Was diagnosed with a TIA in January this year and have just had an MRI due to ongoing issues of left hand weakness, fatigue, emotionally flat lined and concentration and processing difficulties.
I have called the hospital for someone to call and go through results but was told it would probably be next week.
Hoping someone can explain a few things if they have had a similar result
TIA x
I’m not medically trained and can only offer an opinion but it sounds to me like you might have had a stroke rather than a TIA. I had an infarct which was a stroke. It is also unusual to have ongoing weakness following a TIA as that is normally transient and short lived.
When I got a letter from the consultant that i wasn’t sure about I rang my GP surgery to ask them to go through it with me.
Hopefully someone will call you back early next week but in the meantime try not to worry about it.
Best wishes
Ann
Thank you Ann
It’s just so frustrating being fobbed off by the GP saying my issues are nothing to do with it because it was a TIA. It’s taken 9 months of chasing and pushing to get anything done and now turns out it was a stroke which would explain everything I’m feeling.
Will try my GP but close to impossible to get hold of anyone these days 
Chat GPT offers the following interpretation
This MRI report indicates that there are some issues in the brain related to blood flow and past damage. Here’s a simplified explanation:
Established Infarct: The report mentions a “moderate-sized established infarct” in specific areas on the right side of the brain (corona radiata, basal ganglia, and insular region). An “infarct” means a part of the brain tissue has been damaged because it didn’t receive enough blood at some point in the past, which is usually due to a stroke. Since it’s called “established,” it means this damage is not new and has been there for some time.
Acute Ischaemia: The report also notes “acute ischaemia” at the edge of the existing damage. “Ischaemia” means reduced blood flow, and “acute” indicates this is a recent issue. This suggests that there’s a new area where the brain isn’t getting enough blood, located near the older damaged tissue.
Haemorrhagic Transformation: The new area of reduced blood flow has some bleeding (“haemorrhagic transformation”). When brain tissue is damaged by lack of blood, sometimes it can start bleeding. The term “haemosiderin staining” refers to evidence of this bleeding being detected on the MRI.
White Matter Lesions: The MRI also found small scattered spots (foci of high signal) in both sides of the brain. These are in the deep white matter, which is the area that helps connect different parts of the brain. The report suggests these spots could be due to minor, chronic (long-term) issues with small blood vessels, possibly related to conditions like high blood pressure or aging.
No Space-Occupying Lesion or Hydrocephalus: The report confirms that there are no tumors (“space-occupying lesions”) or fluid buildup in the brain (hydrocephalus), which is good.
Conclusion: The report highlights that there is an older area of brain damage (likely from a past stroke) on the right side, and there are signs of new, recent damage nearby, including some bleeding. Additionally, there are some small, scattered changes in other parts of the brain, likely from minor blood vessel issues.
I’d add one echo of Ann’s point: Your previous incident was a stroke. I’d also speculate that like me you have Small Vessel Disease
Small Vessel Disease (SVD) is a condition that affects the tiny blood vessels in the brain. These small vessels can become damaged or narrowed, which restricts blood flow. Over time, this can lead to several problems:
Reduced Blood Flow: The small vessels are responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to deep parts of the brain. When they don’t work properly, some brain cells may not get enough oxygen, causing small areas of damage. This damage can gradually accumulate over time.
White Matter Lesions: The brain’s white matter is made up of fibers that connect different parts of the brain. SVD can cause tiny spots of damage in the white matter, often seen as bright spots on an MRI scan. These spots, called “lesions,” might not cause noticeable symptoms at first, but they can affect brain function over time.
Symptoms: People with SVD might experience problems with memory, thinking, balance, or mood. In severe cases, it can contribute to conditions like stroke or dementia. However, it often progresses slowly, and symptoms may appear gradually.
Risk Factors: The most common risk factors for SVD are high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and aging. Smoking and lack of physical activity can also increase the risk.
In summary, Small Vessel Disease is a chronic condition where the small blood vessels in the brain don’t function as well as they should, leading to gradual brain damage. It’s often managed by controlling risk factors, like blood pressure and blood sugar, to prevent further damage.
Caio
Simon
Hi Simon
Thank you so much for taking the time to give me such an in depth explanation.
It really has helped to clarify a few things.
My Mum had vascular dementia and my worry has always been that I would get the same.
Despite the fatigue I walk my dogs a few miles daily and try to eat healthy. Is there anything else I can do to help things?
All the best
Netty
There are hacks and tweaks we can do to our gut biome, our mitochondria ( they need looking after since they give us 90% of our energy ), Vitamin D levels, exercise, all sorts of things we can do to improve
good luck
Wow, see that’s why we need you here Simon!
I don’t how you got Chat GPT to decipher that report; I just had a read through the intro and I’m cross-eyed 
But what you produced from it makes perfect sense. Why can’t doc’s just write like that and end the needless waiting and worrying 
Lorraine
Stroke Improvement Group