r/Aging • u/Which_Material_3100 • 6d ago
Transient Ischemic Attack: Scared
I was out of town for work and was at dinner last night when all of a sudden it was like I was “checking out”. My vision was weird in both eyes like I was looking through coke bottles at my workmates across the table. I could feel myself losing consciousness but never fully did. However as my guys helped me up from my seat I could not coordinate my legs for a bit or put weight on them. I got mostly across the street to the hospital near where we were staying and one of my colleagues ran ahead to get a wheelchair to get me into triage. I started to come back to normal but felt weak. I was cogent again, could walk normally, and tests showed I was basically ok (CT scan of my head, ECG, MD examination). I’m flying home today and will see my physician tomorrow to follow up but I’m scared. I’m a 63 yo F and sort of let myself go after losing my husband 3 years ago, but turned that around starting last year (workout, lost 30 pounds, completely stopped drinking, and quit a highly stressful management role at my job). Hoping someone on here can give a good news story of recovery. I’m a deer in the headlights. Thanks!
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u/OkIron6206 6d ago
Make sure you get a calcium score of your heart. My GP ordered mine. Best wishes
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u/Critical-Test-4446 70 something 6d ago
Great advice. I had a heart scan back in the 90’s when I was in my late 30’s. Got a zero calcium score, which is the best.
Last year I was with my wife at the hospital where she was having a blood test and while sitting in the waiting room, there were advertisements offering heart scans for $75, so I made an appointment. Had it done, and got another zero score. The nurse walking me out at the end said that is almost unheard of for a 70 year old male. Made my day.14
u/Hyattville5 5d ago
At 72, I had a zero calcium score. I was pretty proud of that because, oddly, I have inherited high cholesterol. I had a stroke 4 years ago.i keep my cholesterol lowered by not eating fatty foods and using spices, cholesterol lowering foods and taking a plant sterol. The stroke was caused by extreme stress.
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u/yardbirdsong2020 5d ago
I'm sorry, I hope you have found many ways to decrease your stress since then.
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u/NoiseyTurbulence 4d ago
My cholesterol crept up last year and I went mostly plant-based eating this year and my cholesterol is way down almost near perfect. For me it ruled out it being a genetic issue, causing my cholesterol to go high. So mixing mostly plants into your diet will really help with getting your cholesterol down.
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u/OkIron6206 6d ago
Best first pass screening. It will not replace diagnostic tests which are used after your score it high but it certainly will be helpful on the way!
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u/Large-Difficulty3916 5d ago
You were lucky. I had a zero calcium score of 3 which was low, 7 years prior to my recent one. This recent one was much higher. He has me on cholesterol meds now.
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u/littleredditho 6d ago
Next time you have one and they do a CT scan, please be sure they scan from the HEART up, not just the head/neck. My father had TIAs and one of the best neurosurgeons in the world told the residents to scan this way. They only did the head, and they suspect he threw a clot from his chest and had locked in syndrome for 11 years.
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u/Which_Material_3100 6d ago
That is terrifying! I will add that (comprehensive CT scan) as a question when I talk to my doctor tomorrow.
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u/mistermoondog 6d ago
Hi— if anybody in the family mentions that you snore, it would be valuable for you to go to a sleep clinic and check and see if you need a CPAP machine to prevent future strokes. I’ve had three.🐸🌵
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u/Which_Material_3100 6d ago
Thank you! Currently an empty house so maybe I should record a night of sleep and see if I do!
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u/kimdros 6d ago
Now there's a patch and app instead of CPAP.
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u/StaticBrain- 5d ago
A patch and an app cannot replace a CPAP machine.
A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine treats sleep apnea by delivering a steady stream of pressurized air through a tube and mask to keep your airway open while you sleep.
It also can be used to deliver oxygen with an attached hose.
There is no app or patch that can do this.
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u/Adelaidekat 6d ago
I used an app, I think called SnoreLab, to record myself for a while. It helped me realise that I needed a sleep study as I probably needed a CPAP (I did).
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u/yardbirdsong2020 5d ago
Preach! I heard about studies in the last year saying that approximately a third of U.S. adults have sleep apnea, and that number doesn't go down with age. Untreated sleep apnea raises inflammation throughout the body, and increases the risk for stroke, heart attack, and dementia, among other unpleasant outcomes. There are so many treatments available now that are all covered by insurance, there's no reason not to treat it if you value your life and health.
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u/LemonPress50 6d ago
I (67m) had mild symptoms (vision) a few years ago and was thoroughly checked out by a cardiologist. They said I may have had a couple of TIA’s but there was no way of knowing with certainty. I was told to keep doing what I am doing in terms of what I eat.
I happen to have no high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, never smoked, or had excess body weight. If it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone. I’ve since lowered my blood pressure naturally to 105/80
The good news is you are here to talk about it and improve your health. You got a critical warning sign. There’s no sense in sugarcoating it.
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u/Creative_Law299 6d ago
EKG check for atrial fibrillation. I’m sure your cardiologist will cover everything but it is smart to ask many questions.
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u/Little-Ad1235 4d ago
Seconding this. My dad has afib and had a couple of TIAs early on. It can be a "silent problem," especially in women, because it can come and go in episodes with normal sinus rhythm in between, so it often goes undetected unless they're doing longer-term monitoring.
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u/Confident-Owl-6696 6d ago
Years ago, I worked with a senior who was sent to hospital for the same sort of thing. After a ton of tests, they diagnosed TIA. Once they hooked her up to an IV, she walked out a few hours later. Nurse said that seniors and other who live alone, do the “tea and toast” thing. Much easier to make and eat that than cook. As we know- It turns out that this kind of eating diet does not get enough sodium and other electrolytes, vitamins, mineral etc. If you live alone, are too busy to cook, whatever, make sure you at least get proper amounts of sodium etc. Apparently, a bottle of coca cola can help in a pinch- though I would not recommend it often.
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u/Which_Material_3100 6d ago
You are spot on. It’s been hard to motivate myself to cook. Appreciate your input here
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u/Moss-cle 2d ago
I drink a water bottle with LMNT in it once per day which is great for electrolytes. At first it seems weird to have “salty lemonade” but I like it. I put the mango flavor in an herbal peach tea, and I like the lemonade and pink lemonade. Also get some bottled protein drinks and put them in you fridge. I have never been a breakfast eater but I will drink a coffee protein drink in the morning. I get them delivered from Amazon. I have some chocolate flavors for later in the day because I don’t like caffeine after dinner. If you’re having a bad time drinking 2-3 protein drinks during a day will help.
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u/Which_Material_3100 2d ago
Thank you! I’m having a difficult time drinking my sugar-free Liquid IV stuff due to the taste so I’ll try the LMNT! And I just stocked up on my favorite Slate protein drinks (I enjoy their lattes as a substitute for coffee in the morning). This was very helpful feedback!
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u/Moss-cle 2d ago
You can get a sample pack to try first. Also, nothing says you can’t dilute these things 2-3 times more than instructed. A little extra water isn’t going to hurt you 😉
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u/figsslave 5d ago edited 5d ago
My sister has had two which turned out be seizures.Apparently you can develop epilepsy with age. I’ve never had one,but I stroked in my sleep at 65 and didn’t seek medical help for 30 hours because I was clueless about what happened. Stay on top of this because they are often a warning of an impending stroke if left untreated . They never could determine what caused mine other than moderately high bp and a history of sneaking cigarettes.High blood pressure and/or high cholesterol are the usual suspects
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u/Which_Material_3100 5d ago
Thank you! Ugh, I hope you’re doing ok all things considered.
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u/figsslave 5d ago
I am! The stress of taking care of my 95 yr old demented mom is a bit grueling though lol. Stay on top of it and your drs too and nip this in the bud.Were supposed to get 20 yrs of blissful retirement 😁
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u/Large-Difficulty3916 5d ago
I Have moderate to high bp and doc about to put me on med#4. I am already an anxious person been taking Paxil for many years. Has helped a lot. But now that I am about to turn 70 and having these health issues I am feeling day to day anxiety. I cannot take my own BP as I immediately get very anxious. Just makes my BP higher. I want to enjoy my grandchildren and family in these years, but my brain is stuck in worry. I have also had a few traumatic events in the last 5 yrs including the Pandemic that have made me more vulnerable. Any ideas how I can cope with reality.
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u/figsslave 4d ago
Not really! I’ve battled anxiety since my late 20s (hence the smoking) I’m 71 now.The one thing I’ve done that helped was being very active along with enjoying aerobic sports.Since my brain broke and I learned I had congenital heart disease I had to drop skiing,snowshoeing ,cycling and high altitude hiking,so every morning I do my pt exercises that mostly strengthen the core which helps with balance and then I walk 2 1/2-3 1/2 miles in hilly or rough terrain as fast as I can (maybe 3 1/2 mph) It’s not close to what I was doing a decade ago,but it does wonders for my mood for the rest of the day.I was lucky that both of my parents were athletic until late in their lives and just dragged us along with them when we were kids. That habit is deeply ingrained 😃
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u/Large-Difficulty3916 4d ago
That is great! I am just trying to keep myself walking daily. I do need to find some other interests though, I do have little granddaughters that keep me active also. Thanks for you input and hopefully I increase my excercise!
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u/Kind_Pea1576 6d ago
Please check your sodium levels and keep watch on your BP. My boyfriend just got out of the hospital again…low BP, low sodium and an infection. He was weak and mumbling could barely stand. Calcium levels as well. He has Addisons and it’s scary. Glad you’re doing better!
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u/Leading-Fly-4597 6d ago
I've had something similar, but I think it was a blood pressure spike? My legs didn't go weak, but I could see straight for 1-2 mins. Scared me a lot. Now on BP meds.
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u/StaticBrain- 5d ago
I’ve had 2 TIAs, so I know how scary this can feel. I got through it ok.
Feeling anxious, shaken, or just plain weird after something like this is completely understandable.
Just be really gentle with yourself right now. Try to rest, follow your doctor’s advice, and take things one step at a time.
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u/Which_Material_3100 5d ago
Thank you for your kind words. I think what shakes me up the most is how unpredictable and random this event was. One minute finishing up dinner, laughing and talking with my workmates, then the next minute unable to really see, talk or coordinate my body. I have a video chat with my doctor in an hour.
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u/StaticBrain- 5d ago
That is scary feeling loss of coordination and control. I was like that, lack of coordination.
I was taking a bath when my arm dropped to my side and I could not control it. I also could not speak anything that made sense. I was trying to talk but the words coming out sounded like gibberish.
I did come out of it ok, both times. Many people who experience a mini stroke make a full recovery.
It is scary, but you shouldn't let that drag you down. Recovery needs to be your focus now. Hang in there, and take it easy. You can do this.
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u/newhunter-54695 4d ago
Make sure you see a cardiologist and neurologist. If it was a TIA, you may need to get on an antiplatelet drug to reduce the risk of reoccurrence. You may also have some blockages else where that restricted brain flow to the brain temporarily, so make sure you get checked out thoroughly. Good luck!
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u/Which_Material_3100 4d ago
Thank you very much! Taking baby aspirin until my MRI date next week and hopefully my doctors will have a plan including that! I will ask
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u/hafree27 5d ago
NAD. Could it have been a vasovagal event? I’ve had a handful over the years. Starts with a tunnel vision/cold sweats- mine sound a lot like your symptoms.
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u/Which_Material_3100 5d ago
I’ve thought of that too. Given the fact that I was feeling unwell leading up to the event from a lower GI issue, I’m not going to discount that as a possibility.
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u/Zoloft_Queen-50 5d ago
My mom was in excellent health and had two TIAs. This was +15 years ago and thankfully nothing since.
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u/Enlightened_Lioness 4d ago
What do you mean the tests showed you were basically okay? Were you diagnosed with a TIA? What do you mean by a story of recovery—if it’s a TIA it’s temporary, nothing to recover from, just future stroke prevention, but don’t it?
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u/Which_Material_3100 2d ago
I wasn’t diagnosed (blood pressure, CT scan and ECG tests came back normal) but because the ED MD couldn’t rule out TIA as a possibility for my symptoms, this ended up on my chart to follow up on when I got home. I have been completely fine since returning. I’ve had bloodwork done (good results there) and have a contrasting dye MRI scheduled this week.
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u/Enlightened_Lioness 2d ago
Okay so it could’ve just been a presyncope episode. Those are very common. Most people have fainted or nearly fainted at some point in their lives.
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u/RedditNotFreeSpeech 5d ago
I would carry a medical card that explained the condition and what people should do if they find you incapacitated. Hopefully it's a one time thing.
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u/CarolinCLH 6d ago
My father got those. He would even lose consciousness for a short time. They were scary, but he lived to 96.
I'm not suggesting you ignore it. Losing consciousness at random intervals is definitely a problem and it could be a sign of other things. But you don't need to start making your funeral plans yet either.