Hi everyone!
Early December last year I suffered what I thought was a terrible migraine but the MRI then concluded was a stroke. It was a huge shock as my symptoms only lasted a few minutes and having suffered with migraines my whole life, all the doctors were sure this would be the cause. I was given anti-platelet medications and statins to take for life and told that it was likely this would all seem like a ‘blip in the road’ by the following year. Unfortunately, I had a further, very similar episode at the beginning of February which was also confirmed as a stroke. I have no obvious risk factors for stroke and as yet, all tests have come back negative so the reason for the strokes is still unknown. I am finding it really hard to move forward without living in fear and would be interested to know if anyone has experienced anything similar.
Risk factors are a scale, you cannot reduce the risk to zero.
While it is difficult try not to worry about the future, that will destroy your life as much as another stroke would.
Hi @Leanne_Hodgetts & welcome to the community. Sorry to hear of your strokes. They will have come as a big ahozk I am sure. I too was in my 40s when I had my stroke. I was led to believe mine was caused by a carotid artery dissection but there is some debate over that now. They have never been able to find the cause of yhe dissection so it has been put down to an unknown cause.
There are quite a few people who never find out the cause and of course that is a worry in itself but as @Janetb says you have to try & live your life as worry free as possible. None of us know what is around the corner & all we can donis reduce our risks as far as possible.
In in the early days it is very natural to be anxious & having had a repeat rpisode that makes the anxiety worse. In time that anxiety should settle.
Best wishes
Ann
Thank you Ann. I know I’m not the only one it’s just been such a difficult time. I hope you have recovered well and are living life to the full.
Thank you and I know you’re right. Hoping I’ll get past it as time goes on.
@Leanne_Hodgetts I still have issues but have adapted as best I can. I think in the early stages wecall seek answers but sometimes there just aren’t any. Acceptance is a part of moving forwards after a stroke but that can take some time to reach. You’ll get there. Be kind to yourself as you navigate along the recovery road.
Hi Leanne,
Thanks for sharing your story, I’m really sorry to hear about your stroke. It sounds like an incredibly difficult and unsettling experience, especially without a clear cause. That kind of uncertainty can be one of the hardest things to manage, particularly when you’ve done everything right and are still left without answers.
You’re definitely not alone in feeling fearful or stuck, many people here have shared similar frustrations, especially in those early months of adjusting. Even posting here is a step forward, and your words will likely resonate with others going through the same thing.
If you’re looking for more information or support, these pages might be useful:
Be kind to yourself as you process everything, and keep talking if it helps. If you have any questions or need any help using the Online Community don’t hesitate to reach out to us by tagging me or my colleague @Anna_Moderator.