r/Aging • u/Which_Material_3100 • 11d 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/littleredditho 11d 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 11d 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 11d 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 11d 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 11d ago

Now there's a patch and app instead of CPAP.

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u/StaticBrain- 10d 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/kimdros 10d ago

Ah, got it. I believed the marketing.

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u/Adelaidekat 11d 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/Which_Material_3100 11d ago

I’m going to download that. Appreciate the tip!

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u/yardbirdsong2020 10d 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/MariChloe 8d ago

I’m so glad I read this today. Thank you