me and it was harder to get over. These days I'm a little more robust thanks to a new specialist and a GP that 'gets' my sense of humour and understands what I expect out of life.

 

Of course I wouldn't be anywhere without my family and friends. My other half is fantastic! She knows my limitations and seamlessly helps me present a normal aspect as I can to the outside. Things such as money for example. I will always have a pocket full of change as I can't get my head around which coins add to the right amount. My other half will make sure I have enough for what I want to buy and will check the change for me without others seeing she's done it. She recognises the signs of a stroke occurring and can differentiate between a new stroke and me just being tired. She will go through the litany of checking I've taken my medication and all of those numerous but little things I will forget or pay no heed to.

 

Fortunately she shares my sense of humour with regard to stroke. At an eye test when the optician told me that my left eye worked correctly it only did so when something approached my right eye, I jokingly begged her not to tell my other half as she would poke me in the eye to see if it was true. The optician laughed a little and of course when I left the examination room told my other half... who promptly poked me in the eye.

 

My daughter also looks after me. When I was first out of hospital she was just a tiny little tot of a four year old. Uncle Albert used to write instructions on my arm should I get lost walking around the village. Along the lines of "Down Hill Shop: UP HILL HOME". On one trip to the shop with my daughter I was approached by a woman in the village.

"Hello, how are you?" she asked taking my hand and stroking my head.

I had no idea at all who the bloody hell the woman was and was starting to become a little distressed until in steps my four year old daughter.

"Daddy has been very poorly and can't remember but we must all love him very much and he will get better!"

Of course Holly, now 19, helps me with Uncle Albert and I'm still comforted by her confidence.

Although these days she tells me 'If you ever get like that old bugger I'm putting you in a home!".

 

Of course there are some very special friends without whom life would just not be tolerable. People who go out of their way to help without interfering. People who are just 'there' and through their kindness give you that extra push you need exactly when you need it. People like 'ole 650 XS who looks after Royal Tudor and has the patience to deal with both me and Uncle Albert, Mike and Pat of Chameleon who will pop into my flat to make sure I am OK if I've gone quiet. Maurice Mynah who keeps my brain ticking over (picture mad scientist and pickled brains in jars) and of course Doug. Without Doug I would have been at a total loss, sat sobbing at the enormity of doing the work on Royal Tudor myself and not developing some much needed woodworking skills or looking forward to several years afloat. 

 

To finish, some things about stroke you may not know.

 

  • Stroke is not something that affects only old people. Most stroke survivors are fit and healthy middle aged to young people. Hell, I ran marathons at the time of my first stroke.
  • Someone who has had a stroke is referred to as a 'survivor' not a 'victim'. Surviving is what we do.
  • Stroke survivors suffer, quite expectedly, from depression.
  • Stroke survivors suffer from some extreme mood swings. Personality can often change dramatically.
  • Stroke survivors quite often become dependant upon such things as alcohol and of course nicotine. Well intentioned members of the public will often ask 'should you be smoking/drinking' and are suddenly faced with what appears to be a seething, manic, psychotic. The simple answer is I've survived 17 strokes I think I deserve a damned smoke and a beer to celebrate.
  • Stroke survivors get tired quite easily. Best way to describe what's happening is...try patting your head, rubbing your stomach and trying to draw a figure of 6 with one foot while drawing a figure of 9 with the other, at the same time recite the 27.3 times table whilst trying to carry out a simple conversation with a person without letting them know you are also performing the above.
  • When I am tired I will present symptoms of a stroke. My mouth will droop, my speech will slur, and the left hand side of my body will not operate correctly...as I'm left handed this complicates matters somewhat. Please do not call me an ambulance, I just need a rest, coffee or quick energy drink and a sit down for five minutes. If I'm really tired put me to bed...if you are a female nymphomaniac by all means join me, you will be amazed at how quickly I can recover my energy.
  • Stroke survivors like to appear as 'normal' as possible to the public and we will often gently mock a physical blunder. Phrases you will hear come from my lips include 'I'm alright it's everybody else that's wrong' and 'I've had a stroke what's your excuse'. It's the little things that help us like being aware we've had a stroke and may be depressed, angry, bad tempered. Be aware of physical difficulties. For example I'm left handed and have had a left sided stroke, so when you pass me a pint, put it in my right hand as I will drop it.

 

Three things I have learned from stroke. The first is that there are some wonderful fantastic people out there, real friends. The second is to laugh. Laugh long and hard at the stupid, idiotic, often banal, sometimes magnificent hand that life deals us. The third, don't let life's bastards grind you down. Its not a case of 'what you can't do', through people like Doug it's a case of 'look what I can do'!

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Timbo

Timbo

Posted
Posted

I think it's more than time we patronized a pub MM. Although if we patronized more than one Iain it would be more of a 'Grand Sneer' than a pub crawl! Besides which, last time MM and I were at a pub and tried to move on...Ambulances were called for Uncle Albert! And that's true!

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BroadScot

BroadScot

Posted
Posted

Agreed Jonathan, Tim is a very astute gentleman, and I haven't met him ...yet! On a lighter note, nurse (SWMBO) may require a wee bit coaxing, and then I will break ranks and join you pair for a wee bit swally!!!   :naughty:  :naughty:

 

cheers Iain.

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  • 5 weeks later...
Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

Sorry for the late reply to this thread, just caught up with it whilst browsing having been away from the forum for a while. Tim, what an excellent post describing your illness, I sincerely hope that you are on the mend.

I have lived with a stroke survivor for the last 15 years(my wife) and what you say is so true, My wife does not drink  alcohol but over the years has been told to " take more water with it" on many occasions, if within my hearing it usually leads to confrontation.

If you see a person who's speech is slurred, who is unsteady on their feet, whose mannerisms look strange don't assume that they are intoxicated, they may be ill

 

Regards

 

Ron

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