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Post by mermaidsal on Mar 11, 2019 22:09:18 GMT
Like I say we're easily persuaded to keep this live, it's an incredibly important cause - but as ever, it helps the thread if it doesn't go dormant for too long so please everyone keep adding comments.
For example how many of us know our current BP, cholesterol and BMI numbers? Feel free to share them here, it's not a race tho.
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Post by ukcstokie on Mar 21, 2019 22:16:23 GMT
It looks like that over 3,000 people have had a look at this thread. I know that nobody wants to read this stuff. I certainly didn’t. But PLEASE just have a quick look at these links, at the top of this thread. A few minutes on Youtube every few year may save somebody you love. That’s worth it isn’t it?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2019 8:32:14 GMT
The O.P. is essential reading for everybody as it could well save your own, a loved one's, or someone else's life.
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Post by dirtygary69 on Apr 1, 2019 15:08:49 GMT
I've only just noticed thread pinned to the board and it's certainly appropriate given what happened to my girlfriend last week. It's believed she had a mini-stroke and was rushed to hospital in London and she's just 25.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2019 5:43:31 GMT
I've only just noticed thread pinned to the board and it's certainly appropriate given what happened to my girlfriend last week. It's believed she had a mini-stroke and was rushed to hospital in London and she's just 25. Really sorry to hear that mate ! Best wishes to your girlfriend and I hope she's feeling better now. Was it what they call a TIA - It's well worth reading up on that as well.
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Post by dirtygary69 on Apr 2, 2019 14:48:58 GMT
I've only just noticed thread pinned to the board and it's certainly appropriate given what happened to my girlfriend last week. It's believed she had a mini-stroke and was rushed to hospital in London and she's just 25. Really sorry to hear that mate ! Best wishes to your girlfriend and I hope she's feeling better now. Was it what they call a TIA - It's well worth reading up on that as well. She is on the mend thanks, mate. The doctors did find that her brain lies lower than it should but couldn't prove that is what caused it as it can just happen if you have a smaller than average skull. I've just had a read up on TIA and it could quite possibly have been that too. Cheers.
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Post by stokebloke on Apr 6, 2019 8:34:31 GMT
Great post I lost my bro many years ago now to a stroke, he was just 38.
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Post by ukcstokie on Apr 8, 2019 19:54:09 GMT
Great post I lost my bro many years ago now to a stroke, he was just 38. Sorry to hear that mate. Too young for your brother. I have heard so many people (including nurses) be unaware of strokes affecting younger people. I have met lots of people who had a stroke too young (my dentist, one of the volunteer had a stroke aged 18).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2019 5:39:45 GMT
My brother in law is 68 and has just had a quite serious stroke which has badly affected him. He says he felt a little unwell for a couple of hours, then went slightly dizzy with a really nasty headache, and then everything went "white" before he collapsed. His face has drooped on one side and his left arm is numb most of the time so he can't control it or feel it. It's also badly affected his left eye so that it's moved away from the "straight ahead" position to be looking down toward his left shoulder. He's got to go for some new glasses to try to help "re-strengthen" his eye muscles. He is quite a bit overweight, previously smoked but gave up 15 years ago, but still liked a drink, and had recently had a bad bout of sepsis. The doctors had put him on various medications for the sepsis, one of which apparently had a potential risk of causing a stroke. The hospital isn't sure if it was his "lifestyle" or the sepsis medication that caused the stroke, most likely it was a combination of the two. They've now put him on a high dose of warfarin to thin his blood, and will then adjust it once he's out of danger. They told him if the blood clot had been slightly larger it would have killed him. So he's in a bad way, had a nasty scare, and is lucky to still be here. Just a quick update on my brother in law after my previous post. He's made some slow but steady progress since February but is still not back to normal. His left arm still isn't working properly but he has regained quite a lot of use. His left eye is still looking slightly down towards his left shoulder but again it's improved a little since February. He's had numerous hospital appointments particularly over his levels of Warfarin to get the dose right and he finally seems to have got the balance right. He's also had to make big changes to his diet and towards a more healthy lifestyle and he's so far lost about 10 kilos but still has quite a lot more to lose. He was recently also given the nod to resume driving but he says he doesn't have the confidence to do so just yet so he still has to get taxis everywhere as his wife can't drive. He say's he get's quite tiired a lot of the time, and does get quite depressed and sometimes thinks "why bother" with the diet and warfarin but then remembers how lucky he was and that next time it might be fatal.
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Post by harryburrows on Apr 26, 2019 15:33:47 GMT
This video is well worth watching for health in general
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Post by ukcstokie on Apr 30, 2019 15:37:45 GMT
My brother in law is 68 and has just had a quite serious stroke which has badly affected him. He says he felt a little unwell for a couple of hours, then went slightly dizzy with a really nasty headache, and then everything went "white" before he collapsed. His face has drooped on one side and his left arm is numb most of the time so he can't control it or feel it. It's also badly affected his left eye so that it's moved away from the "straight ahead" position to be looking down toward his left shoulder. He's got to go for some new glasses to try to help "re-strengthen" his eye muscles. He is quite a bit overweight, previously smoked but gave up 15 years ago, but still liked a drink, and had recently had a bad bout of sepsis. The doctors had put him on various medications for the sepsis, one of which apparently had a potential risk of causing a stroke. The hospital isn't sure if it was his "lifestyle" or the sepsis medication that caused the stroke, most likely it was a combination of the two. They've now put him on a high dose of warfarin to thin his blood, and will then adjust it once he's out of danger. They told him if the blood clot had been slightly larger it would have killed him. So he's in a bad way, had a nasty scare, and is lucky to still be here. Just a quick update on my brother in law after my previous post. He's made some slow but steady progress since February but is still not back to normal. His left arm still isn't working properly but he has regained quite a lot of use. His left eye is still looking slightly down towards his left shoulder but again it's improved a little since February. He's had numerous hospital appointments particularly over his levels of Warfarin to get the dose right and he finally seems to have got the balance right. He's also had to make big changes to his diet and towards a more healthy lifestyle and he's so far lost about 10 kilos but still has quite a lot more to lose. He was recently also given the nod to resume driving but he says he doesn't have the confidence to do so just yet so he still has to get taxis everywhere as his wife can't drive. He say's he get's quite tiired a lot of the time, and does get quite depressed and sometimes thinks "why bother" with the diet and warfarin but then remembers how lucky he was and that next time it might be fatal. That good news. Just my advice after spending nearly 3 years having to live with a stroke… A few months is no time at all…sadly. With hard work, you can make progress for years. The brain needs time to make the connections that were damaged. Even after 3 years other people can still see the progress that I am making, so I am sure that he can too. The bull people are told – by Doctors – that you won’t make progress after 6 months after a stroke, is absolutely shit. So don’t let him believe it and get downhearted. He needs to keep going and keep confident. Keep on working every single day. I have seen brilliant recovery but he needs to keep going. He’s doing well to be driving now, I’m not able to for 3 years now, but I do have hope! Many people who had a stroke have problems with tiredness. I know many who can’t work again due to tiredness. Depression is a normal after a stroke (for many), sadly. I get depression following the stroke too. Does he get any phycologist help? It can quite often tale a while for the NHS to contact people but contact them.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2019 16:52:35 GMT
Just a quick update on my brother in law after my previous post. He's made some slow but steady progress since February but is still not back to normal. His left arm still isn't working properly but he has regained quite a lot of use. His left eye is still looking slightly down towards his left shoulder but again it's improved a little since February. He's had numerous hospital appointments particularly over his levels of Warfarin to get the dose right and he finally seems to have got the balance right. He's also had to make big changes to his diet and towards a more healthy lifestyle and he's so far lost about 10 kilos but still has quite a lot more to lose. He was recently also given the nod to resume driving but he says he doesn't have the confidence to do so just yet so he still has to get taxis everywhere as his wife can't drive. He say's he get's quite tiired a lot of the time, and does get quite depressed and sometimes thinks "why bother" with the diet and warfarin but then remembers how lucky he was and that next time it might be fatal. That good news. Just my advice after spending nearly 3 years having to live with a stroke… A few months is no time at all…sadly. With hard work, you can make progress for years. The brain needs time to make the connections that were damaged. Even after 3 years other people can still see the progress that I am making, so I am sure that he can too. The bull people are told – by Doctors – that you won’t make progress after 6 months after a stroke, is absolutely shit. So don’t let him believe it and get downhearted. He needs to keep going and keep confident. Keep on working every single day. I have seen brilliant recovery but he needs to keep going. He’s doing well to be driving now, I’m not able to for 3 years now, but I do have hope! Many people who had a stroke have problems with tiredness. I know many who can’t work again due to tiredness. Depression is a normal after a stroke (for many), sadly. I get depression following the stroke too. Does he get any phycologist help? It can quite often tale a while for the NHS to contact people but contact them. Thanks for your interest and your comments and advice mate. I'll certainly pass them on to him. It's really good to hear that you're still improving - keep at it ! As you say, and as all the family keep telling him, it will take time but he will continue to improve. The hospital were really good with him, but so far he's only seen a psychologist once I think. He's still continuing to improve but he's really struggling to stick to his diet - he likes a couple of pints and a curry now and again - but we're trying to get him to do things in moderation rather than overdoing it. As for the driving I was under the impression he'd already been given the okay to resume, but what he actually said was that the doctors had told him if he continued to improve then they would think about it, but they didn't say when. He said he doesn't feel ready yet anyway, and is still lacking confidence. He does get tired very quickly, morning or afternoon, after not really doing much at all. He has quite big mood swings and can suddenly change with little warning. We are getting to recognise the tell tale signs and try to steer conversation away from any possible "trigger".
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2019 19:42:49 GMT
Just found this extract from an article which may be useful.
Four million Brits have untreated high blood pressure
Four million people of working age in the UK are living with untreated high blood pressure. The estimate is made by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which is urging people to get themselves checked out. Its analysis shows that just over a quarter of adults in Britain, around 14.4 million, have the condition. Four million under the age of 65 have it without being treated and of those, 1.3 million are under 45. The BHF is urging people to get tested this month, dubbed "May Measurement Month", as part of a worldwide initiative to make people aware of the risk. High blood pressure does not usually have any symptoms, meaning that many people are unaware they are living with one of the risk factors most commonly associated with heart attacks and strokes.
The condition can be treated easily by a combination of simple lifestyle changes and medication, depending on the individual. Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the BHF, said: "I don't think there's much public awareness at all. "You don't suffer any symptoms of having high blood pressure, it's only when a critical incident such as a heart attack or a stroke occurs that you may look back and say well possibly it was because of my high blood pressure. "I think it's worth remembering that about half of all heart attacks and strokes are actually caused by high blood pressure. "There is a very high number of people of working age who don't know their blood pressure and whether or not they have high blood pressure. If they do, and it's not being treated, they are at significant risk of having a heart attack or a stroke."
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Post by chuffedstokie on May 18, 2019 14:58:08 GMT
I came out of Aberystwyth hospital 10 days ago having gone over there for a couple of days break at Easter. Unfortunately I fitted in the street and went into cardiac arrest twice in the ambulance apparently. Add on 20 minutes of CPR and broken ribs it could have been worse I don't remember a thing. 10.45 am.BP apparently hit the floor. Now on the meds to sort out blood and heart. Missed a bullet there. I know it's not stroke related but things can happen when you're least expecting it.
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2019 18:46:23 GMT
I came out of Aberystwyth hospital 10 days ago having gone over there for a couple of days break at Easter. Unfortunately I fitted in the street and went into cardiac arrest twice in the ambulance apparently. Add on 20 minutes of CPR and broken ribs it could have been worse I don't remember a thing. 10.45 am.BP apparently hit the floor. Now on the meds to sort out blood and heart. Missed a bullet there. I know it's not stroke related but things can happen when you're least expecting it. I'm really very pleased to hear that you're on the mend Chuffed - as they say "keep taking the tablets". Unfortunately yours is a salutary tale of "not knowing what's around the corner" isn't it, but thankfully you were in good hands. I guess it just reinforces the old adage "live life to the full". All the very best to you mate !
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Post by bigjohnritchie on May 18, 2019 22:24:00 GMT
I came out of Aberystwyth hospital 10 days ago having gone over there for a couple of days break at Easter. Unfortunately I fitted in the street and went into cardiac arrest twice in the ambulance apparently. Add on 20 minutes of CPR and broken ribs it could have been worse I don't remember a thing. 10.45 am.BP apparently hit the floor. Now on the meds to sort out blood and heart. Missed a bullet there. I know it's not stroke related but things can happen when you're least expecting it. All the best for your recovery Chuffed. ( I had a heart attack, New Year's Eve 2017, still kicking).
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Post by mermaidsal on May 18, 2019 22:56:20 GMT
I came out of Aberystwyth hospital 10 days ago having gone over there for a couple of days break at Easter. Unfortunately I fitted in the street and went into cardiac arrest twice in the ambulance apparently. Add on 20 minutes of CPR and broken ribs it could have been worse I don't remember a thing. 10.45 am.BP apparently hit the floor. Now on the meds to sort out blood and heart. Missed a bullet there. I know it's not stroke related but things can happen when you're least expecting it. chuffed have you got a diagnosis, this doesn't sound like a regular infarct? what was causing the super low BP?
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Post by mermaidsal on May 18, 2019 22:57:34 GMT
I came out of Aberystwyth hospital 10 days ago having gone over there for a couple of days break at Easter. Unfortunately I fitted in the street and went into cardiac arrest twice in the ambulance apparently. Add on 20 minutes of CPR and broken ribs it could have been worse I don't remember a thing. 10.45 am.BP apparently hit the floor. Now on the meds to sort out blood and heart. Missed a bullet there. I know it's not stroke related but things can happen when you're least expecting it. All the best for your recovery Chuffed. ( I had a heart attack, New Year's Eve 2017, still kicking). If you can kick in a reasonably straight line, EEFC could use you?
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Post by bigjohnritchie on May 19, 2019 7:36:21 GMT
All the best for your recovery Chuffed. ( I had a heart attack, New Year's Eve 2017, still kicking). If you can kick in a reasonably straight line, EEFC could use you? Thanks Sal, but I don't think that I could get in that team..., Perhaps if someone runs a second team , I might get on the bench! ( besides, like many of us , I spend too much time on here...but on a serious note, I think that the EE board/ main board is a valuable therapeutic outlet....so thanks for that admin!)
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Post by chuffedstokie on May 19, 2019 11:00:49 GMT
I came out of Aberystwyth hospital 10 days ago having gone over there for a couple of days break at Easter. Unfortunately I fitted in the street and went into cardiac arrest twice in the ambulance apparently. Add on 20 minutes of CPR and broken ribs it could have been worse I don't remember a thing. 10.45 am.BP apparently hit the floor. Now on the meds to sort out blood and heart. Missed a bullet there. I know it's not stroke related but things can happen when you're least expecting it. chuffed have you got a diagnosis, this doesn't sound like a regular infarct? what was causing the super low BP? Judging by the medication I've got it seems to be aimed at keeping the blood flowing, not warfarin. Stuff I've never heard of before. Combined with an erratic diet and low blood sugars as well. I've been read the rocket act and told off and eat properly, don't skip meals. Apparently my heart kept flying into incredibly rapid surges. Hence the schock tactics to re balance things.
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Post by bigjohnritchie on May 19, 2019 13:37:24 GMT
chuffed have you got a diagnosis, this doesn't sound like a regular infarct? what was causing the super low BP? Judging by the medication I've got it seems to be aimed at keeping the blood flowing, not warfarin. Stuff I've never heard of before. Combined with an erratic diet and low blood sugars as well. I've been read the rocket act and told off and eat properly, don't skip meals. Apparently my heart kept flying into incredibly rapid surges. Hence the schock tactics to re balance things. Hope you are ok Chuffed. I'm on beta blockers, ace inhibitors and aspirin. I've had an operation to have 3 stents put in. I've been on and come off statins due to side effects. Like you I feel that I have dodged a bullet, Happened out of the blue, I've always felt reasonably fit.... but then again so did Glen Hoddle, Billy Bremner and Alan Ball I presume. I think that strokes are/ can be related to heart attacks, depending on the diagnosis...eg hardening of arteries/ blockages but not necessarily so. All the best!
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Post by chuffedstokie on May 19, 2019 18:19:47 GMT
Judging by the medication I've got it seems to be aimed at keeping the blood flowing, not warfarin. Stuff I've never heard of before. Combined with an erratic diet and low blood sugars as well. I've been read the rocket act and told off and eat properly, don't skip meals. Apparently my heart kept flying into incredibly rapid surges. Hence the schock tactics to re balance things. Hope you are ok Chuffed. I'm on beta blockers, ace inhibitors and aspirin. I've had an operation to have 3 stents put in. I've been on and come off statins due to side effects. Like you I feel that I have dodged a bullet, Happened out of the blue, I've always felt reasonably fit.... but then again so did Glen Hoddle, Billy Bremner and Alan Ball I presume. I think that strokes are/ can be related to heart attacks, depending on the diagnosis...eg hardening of arteries/ blockages but not necessarily so. All the best! Thanks, hopefully I'll have a clearer idea after my visit to the cardiology department. Glad you're well.
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Post by mermaidsal on May 19, 2019 23:14:29 GMT
chuffed have you got a diagnosis, this doesn't sound like a regular infarct? what was causing the super low BP? Judging by the medication I've got it seems to be aimed at keeping the blood flowing, not warfarin. Stuff I've never heard of before. Combined with an erratic diet and low blood sugars as well. I've been read the rocket act and told off and eat properly, don't skip meals. Apparently my heart kept flying into incredibly rapid surges. Hence the schock tactics to re balance things. Cheers - stay shocked please xxx
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Post by harryburrows on May 20, 2019 18:53:18 GMT
Hope you are ok Chuffed. I'm on beta blockers, ace inhibitors and aspirin. I've had an operation to have 3 stents put in. I've been on and come off statins due to side effects. Like you I feel that I have dodged a bullet, Happened out of the blue, I've always felt reasonably fit.... but then again so did Glen Hoddle, Billy Bremner and Alan Ball I presume. I think that strokes are/ can be related to heart attacks, depending on the diagnosis...eg hardening of arteries/ blockages but not necessarily so. All the best! Thanks, hopefully I'll have a clearer idea after my visit to the cardiology department. Glad you're well. Good luck chuffed sounds like you had a very close call .
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Post by chuffedstokie on May 20, 2019 21:20:27 GMT
Thanks, hopefully I'll have a clearer idea after my visit to the cardiology department. Glad you're well. Good luck chuffed sounds like you had a very close call . Ta. I think you're right. I don't remember a single thing but the more I learn from my friends that were there the closer it hits home. I thought I was pretty fit having played sport (hockey) all my life. I'm not taking anything for granted from here on in.
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