Stroke Idenfication - please please read this!

mr_rush

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim
within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a
stroke... totally .

I'm sorry but this is not correct at all. 3 hours is the window is which thrombolysis is effective for ischaemic strokes. i.e. the patient needs to be in hospital within 3 hours of onset of symptoms and be ready for a CT scan of the head. In SOME HOSPITALS they have thrombolysis - drugs given intravenously to break up the blood clot in the vessel supplying a part of the brain. Most hospitals do not offer thrombolysis, even where it is offered sometimes it is only during daytime hours. Also, there are huge number of contraindications to thrombolysis. Certain strokes - where there is a bleed (haemorrhage) vs clot (ischaemic) are not amenable to thrombolysis. Finally just because a person with an ischaemic stroke presenting within 3 hours of onset of symptoms goes to have thrombolysis, it is no guarantee of success.

HOWEVER, the tests outlined in the email circular are valid and a good screening tool and if someone does have such symptoms then they should be brought to A&E.

Finally, Ted continue to spout rubbish.

Valley's_girl

My mam went for a quintuple bypass surgery on thursday had the 6 hour op on the friday she was kept ventilited (sp) until late friday evening. Went to see her on saturday afternoon she was taken up to coronary care which was only 23 hours after this major surgery she was sitting in a chair and in my opinion it was to soon.
Sunday morning I rang the hospital to be told by the nurse that my mam had had a vague episode when I got to the hospital she was back in UCI and I was told she has suffered a massive stroke. We were told that the next 24 hours are critical. I have been told that it will be a long hard road to recovery
My mam has never smoked never drank alcohol and eats healthy, she weighs only seven and a half stone we were told previously that it was an inherited condition, prior to this she was very active, I just feel so sad that this has happened, my mam had no warning.
Sorry I am feeling pretty down at the moment and just wanted to vent.
Ally x

mary43

This information is well worth printing out I think and passing on to as many people as possible.

My mother suffered a really bad stroke 4 years ago...........luckily her neighbour found her.............he just happened to be checking she was ok before he locked up himself. Following 6 months in hospital she's now in a care home where she is well looked after but from being an active and seemingly healthy woman -never smoked, drank the odd glass of wine at christmas, walked a lot etc. - she became immobile with just her right hand with movement, totally dependant on someone else for everything. She has done well though sadly is now deteriating at the age of 86.
I knew little if nothing about this kind of illness till my mother had it -just goes to show it can happen to anyone at anytime and the more aware we are to recognise it and deal with it the better.
Thanks for that information.

prestonlass

Thanks for that OP. I know that are lots of whys, wherefores, what-ifs and so many people have so many different experiences but I like to think that whilst this sort of info may not cover every example and eventuality - it is now tucked away in my mind and who knows, one day it may just make that all important difference - many thanks

ka7e

The Stroke Association states on their website

The Face Arm Speech Test (FAST) has been developed as a stroke identification instrument. The test assesses 3 neurological signs of stroke:

· facial weakness
· arm weakness
· speech disturbance

My daughter was also taught this as part of an advanced First Aid course. Asking a suspected stroke victim to poke out their tongue was another valid indicator.

+ ((Hugs)) to Ally, wishing her Mum well.

takoo

Hi Quasar

A newspaper report stated that research has shown that stoke victims who listen to their favorite music being played tend to recover more quickly than those who don't.

Takoo

Quasar

takoo wrote: »

Hi Quasar

A newspaper report stated that research has shown that stoke victims who listen to their favorite music being played tend to recover more quickly than those who don't.

Takoo

Thanks Takoo. That is of particular interest to me because I know that listening to music one loves, activates large areas of the brain. In n fact I read long ago that playing baroque music (Vivaldi, Bach) helps in studying. I don't know what the scientific rationale behind this idea is, but there is no denying that baroque music has a calming and "collecting" effect - at least on me...