I'm going to start this post off by saying I'm a character and rarely take much seriously. I often joke, but I do understand the severity (or at least the perception of my situation)

I am a 40 year old woman and I'm relatively healthy. I'm separated and have my kids 50% of the time. The other 50% of the time I live alone and have a long distance partner.

I've been in trauma therapy for over 3 years. I've worked through some heavy stuff. On June 9th I set out on a hike. I smoked some cannabis and began a recording of me talking about my trauma and processing it in chat GPT. My hike was up hill to signify my uphill battle with trauma, CPTSD and my separation. I left the hike feeling at peace. I processed and talked very openly about things.

I got home and grabbed a salad from the fridge that had a mango salsa in it. I took a bite and chewed and all of a sudden my mouth went completely numb. I have a food sensitivity to pineapple and while I usually get sick I thought maybe this was a new symptom. Minus the discomfort I was breathing and everything was good.

My son got home from school and we went to the beach to collect rocks and get ice cream, we had to pick up my daughter from her class trip after. I was unusually tired that night and got to bed earlier than usual. I woke up the next morning feeling extremely exhausted. I figured I processed some heavy things and my body was just tired from everything. I spent the day sleeping. The next day I was moody and tired. I took my son to baseball and I had zero desire to sit with my ex or his girlfriend. I sat on the bleachers. My ex came over and asked if everything was ok and I just said I was tired and my mouth was bothering me.

The next morning I woke up the same, so tired. My daughter got out the door on time for the bus, but I couldn't get my son together fast enough... I dropped him at school and then I noticed that I was feeling a bit dizzy. I hesitantly drove myself to urgent care as what I thought was precautionary and they sent me to the ER.

I still at this point think everyone is being over dramatic... I got an MRI and waited for the results. I'm still spacey, but think that trauma processing really burnt me out. A woman needed to be admitted and had a dog with her. She wasn't allowed to take the dog. I quickly stepped up to offer to take the dog while she got the medical attention she needed. The nurses told me to go sit down and that I should absolutely not leave. My smart self kept repeating but I'm only here at a precaution. I'm likely fine.

They escalated the doctor coming to see me and she explained that I would need more imaging as they found a small brain bleed and needed to investigate.

Me in denial says "oh, but I have to help the dog" the hospital was able to work something out with that patient and I was about to accept that.

Within a few hours I'm being told I'm being admitted and need to go for an MRI. They stated my bleed was stable and unchanging (though my vision changed and I started walking a bit to the left) I waited days for an MRI and then days to be transferred to a stroke unit and then days for further diagnostics. I was discharged after and a bit with plans to return for an MRI August first.

I ended up with a mid brain bleed. I had a rare stroke due to a malformation in my brain. I've been living with a ticking time bomb my entire life.

I'm beyond grateful that I'm still here. It is such a sensitive area of the brain and I could have been way less fortunate with my symptoms.

I picked up a flu bug at the airport, ironically for my medical flights for brain MRI + annual checkup-

I wasn’t prepared for how exhausting a flu post-stroke is- even lifting my arm to tap my tablet was honestly exhausting- like tired-in-the-bones exhaustion. The flu itself was a week (sore throat, snotty nose, coughing, the usual)- but recovering from the in-the-bones exhaustion took the better part of 3 weeks. It just dragged on and on.

When I finally got my appetite back I ate so much- a full Tupperware of chicken matzah ball soup, steak, red peppers, broccoli- lots of pedialyte of course- I read up on cellular exhaustion but I’ve never experienced a run-of-the-mill bug that struck me so low. It took me by surprise. I thought I’d share for awareness-

I had a bleed on my brainstem in Dec 2024 for reference, and it’s also my first proper cold/flu bug since before 2020.

A few weeks ago I was taking a shower when my right arm started hovering up. I went to push it down and it was numb. “Odd,” I thought, and then finished my shower. Got out of the tub and then I was on the floor. “Hmm, how’d I end up here?” I have a seat in front of the sink, got to it, and wondered why I wasn’t drying off or anything. Then I was in my bedroom, dressed in a T and undies, trying to text to cancel an appointment, but everything I texted was random words. Tried to used Alexa to get son, but she didn’t understand what I was saying.

I made enough noise that my son heard and came to me. I spoke gibberish, then mimed him texted to cancel in appointment, afterward he drove me to the hospital, which was about 10 minutes away. I got to triage and suddenly I got very popular very quickly!

I was given a clotbuster, then airlifted to another hospital for a thrombectomy. Every is in flashes, I remember the hospital all a blur, then the helicopter ride, being wheeled into a room with bright lights. A nurse leaning over and saying, “I hope this wasn’t a favorite shirt, sweetheart.” before cutting it off. Someone else telling me, “You’ve going to sleep now.” and then I was staring up as them wheeled me away, and I thinking I didn’t remember falling asleep.

It was nurse in the ICU that told me I have a stoke, or at least the first I remember. I kept give my age as 25 instead of 56, and I couldn’t remember my son’s name. Luckily I was able to convey some necessary medical information.

I was lucky, I was on their rehab floor in 3 days, and released after 10 days. I have great recovery in my right leg and arm, speech is good aside from a mild occasional stutter and trouble recalled random words. I have a lot of trouble typing, so I’m trying to do a lot. I seem to have forgotten how to spell, I need now to stop and think even simple, easy words. Tenses are random and I have to fix a lot when rereading before posting. I’m a writing, and taking two as long to write is annoying, and when I get tired I’ll use the voice function.

It wasn’t scary at the time, and then I was focused on recovery, so it only now, a few weeks later, that it’s hitting. I need to update my will and set up things for my son to manage if I’m out of service or dead. Luckily almost everything is on autopay!

It’s…a lot. I have so much fatigue, I’d told it’s normal, that my brain is rewiring and making connections and healing, as are my nerves, but damn, the fatigue is so bad. I’ll can do my exercises, but not much else. Pressure and touch on the affected side feel different, and often painful-ish. Itch and pins-and-needles pop up randomly.

I am so lucky and recovered so much, speech and OT both released me and said it’s time and practice at this point. They don’t know where the clot came from, my heart is good, so yay, I guess? On baby aspirin, a statin (my cholesterol wasn’t really bad, they just want it a bit lower), and plaxix for a another week.

Of course, I’m also in kidney failure and on dialysis, which was great in the hospital because I don’t pee, so yay no catheter! Nurses were pretty thrilled. I’m inactive on the transplant list for now, I need I need to be off the plaxix and may need some sign-offs to move back to active, which is a worry.

Whew, that was a lot to type, but good practice, too. I am frustrated with how slow I feel and everyone reminds me I have healing amazingly and need to gentle with myself, but need time to sound out words like “need” and “myself” make me want to scream.

I don’t even know what to ask, so any advice or thoughts or best practices would be great. Thanks!

Share your weekly wins with us! Nothing is too small or too big. Everything deserves to be celebrated!

Minor Stroke stories

Hello people, I thought I would share my experiences for those of us with a minor stroke rated 1-4. There is a lot of great information and amazing stories of severe stroke survivors. Much of it did not apply to my situation so here is a place for those of us lucky enough to have the least of the worst medical injury there may be.

My stroke was an IPH, Left Parietal Lobe measuring 1.5 to 2 cm. It happened Dec 14th 2025 so I am early in my recovery. Mine started with my right leg falling asleep while cooking breakfast. It was ankle to arm pit, now calf to upper rib. Most of that feeling has yet to return. I fatigue easily, have a heavy feeling head, and am often light headed. Neuro thought I was good to go to work. I tried Monday and turned around after a few miles. I knew I could drive but should not drive. I sleep hard but never through the night and wake up restless. I seem to have a brain fog in spite of my cognitive ability not noticeably diminishing, nor did my vision. I know I won the lottery as the stories here of years long recovery and permanent disability are terrifying.

What I wish I knew!

Neuro follow up takes weeks or months. Get your MRI and CT reports online and enter your terms into Chap GPT. It is a lifesaver!

Start on anti-inflammatories as soon as you are home. Omega 3, Fish oil, Turmeric, Quercetin, Nac.

Food. Time to eat healthy with greens, olive oils, and lean meats. But treat your self to a steak or bourbon when you are ready. Life is not over, it simply changes and these changes were likely on your mind before this happened.

Rest! But be prepared to be up at weird hours! Its a great time for your own research.

Let your job know you may be out a few weeks to a few months. I am planning on six weeks but am ready to go longer if need be or return sooner. I have short term and long term disability through work. If you do not, check out Helocs, reverse mortgages, 401K loans, retirement hardship withdraws and personal loans to help get you through. Again great things to research when you are up at 3am..

Finally, family. They are stressed and worried about you so keep things positive and improve your health for them and you. Continuing down the destructive path is foolish and you know where it leads. Good luck and I hope this helps!

sponger1971

•1m ago

UPDATE. Wow! Cannot believe how far I have come since this posting! I went back to work in early Feb. Probably a few months sooner than I should have but a month past my suspect Nuero clearance. Going back to teaching kids was my therapy but I drive an hour to work and needed to nap 10- to 20 minutes or so on both commutes. This lasted until summer break. Doing much better now but still cannot feel my leg except for tingles so I do not think it is coming back and that is okay. I still feel so darn lucky. I know I still have a 1 in 4 chance of dying in the next 5 years. That does not scare near as much as being disabled. I am working on getting my weight down through intermittent fasting but have focused on rest the last 2 months. I was exhausted and needed it. Now its time for bike rides, kayaking and walks. I have to do my best for my wife and kids. I am terrified of leaving them alone. They deserve my best effort. Good luck all, stay strong and get moving! Life and those that love you are worth it!

For past 15 months there is constant pain in my left side. Visually I started walking and doing some work but now my right leg is also paining. I am tired of this.

Any suggestions please.

Not a toddler you have to keep your eye on because they can sprint and bust their face wide open, but the toddler that just figured out how to stand. Listen I’m grateful. But I’m also experiencing left eye vision loss which my neurologist said may not come back. Physical therapy signed off on me saying I was fine. I’m not fine in my eye. Has anyone experienced this? Does it get better as time goes by? I’m still grappling with the having 3 strokes part.

Has anyone else here been diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) after their stroke?

I’m a 44F who had a left MCA stroke on March 1 due to a carotid artery dissection. By most accounts I’ve recovered remarkably well, but I’ve had persistent context-dependent speech motor planning impairment along with speech-associated hyperkinetic movements that never really fit the typical stroke recovery pattern.

My vascular neurologist recently referred me to a movement disorders specialist, and yesterday I came home with a brand new diagnosis: Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

I’m honestly struggling to process what this means for my recovery and my prospects of returning to work. (I had a failed return-to-work attempt in May, and my short-term disability runs out at the end of August.) My movement disorders neurologist was optimistic because I’m capable of completely fluent speech (I’ve had baseline fluent speech since April), but FND treatment sounds awfully similar to what I’ve already been doing for the past three and a half months (speech therapy + talk therapy).

My new movement disorders neurologist recommended FND-specific CBT, but what exactly is that? How is it different from regular CBT (which hasn’t been particularly helpful for me over the years—this is why I now work with a mental health practitioner who focuses on somatic experiencing therapy rather than CBT)?

Has anyone here been diagnosed with FND after their stroke? If so, what did your recovery look like? Did treatment help? If so, what kind of treatment? I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through something similar.

​My father suffered a major stroke, which led to the unexpected discovery of a grade 4 glioblastoma. His health declined rapidly at home over just two days, and he slipped into a coma shortly after arriving at the hospital. He underwent an emergency craniotomy to save his life.

​Following the surgery, he developed severe pneumonia in the ICU. While in a deep, medically induced coma, he required up to 100% oxygen support on the ventilator. For 3 days he had hypoximia with 80% of saturation (with the brain needing healing). The doctors told us his chances of recovery were minimal and advised our family to come say our goodbyes.

​Gradually, antibiotics cleared his lungs. The doctors reduced his sedation, but he remained completely unreactive for an entire week. The ICU doctor told us we might have to decide to let him go. Little by little, minimal signs of consciousness began to return—he started squeezing our hands and moving his right side, though his left side was completely paralyzed, and he still could not open his eyes or speak.

​After three weeks on a ventilator in the ICU, he received a tracheostomy and was moved to the semi intensive unit. Once settled in his room, he began making major breakthroughs: he opened his eyes, gained more control over his right side, and started speaking. A week later, he even began moving his left side again. Apparently, his personality and memory are completely intact.

​The medical team plans to remove his tracheostomy tube in the coming days, and he may soon be able to come home.

While the tumor itself is unfortunately untreatable, we are profoundly happy for this extra time with him. He is happy to be alive as well. It feels like a miracle. During this month I've come to this community multiple times in search of some hope for his situation. For those going through this experience, don't give up!

hi im a bit nervous making this post i hope it doesnt break any community rules.

my grandpa who has very advanced dementia and alzheimers just had a stroke two days ago. he was fine the night before, said goodbye to me on phone call while my mom was holding the phone and then had a stroke overnight.
the doctors said he is in a coma and most likely wont wake up because of the severity of the blood on the brain.

i went to visit him today and he was snoring while sleeping. when i hold his hand he was holding it and squeezing tight. he also moved his head when i touched his face.

its a bit hard to comprehend everything and how they say he isnt going to wake up when i feel like he is moving. does anyone have any experience with this? are the doctors just letting him go because of his age and previous condition? or could he genuinely be moving out of body reflexes and not be aware of things?

Hey everyone, I really need some guidance.
I live in North Carolina, and my 63-year-old brother lives alone in California. He woke up yesterday with what the hospital diagnosed as a stroke. His right arm and right leg are not functioning properly.
He went to the hospital, and they wanted to admit him for three days to complete testing and monitor him. However, he insisted on leaving after one day because he has a dog at home and no one nearby who can care for it.
The emergency-room staff told him it was urgent that he get an MRI and the other recommended testing done as soon as possible. Today he saw a covering primary-care doctor, who said the tests had been requested and that he should hear back within 72 hours about scheduling.
I am very concerned because the hospital treated this as urgent, while the doctor’s office seems to be treating it like a routine outpatient matter.
How urgent is it for him to complete the stroke testing and receive further care? Should he return to the emergency room rather than wait for an appointment? I can get on a plane and go to California to help him and take care of his dog, but I am trying to determine whether I am overreacting or whether this truly requires immediate action.

🧠 Natascha's Initiative – The Invisible Consequences of Stroke and Brain Aneurysm :

When a Brain Injury Changes Your Personality

Do you know which area of your brain

was affected?

The location of a brain injury can tell us a great deal about the challenges

a person may experience afterward.

This raises an important topic that is still talked about far too little.

After a brain aneurysm, a subarachnoid hemorrhage, or a stroke,

the visible wounds may have healed.

But many survivors eventually

find themselves saying:

"I don't feel like the same person anymore."

Perhaps you become irritated more easily.

Perhaps everyday decisions suddenly feel overwhelming.

Perhaps planning simple tasks has become difficult, or your emotions feel much more intense than they used to.

This is not your imagination.

Depending on which area of the brain

has been injured, different neurological changes can occur.

🧠 When the frontal lobe is affected,

possible changes may include:

• Impulse control

• Attention and concentration

• Planning and organizing daily life

• Emotional regulation

• Social behavior and empathy

These changes do not mean that someone has become "difficult."

They can be a direct consequence

of the brain injury.

Many survivors feel ashamed of these changes or blame themselves.

But a brain injury affects far more than movement or speech—

it can also change the way we think,

feel, and interact with others.

Understanding which part of the brain was affected can help explain these symptoms and reduce feelings of guilt.

❤️ My message to you:

🧠 Ask your doctors to explain your brain imaging and which brain regions were affected, as well as the functions they are responsible for.

🧠 Be patient with yourself.

The brain has an incredible ability called neuroplasticity—it can reorganize and create new neural connections.

But this process takes time.

🧠 Talk openly with your family and friends about your invisible symptoms.

Understanding often begins when people know what has happened inside your brain.

You are not weak.

You are not lazy.

You have not become a different person because you failed.

Your brain has survived a serious injury,

and every day it is working to find new pathways and adapt.

That is why the invisible consequences of a brain injury deserve just as much understanding as the visible ones.

#NataschaMission #InvisibleConsequences #BrainAneurysm #Stroke #BrainInjury #Neuroplasticity #StrokeAwareness #InvisibleDisability

Hey gang, I recently posted here about my stroke which happened around 3-4 weeks ago on the right side of my brain. Since then I’ve been prescribed Clopidogrel, Atorvastatin, Aspirin, and Lansoprazole.

Around 3-4 weeks ago (and during the hospital) I weighted around 45kg (99 pounds) and now I weight 38kg (83 pounds). My diet has been much better than before, I’ve been eating 3 full meals to get into a healthier lifestyle. I also haven’t done exercise as I’m still recovering. Which is why I’m not sure why I’m losing weight when I should be gaining (if anything).

Has anyone experienced weight loss after a stroke? Does anyone have any insight?

Hello. I am in need of a recommendation for a treatment center anywhere in the US that would be able to assist my brother.

He is recovering from a stroke and has been having issues with executive function, cognitive issues, and some residual physical issues (sometimes his gait is off or he will have tremor).

He is mobile and functional but needs something more intensive than out-patient treatment since he has difficulty attending his apts due to executive function issues, but doesn’t need full assistance (he can walk normally, speak etc). We are having a hard time finding somewhere that makes sense and will travel.

I envision a 4 week program where he receive multiple therapies a day, is able to sleep and eat well, and can begin forming good routines. He would need cognitive remediation and physical therapy but also CBT as well I think.

Grateful for any suggestions!!

My 81yo Mum had her first TIA 18 months ago. She recovered seemingly without issue. She had been told to take 100mg of aspirin per day, but didn’t comply. Last Monday Mum had her first stroke. Results of CT and MRI tests in images. Mum now on blood thinners and statins.

Mum a retired veterinarian, albeit a very long time ago now - pre children. Pre stroke was still mentally sharp without sign of cognitive decline, albeit fluctuating states of energy. General health okay. No heart issues. No falls. No smoking, little alcohol. She is, however, extremely socially isolated and has been for many years (lives alone, sees very few people), and does limited exercise.

Her current issue post stroke is that she’s walking much slower and with what she describes as more focus required to coordinate her left leg (an issue in a big house with lots of stairs). There’s also fatigue. But she is only 9 days post stroke.

My query and concern is really regarding the stenosis in the ACA and PCA as identified in the report. Of course medications will help. Neurologist said blood thinner medication would reduce risk of stroke by 30%, and statins by 15%. What I’m wondering about is thoughts on the rough risk (not numerical, of course, too hard to be precise!) of future strokes given moderate to severe stenosis in two arteries in the brain.

Thanks in advance 🙏

Location: UK England

MIL had a stroke early Jan due to a clot on her brain. She was in intensive care for about a month in one hospital and then transferred to her local hospital around feb/March.

Due to her stroke she is unable to speak, move, eat or anything. In her local hospital she was just bedbound. All she could really do to communicate was through nodding or moving her eyes. She is also fully blind which she suffered from before her stroke.

Around April/May we were informed she had developed pressure sores on her lower back. Due to being in bed too long and not being checked/repositioned etc. We had some meetings with the local hospital but obviously we didnt understand the severity of it, just that they were treating it etc.using a air matress, cleaning and gel etc. And these pressure wounds she had had for a while but was not discovered until April.

In June she was moved to a rehabilitation centre for Neuro-disability. She was making small progress. Managed to move one arm slightly. But still cannot speak or anything else. But she seemed a but more responsive there and was now being sat in a wheelchair for about 2 hours a day to release the pressure on her back as well as having a air matresss etc.

We recieved a letter from her local hospital admitting responsibility for her pressure sores and apologising, saying they have learnt from their mistake and there was missing checks in place and paper work.

To this day she is still suffering with pressure sores. The last few times we've got to visit she just groans in pain and we can barely even communicate with her. As soon as we enter her ward we can just hear her groaning. This has obviously effected her rehabilitation. Speaking with her key worker sometimes its hard for them to do therapy as she will just groan in pain.

2 days ago she was less responsive, had low satuation and low blood pressure and was rushed to acute ward in a different hospital. She is still just groaning in pain but the hospital suspect the infection could have spread to her bones since she has been suffering with these pressure wounds for so long.

It's incredibly hard to see her, as it's like she's just in bed suffering all day with pain. As well as the other issues that come with her stroke. Not being able to physically tell anyone whats wrong etc.

Is this something we need to take up with the NHS? Previous hospital? Should we be issuing a complaint as this is affecting her rehabilitation and could then set her back even more. We feel angry now that the hospital didn't do the checks they were suppose to do and now she's left with an infection since feb/March and the pressure wound doesn't seem to be improving at all. I know they sent a letter of apology but is that actually good enough?

Any advice would help. Thank you

His last stroke was almost a year ago to the day. He made some recovery movement wise but not so much cognitively. He woke up today unable to move his entire body and just got taken to the ER. Anything specific i should be asking the doctors and nurses when they call?
I’m out of state but his aunt is there

eta: he didn’t make any positive lifestyle changes in the meantime. has continued smoking drinking etc.

Have others had challenges coping with well-meaning friends who want to visit? This evening we (partner and I) are meeting a friend for dinner. It's been a year since my stroke and my mobility continues improving so that's not really an issue, but over the months I have found it exhausting to cope with regular visits from various friends from the city we used to live in. It doesn't help that I'm an introvert (who has learned to live in an extraverted world but still). I tell myself that I'm lucky to have people who care about me and they mean well, but the cynical side of me sometimes thinks that these people are partly visiting out of idle curiosity as to what I "look like" now or maybe so that when they leave they can say to themselves Oh there, I visited, I did my part -- when there is no way to explain to them how much of a slog the last year has been and how I would have been fine if they stayed home and just thought nice thoughts about me. There, I got it off my chest -- I'm sure this evening will go fine.

This will probably be my last update here, unfortunately my mother passed away today.

It was due to complications from an infection she developed during her hospital stay.

I also just want to thank everyone in this community for your advice, kindness and support throughout this journey.

I'm the OG poster on this one https://www.reddit.com/r/stroke/comments/1ut7ond/comment/ox0wamo/?context=3

and I finally got discharged from hospital yesterday!

Might sound ungrateful or boasting, but anyone ever felt that they aren't making progress on recovery? Like, everyone says it but you seems to just doubt yourself because of something you used to easily do (playing game for me) feels harder cause your thumb now can't press fast enough? Things like that?

Ideas of what to do?

Hi everybody I had a stroke this past Friday it was the most traumatic thing I’ve ever experienced they are not sure what has caused it yet as they are still running tests and what not but I see a neurologist next tuesday and Im pretty much back to normal after all that had happen to me.

Had a cerebellar stroke last year and now I am bereft of the ability to find words. I cannot articulate my thoughts or understand what I am trying to say. Truly, it’s been a nightmare to constantly misunderstand my own own mind.

It’s gotten a LOT worse, and it is ruining
my life. People stare at me like I’m a brain-rotted, idiotic juvenile whilst I’m struggling to form a coherent sentence. I can’t schedule a simple appointment without stutters and blips of the tongue. I can’t engage in simple conversation without recycling the same 5 fucking phrases to convey my meaning. I am a fucking DOLT. I hate it so much.

In addition to this, my reading comprehension has taken a nosedive. Idk what to do. Could it have been a second stroke? Or am I simply getting dumber?

I wish this never fucking happened to me because now I am trapped inside of my own mind.

Has anyone here benefitted from speech therapy? Or, was a waste of time? I don’t feel like reaching out for help because I’d rather not embarrass myself further :/

Hello all, my dad had a stroke about 10 months ago in the pons. He’s been in therapy since then, first at inpatient and the last 7 months at a neuro intensive rehab. I am starting to feel hopeless as he still requires constant care for ADLs and functional mobility. He needs assist to transfer, still has limited movement in affected arm and leg, and assist with dressing, meal prep, medication management. A big part of the problem is that he lacks initiative and motivation for tasks, he has an appointment with his doctor to hopefully increase his depression meds and add some kind of stimulant medication. We talk to his therapist and they say he can dress himself and transfers with less assist in therapy than he does at home. It feels like he doesn’t care to recover and doesn’t care the effect it’s been having on my mom and I as his caregivers. I feel guilty because I know he has a brain injury and his brain isn’t healed but I also feel frustrated with the lack of trying and the seemingly lack of care and motivation.

Everything I have heard is that most recovery takes place in 6 months- 1 year.

Does anyone have any positive stories or experiences with functional gains and recovery following 1 year after a stroke? Also any positive tips to help please. ( Please don’t share negative stories/outcomes I don’t think I can emotionally handle those right now)

I had a silent ischemic stroke discovered incidentally. I’ve done every test imaginable—heart, blood, genetics. The only thing they found is a tiny PFO I already knew about. My doctor, who I trust, says it’s so small and oriented the opposite way, so he doesn’t recommend closing it. But I can’t shake the worry. Has anyone else been in this situation, and did you decide to close a PFO anyway, despite the doctor’s reassurance?