Hello - I had an ischemic stroke last December and posted on here afterwards about fatigue - people were very helpful and welcoming. I still haven’t seen the stroke team at hospital since my discharge (appointment scheduled for November), just been back to my GP a few times, so I don’t have anybody to ask about something a bit odd that happened to me last week - and I wonder if anybody has had anything similar happen post stroke?
I was having quite a busy day - had a lot of work on (I work from home as a writer) and was also trying to pack to go to Ireland the next day for a funeral, which was also causing me a bit of stress and I sat down on the bed, surrounded by all my packing, just to take a break from all the busyness for a minute. I started looking at some text messages on my phone and found that I couldn’t understand them - I could see the words but they weren’t bonding together to make sense. I would say that I felt like I was having the mental effects of a stroke without the physical effects (at no point did I feel I was losing strength or power in my limbs, same as I did when I had the stroke) but actually, that’s not quite correct as even when I had the stroke, I didn’t lost mental capabilities very badly as I was on my own in a hotel and knew I needed to get hold of somebody to help me. But in last week’s episode, I felt like my brain had sort of lost power. It was a very strange experience and I wonder if anybody else has had anything similar?
As I said, I’m not due to see the stroke team until November so I can’t check with them.
Hello, please do check, but I believe that blurred vision is a warning sign of a stroke. Don’t let them fob you off!! I know the NHS is busy but honestly, your life is so much more important. I felt in January after my third TIA that I was virtual ticking time bomb! Insist your GP refers you urgently for a scan to check. You deserve to be seen. Please don’t wait, I did and had a third TIA which was horrible. Be gentle with yourself and don’t take “no” for an answer!! Jayne
Thank you so much for replying - I really appreciate it - luckily I didn’t have any blurred vision, just a strange feeling of detachment and the inability to make sense of written words
It could be what my stroke consultant told me about blips or glitches, misfiring neurotransmitters. I went into A&E last year because of a blip when looking at the computer screen, all the words started swirling, which was indicative of the symptoms I experienced while having cerebellar strokes. One MRI later, all clear. If you are worried and can bear outpatient A&E waiting times, empathetic doctors may give you an MRI or Cat scan just for peace of mind.
Thanks - that’s very interesting, sounds like it might have been that. Luckily I’ve not had any recurrence since and am feeling a lot better. Funeral went as well as these things can - being an Irish funeral, it was very much a celebration of life and a coming together of people to show support.
This sounds like “Transient Aphasia” or “Brain Fog” triggered by exhaustion
What you describe ; seeing the words but not “bonding them together” to make sense, is a classic description of receptive aphasia (difficulty understanding language). The fact that it happened during a moment of extreme physical and mental exhaustion (heavy work, stress, packing, and emotional distress over a funeral) is the key clue.
Hi @Bernib , there is already so much good advice here and recently went through similar due to overload at work, my family got me an ambulance and into hospital . One CT later with good advice and next day GP signed me off with stress as work had gone crazy. Still off and looking for alternate employment but stress was the trigger, hope it’s okay with you . Enjoy your wake and take a beat before coming home again.
Welcome to the community, and thank you for such a thoughtful first post. It’s great to have you here.
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@Bernib - My initial thoughts are that I agree with @Jayne1 and @Rups, or at least I think I do.
This is not something you (or maybe it’s me I am thinking of) would want to wait around for. You can go directly to A&E or call your GP or ring 111 NHS Direct and talk to someone.
However, I have since seen other posts by Ann and Roland @Mrs5K and @pando which offer a different explanation of what you experienced and possible different actions you might take.
It seems in the world of stroke nothing is ever straightforward. Still, it’s nice to know you can ask for and get help on this forum at the drop of a hat
