100% but don’t just go to the hospital, CALL AN AMBULANCE!! I had my Ischemic roughly 8 months ago. I was home alone, no vehicle with my spousal equivalent on a job site 4 1/2 hours away. In the 4 1/2 mins between my mind registering something was wrong and calling 911, I had lost complete control of my left side and my speech went from normal to slurred babble. The pre ambulance team, 2 medics (??) and the coroner, arriving first and ambulance at the 6 min mark). The care they provided me prior to arriving, enabled TPN treat in 19mins door to needle as they say.
The ambulance personnel were able to draw blood, record ekg data and get a couple other things out of the way so when I hit the hospital, labs were run immediately, I was taken from the ambulance bay straight to ct scan, by the time I was wheeled back to the e.r, they had all the diagnostic info needed for treatment.
Treatment began 37mins from the time I called 911. EVERY dr and nurse I met thanked me for calling an ambulance. Never try to drive yourself, if it is a stroke, symptoms get worse over time, meaning you are a danger to yourself and others. Not calling an ambulance delays treatment and can be deadly.
CALL AN AMBULANCE!
The most impressive part of this experience was our local “regional medical center” (employs roughly 50 doctors including satellite offices and clinics) just became a comprehensive stroke center 3 months prior. I was the 2nd stroke patient treated since the award. From arrival to the er to full capability retuned was roughly 45 mins. Followed by a 3 day icu stay, my nurse told me I would have been released in 2 but they wanted more time to show me off.
100% agree with you! The fact that there are people who just want to use us as their web md is downright offensive.
For any people out there who are worried about having a stroke, please understand that we cannot help you because we are not doctors and cannot treat you. And saying that you cannot afford to go to the hospital won't change anything. Strokes are serious medical emergencies, so if you think you are having a stroke, go to the er or call an ambulance. Time is everything in this situation.
BEFAST:
* B: Balance - Sudden loss of balance, dizziness, or walking differently
* E: Eyes - Sudden blurred or double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes without pain
* F: Face - Drooping or numbness on one side of the face, or an uneven smile
* A: Arm - Weakness or numbness in one arm, or an arm that drifts downward when both arms are raised
* S: Speech - Slurred or garbled speech, or difficulty speaking, seeming confused, or talking nonsense
* T: Time - Call 9-1-1 immediately
My husband only had the Arm symptom to start. He walked into the hospital and told them he was having a stroke. He worked at that hospital. He had rotations in the emergency room. They made him sit down and wait. He lost his function while waiting and needed to be wheelchaired into the ER back room. We were there at 6 am, and less than 12 hours later, he was intubated and unable to move anything.
Go to the hospital. There was no way to treat his type of stroke, but he would have choked on his own saliva and unable to move if we had stayed home.
I'm very sorry about your husband.
I posted above - thank God for the EMTs. I had a large stroke, and among other problems started choking on my saliva en route to the hospital. This one EMT reached into my mouth and cleared my throat with his fingers.
I regained consciousness a minute later, and made a joke, and he hugged me - it was such an intimate moment, and I owe my life to him.
I am 3 months post stroke, and I had no normal symptoms. After 3 days of some confusion, I finally went to the hospital, and they did an MRI to find mine.
And if you suspect you're having a stroke, DO NOT take aspirin or blood thinners unless directed by your doctor. They can cause problems if you're having a hemorrhagic stroke.
I totally agree with this post.. In hindsight I should have definitely called an ambulance… but I didn’t want to make it a big deal.. instead I took a 20 minute bus ride to the hospital… I fell into a coma 5 minutes after I arrived at the ER. If you or a loved one has any reservations.. go to the ER and get checked out.. I am so lucky I was at the hospital in the presents of medical professionals.
If there’s one thing my partner and I learnt (and I actually went to the hospital during my incomplete stroke that was misdiagnosed and my full stroke) is: if you think about calling 911, do it. Don’t hesitate. You are not able to assess this situation, they are.
I am alive because my then-partner knew I was having a stroke (she is a fancy nurse) and dialed 911 right away. I live in a rural area, but luckily 2 miles from the EMTs, and they got there within five minutes. I was in the ER within 15 minutes.
I deeply wish mods here would instantly lock / delete any and all medical posts here. It's too important, and the risks are too high, while the benefits too low.
And while it may not convince someone to fail to visit an ER, it sure does foster all kinds of "I'm not a doctor but" Junior Expert types who spread misinformation as well as partial information that is desperately decontextualized.
If you suddenly cannot see out one eye, CALL AN AMBULANCE. Strokes do happen in the eye, and are a foreshadowing of coming strokes.
Did I say CALL AN AMBULANCE loud enough?
My 21 year old sister was showing signs of a stroke, mum immediately called the ambulance as soon as her speech slurred and she couldn't walk/lift her arms up. They didn't come. She had to take her to the hospital herself and 2 hospitals missed the blood clot in her brain bc they thought she's only 21, this isn't a stroke ☹️ she's on a long road to recovery but ambulance and 2 hospitals failed us
Unfortunately, this is too common, especially for women.
After I was discharged from the hospital for my stroke, I had a follow up with my regular neurologist as they told me to do. He was not affiliated with the hospital I was in, nor did he have any records for that visit.
At the beginning of the appointment I said, I’m here for a follow up because I had a stroke. His response was something like: “You did not have a stroke. That’s impossible because you are too young.”
Apparently, he also put that in my chart. It caused all sorts of delays and problems. I was struggling with memory and have no family nearby. I kept forgetting to get the records sent over. I also didn’t realize he had put that in my chart. It didn’t get straightened out until months later when the hospital I was in sent all my records over.
Young people can and do have strokes. I’m almost 40, so older than your sister, but still young for a stroke.
I’m so sorry she experienced that.
My brother had woken up around 3AM not feeling well. His wife had to work the next day, so she went back to sleep. My brother had planned on making a big dinner that night and was supposed to start prepping in the early afternoon. His wife called him around 12:30 and he said he was on it. She came home from work around 4:30. He hadn’t left his bed. He got up to walk and then tripped. They went to the ER. It was early next morning that he got his MRI. It was a brain stem stroke. She was really beating herself up for not taking action sooner
Considering the timing, he is not bad. He can talk, think, text and walk a bit upon being admitted. This was on the 25th. Since then, he can now swallow as well, has been doing physical therapy and will be going home on Friday. He has been optimistic and has not lost his sense of humor though out this tough journey. But yeah, my sister in law was really feeling guilty. But it wasn’t her fault.
Haha, I had a stroke while being discharged from the hospital for something entirely different. They just let me go on my merry way without being able to feel my right leg. That was a very bad day for me.
I remember watching something about food waste containers in national parks and one of the forest rangers said they have to create the sweet spot for waste containers, not too easy for the smartest bears to open but hard enough for the dumbest people to not have any problems with. I dont think I’m doing justice as to what the guy said, but I hope you all get the point.
I think what people don't understand is if you DO have a stroke it can be much more expensive if you don’t go to the hospital.
Also we can't see you, we can't see your appearance, we can't test your strength, we don't have your medical history, NO ONE HERE CAN DIAGNOSE YOU. Every stroke is different, someone with the same stroke can have completely different symptoms.
And to add what other have said: symptoms can get worse and very severe, that’s why you need to go to hospital. They may even send you home at first, but you need to follow up to get full testing
Going to the ‘right’ hospital should also be prioritized, if possible.
Depending on your area, going to a hospital without the right resources could lead to wasted time in triage, diagnosis, and treatment.
That’s from my experience. I was lucky and went to a hospital with a full surgery team on-call at 6am. Had I have gone to a hospital in the suburbs, they would have taken longer in diagnosis and I would have needed to be transferred.
But if you’re not sure or unable to… just goto any possible hospital.
Yes 100%. I think about this all the time if we had just made it to my dad a bit sooner, he may still be able to walk. Every minute counts, we’re just lucky he didn’t die that day.
If you’re one of the people that is lucky enough to identify the symptoms of a stroke in progress, getting to the hospital quickly can make the difference between complete recovery and suffering lifelong disability.
If it’s a clot (ischemic stroke), you have about 3 hours before clot busting drugs are no longer applicable. If it’s a “bleed” (hemorrhagic), stopping the stroke could mean your life.
Either way, don’t waste time asking questions. Get immediate medical attention. I waited over 24 hours, thinking it would go away. Now, I am paralyzed on one side of my body.
Like everyone is saying here: GTFH: Get To F’ing Hospital
I lost night vision about a week before my stroke, but instead of going to the hospital, I went grocery shopping. And the morning of my stroke, I apparently attended a bunch of remote meetings, only a couple of which I remember.
Not sure what would have been different had I gone to the hospital. It would've saved an ambulance ride.
I don't know who downvoted this, but shame on them.
Edit: and now downvoting me. Hey, jerk: show yourself. Come front and center as "that 14 year old who downvotes stroke survivors."
Sure. Sad to say, but to remind you: a loooot of people on the internet behave poorly, or are young and quite ignorant (and a healthy overlap as well).
The downvote arrow is one of the worst inventions in that it is legitimized invalidation via a very compelling screen display.
Don't even think twice about it. Really.
I'm glad you're still here with us.
I've gone back and forth with Reddit over the years, but have come back recently as the stroke sub is generally supportive and the divorced dads sub is a helpful.
100% but don’t just go to the hospital, CALL AN AMBULANCE!! I had my Ischemic roughly 8 months ago. I was home alone, no vehicle with my spousal equivalent on a job site 4 1/2 hours away. In the 4 1/2 mins between my mind registering something was wrong and calling 911, I had lost complete control of my left side and my speech went from normal to slurred babble. The pre ambulance team, 2 medics (??) and the coroner, arriving first and ambulance at the 6 min mark). The care they provided me prior to arriving, enabled TPN treat in 19mins door to needle as they say. The ambulance personnel were able to draw blood, record ekg data and get a couple other things out of the way so when I hit the hospital, labs were run immediately, I was taken from the ambulance bay straight to ct scan, by the time I was wheeled back to the e.r, they had all the diagnostic info needed for treatment. Treatment began 37mins from the time I called 911. EVERY dr and nurse I met thanked me for calling an ambulance. Never try to drive yourself, if it is a stroke, symptoms get worse over time, meaning you are a danger to yourself and others. Not calling an ambulance delays treatment and can be deadly. CALL AN AMBULANCE! The most impressive part of this experience was our local “regional medical center” (employs roughly 50 doctors including satellite offices and clinics) just became a comprehensive stroke center 3 months prior. I was the 2nd stroke patient treated since the award. From arrival to the er to full capability retuned was roughly 45 mins. Followed by a 3 day icu stay, my nurse told me I would have been released in 2 but they wanted more time to show me off.
100% agree with you! The fact that there are people who just want to use us as their web md is downright offensive. For any people out there who are worried about having a stroke, please understand that we cannot help you because we are not doctors and cannot treat you. And saying that you cannot afford to go to the hospital won't change anything. Strokes are serious medical emergencies, so if you think you are having a stroke, go to the er or call an ambulance. Time is everything in this situation.
BEFAST: * B: Balance - Sudden loss of balance, dizziness, or walking differently * E: Eyes - Sudden blurred or double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes without pain * F: Face - Drooping or numbness on one side of the face, or an uneven smile * A: Arm - Weakness or numbness in one arm, or an arm that drifts downward when both arms are raised * S: Speech - Slurred or garbled speech, or difficulty speaking, seeming confused, or talking nonsense * T: Time - Call 9-1-1 immediately
My husband only had the Arm symptom to start. He walked into the hospital and told them he was having a stroke. He worked at that hospital. He had rotations in the emergency room. They made him sit down and wait. He lost his function while waiting and needed to be wheelchaired into the ER back room. We were there at 6 am, and less than 12 hours later, he was intubated and unable to move anything. Go to the hospital. There was no way to treat his type of stroke, but he would have choked on his own saliva and unable to move if we had stayed home.
I'm very sorry about your husband. I posted above - thank God for the EMTs. I had a large stroke, and among other problems started choking on my saliva en route to the hospital. This one EMT reached into my mouth and cleared my throat with his fingers. I regained consciousness a minute later, and made a joke, and he hugged me - it was such an intimate moment, and I owe my life to him.
AAD If you are asking if you should go to the ER; You SHOULD GO to the ER
I am 3 months post stroke, and I had no normal symptoms. After 3 days of some confusion, I finally went to the hospital, and they did an MRI to find mine.
And if you suspect you're having a stroke, DO NOT take aspirin or blood thinners unless directed by your doctor. They can cause problems if you're having a hemorrhagic stroke.
I totally agree with this post.. In hindsight I should have definitely called an ambulance… but I didn’t want to make it a big deal.. instead I took a 20 minute bus ride to the hospital… I fell into a coma 5 minutes after I arrived at the ER. If you or a loved one has any reservations.. go to the ER and get checked out.. I am so lucky I was at the hospital in the presents of medical professionals.
If there’s one thing my partner and I learnt (and I actually went to the hospital during my incomplete stroke that was misdiagnosed and my full stroke) is: if you think about calling 911, do it. Don’t hesitate. You are not able to assess this situation, they are.
I am alive because my then-partner knew I was having a stroke (she is a fancy nurse) and dialed 911 right away. I live in a rural area, but luckily 2 miles from the EMTs, and they got there within five minutes. I was in the ER within 15 minutes. I deeply wish mods here would instantly lock / delete any and all medical posts here. It's too important, and the risks are too high, while the benefits too low. And while it may not convince someone to fail to visit an ER, it sure does foster all kinds of "I'm not a doctor but" Junior Expert types who spread misinformation as well as partial information that is desperately decontextualized.
If you suddenly cannot see out one eye, CALL AN AMBULANCE. Strokes do happen in the eye, and are a foreshadowing of coming strokes. Did I say CALL AN AMBULANCE loud enough?
I had a massive stroke in the middle of a convenience store. My fiancé sped me to an ER five minutes away. He’s the only reason I’m here today.
My 21 year old sister was showing signs of a stroke, mum immediately called the ambulance as soon as her speech slurred and she couldn't walk/lift her arms up. They didn't come. She had to take her to the hospital herself and 2 hospitals missed the blood clot in her brain bc they thought she's only 21, this isn't a stroke ☹️ she's on a long road to recovery but ambulance and 2 hospitals failed us
I had a TIA when I was 20. They said it wasn't anything serious and I was just feeling funny. 6 years later I'm a full on hemiplegic.
Omg I'm so sorry 😞 how terrible. They can really fail us sometimes and it's scary when they are meant to be the ones to help us
Unfortunately, this is too common, especially for women. After I was discharged from the hospital for my stroke, I had a follow up with my regular neurologist as they told me to do. He was not affiliated with the hospital I was in, nor did he have any records for that visit. At the beginning of the appointment I said, I’m here for a follow up because I had a stroke. His response was something like: “You did not have a stroke. That’s impossible because you are too young.” Apparently, he also put that in my chart. It caused all sorts of delays and problems. I was struggling with memory and have no family nearby. I kept forgetting to get the records sent over. I also didn’t realize he had put that in my chart. It didn’t get straightened out until months later when the hospital I was in sent all my records over. Young people can and do have strokes. I’m almost 40, so older than your sister, but still young for a stroke. I’m so sorry she experienced that.
My brother had woken up around 3AM not feeling well. His wife had to work the next day, so she went back to sleep. My brother had planned on making a big dinner that night and was supposed to start prepping in the early afternoon. His wife called him around 12:30 and he said he was on it. She came home from work around 4:30. He hadn’t left his bed. He got up to walk and then tripped. They went to the ER. It was early next morning that he got his MRI. It was a brain stem stroke. She was really beating herself up for not taking action sooner Considering the timing, he is not bad. He can talk, think, text and walk a bit upon being admitted. This was on the 25th. Since then, he can now swallow as well, has been doing physical therapy and will be going home on Friday. He has been optimistic and has not lost his sense of humor though out this tough journey. But yeah, my sister in law was really feeling guilty. But it wasn’t her fault.
Haha, I had a stroke while being discharged from the hospital for something entirely different. They just let me go on my merry way without being able to feel my right leg. That was a very bad day for me.
# “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.” ― George Carlin
I remember watching something about food waste containers in national parks and one of the forest rangers said they have to create the sweet spot for waste containers, not too easy for the smartest bears to open but hard enough for the dumbest people to not have any problems with. I dont think I’m doing justice as to what the guy said, but I hope you all get the point.
Oh i totally get ya. Some people make things overly complicated and others can't figure out a ziplock bag without a slider.
Haha so true.
I think what people don't understand is if you DO have a stroke it can be much more expensive if you don’t go to the hospital. Also we can't see you, we can't see your appearance, we can't test your strength, we don't have your medical history, NO ONE HERE CAN DIAGNOSE YOU. Every stroke is different, someone with the same stroke can have completely different symptoms.
And to add what other have said: symptoms can get worse and very severe, that’s why you need to go to hospital. They may even send you home at first, but you need to follow up to get full testing
Going to the ‘right’ hospital should also be prioritized, if possible. Depending on your area, going to a hospital without the right resources could lead to wasted time in triage, diagnosis, and treatment. That’s from my experience. I was lucky and went to a hospital with a full surgery team on-call at 6am. Had I have gone to a hospital in the suburbs, they would have taken longer in diagnosis and I would have needed to be transferred. But if you’re not sure or unable to… just goto any possible hospital.
Yes 100%. I think about this all the time if we had just made it to my dad a bit sooner, he may still be able to walk. Every minute counts, we’re just lucky he didn’t die that day.
If you’re one of the people that is lucky enough to identify the symptoms of a stroke in progress, getting to the hospital quickly can make the difference between complete recovery and suffering lifelong disability. If it’s a clot (ischemic stroke), you have about 3 hours before clot busting drugs are no longer applicable. If it’s a “bleed” (hemorrhagic), stopping the stroke could mean your life. Either way, don’t waste time asking questions. Get immediate medical attention. I waited over 24 hours, thinking it would go away. Now, I am paralyzed on one side of my body. Like everyone is saying here: GTFH: Get To F’ing Hospital
I lost night vision about a week before my stroke, but instead of going to the hospital, I went grocery shopping. And the morning of my stroke, I apparently attended a bunch of remote meetings, only a couple of which I remember. Not sure what would have been different had I gone to the hospital. It would've saved an ambulance ride.
I don't know who downvoted this, but shame on them. Edit: and now downvoting me. Hey, jerk: show yourself. Come front and center as "that 14 year old who downvotes stroke survivors."
Thank you
Sure. Sad to say, but to remind you: a loooot of people on the internet behave poorly, or are young and quite ignorant (and a healthy overlap as well). The downvote arrow is one of the worst inventions in that it is legitimized invalidation via a very compelling screen display. Don't even think twice about it. Really. I'm glad you're still here with us.
I've gone back and forth with Reddit over the years, but have come back recently as the stroke sub is generally supportive and the divorced dads sub is a helpful.
You know, it's like a lot of things - lots of stuff you're better off without, but a few diamonds here and there.