Hello. I’m 33 years old, male, fit and healthy (very healthy, competing in a combat sport etc). I had what was diagnosed as a left sided brain stem ischemic stroke at the start of September.
My symptoms were dizziness/vertigo, and at the time, somewhat slurred speech and right sided weakness. (I actually slept on it… naively I thought I had a migraine or something, blissfully unaware of how horrific stroke was and how fragile we are).
However the speech cleared within a few days, and right sided issues resolved after about a week. Now my right arm/leg can sometimes feel ‘lazy’ but they do everything they’re meant to (luckily!). Vertigo/dizziness mostly resolved in a few days (it was rough at the start) then I had a small amount that took basically until yesterday to resolve, and at that it’s still kinda there just so minimal. Sort of like being on a rocking boat when I go from seated to standing or vice versa!!
I don’t really have fatigue. I go to bed around 10pm every night as usual and while I force myself to lie down midday, I cannot sleep!!
I immediately quit the sport I was involved in and thought I’d lost guitar playing ability… until my right arm worked properly again. Socially it’s been tough as I lost a community and a way to get out of the house a few nights a week.
Ive since been back to hospital twice with what I now know is something called decompensation… I’d never heard of this before. Seems US folk on another forum are not too familiar either for whatever reason?!
I now deal with severe anxiety and fear of another. I got so lucky with my physical symptoms, reading/seeing those less fortunate has actually made me feel worse. So I’ve been referred for counselling to try and cope.
I know how lucky I am but it doesn’t stop the fear/anxiety unfortunately.
I don’t have a concrete diagnosis. I got every test imaginable (I was kept in for 5 days) and the bubble test showed possibility of a small PFO but no one seemed too bothered about it. I have a heart monitor implanted in my chest now to check for AFIB over the next few years.
I’d have loved to been told I had a PFO and they could close it and I’d move on with my life. As for now I’m left wondering and taking 75mg of clopidogrel every day.
I haven’t had a follow up with my consultant yet either to ask about that. All my bloods were healthy, the 72hr tape I had was negative etc.
Initially I was told it was small, then another doctor said ‘it’s quite large’ during one of my ‘decompensation’ spells which sent my anxiety through the roof 
I didn’t drink much before, like 1-2 pints a week, but weirdly enough I really miss this?! I think it was the social aspect. Zero % beer just doesn’t hit the spot sadly lol. Perhaps after a while I’ll be able to enjoy an occasional Friday evening pint again. At the minute I have way too much fear.
Anyway that’s my rant/intro!
tell you a little of the possible journey to come, would have introduced ideas of two steps forwards one step backwards (Although whether it actually says that these are decompensations I don’t recall 
