I’ve bed diagnosed with a ‘suspected’ TIA, however nothing has come up on assessments including MRI other than high cholesterol - is this normal? My mum had a massive stroke in 2018 which left her paralysed and I’m petrified!!
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Hi @Donna74,
Welcome to the Online Community, we’re really glad you’ve reached out. A suspected TIA can be incredibly unsettling, especially when there are no clear answers yet. Please know that you’re not alone, many people here have felt exactly the same, and it’s okay to feel frightened when things are so uncertain. I’m sure others in the community who’ve been through similar experiences will be along soon to share their thoughts and support, this is a really kind and understanding space.
In the meantime, you might find this page helpful: Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) it explains what a TIA is, what can cause it, and how it’s treated. Understanding a bit more about it might help ease some of the unknowns.
If you feel like you need to talk things through, our Stroke Support Helpline team is also here to support you. They can listen and help point you in the right direction:
Phone: 0303 3033 100 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm, Sat 10-1pm)
Email: helpline@stroke.org.uk
If you have any questions about the Online Community feel free to tag me using the @ symbol followed by my username, like this → @Alex_Moderator
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@Donna74 hi & welcome to the community. Sorry you’ve had cause to join us.
Some TIAs can be picked up on an MRI but some can’t be and thereforevare diagnosed based on the symptoms you present with. I know that’s not very reassuring when you want to know for sure but some people juat never find out for definite.
You’ve had a warning and you can use that to make some lifestyle changes that will reduce the chance of any further episodes. A good diet, exercise, sensible alcohol intake, no smoking etc will all help.
If you have any questions please ask away.
Best wishes
Ann
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Hello @Donna74 - Welcome to the community.
I note Alex and Ann have responded with some excellent initial feedback. Hopefully, you have also had some guidance from the medical professionals who treated you and perhaps you may have picked up things from your Mum’s unfortunate experience of a massive stroke in 2018.
As Ann says, you’ve had a warning and so you can act based on that. You can take actions to reduce the risk of [further] strokes, but the risk never truly goes away. I say that because you should not worry too much as there are things you can do to minimise the risk and having done that you should carry on and enjoy life.
The way I look at it, stroke is an accident that happened - and accidents do happen.
It’s passable that I could get runover by a bus, but as long as I take precautions to reduce that risk, there is no reason why I should not go about my business on the roads without being fearful of being runover. Maybe not the best example, but I hope it helps illustrate what I am trying to say about the fear of having a stroke and what it might do to you.
Namaste|
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I like that analogy! Every day is potentially an accident waiting to happen be it big or small, from a stroke to a typing error 
Lorraine
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Thank you everyone - I think in some ways I know too much. I saw what it did to my mum, too many months on stroke wards seeing the worst of the worst, reading about it etc but then at the same time trying to remind myself knowledge is power as because of the above I knew my symptoms were a TIA and acted on it where someone else wouldn’t necessarily.
I’m 51 eat well, exercise, don’t smoke, all tests came back well but already making changes. I’ve been put on Clopidogrel and statins but just so difficult trying to come to terms with it and just scared ..hoping I’ll come out the other side as I know it could have been so much worse!!!
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I have been told that a TIA can heal in 24 hrs and may not show on scans.
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