TIA experience of prolonged symptoms?

[TIAHead]

Hi. I had a TIA on Thursday. Saw GP Friday and seems to be stress related. I’ve had a dull headache ever since and I’m so tired but no symptoms of stroke luckily.

but I don’t know what to do now - feels like they’ve decided it’s stress and now I’m stuck with this headache and tiredness and I don’t know how I’m going to manage work this week feeling like this.

I’m taking a daily aspirin until I get a referral to the stroke clinic but I don’t really know how to pull myself together. Anyone have any experience or suggestions?

Hopeful bump

Extreme tiredness is normal. You've suffered brain damage. Your poor brain's trying to figure out how to cope, forging experimental new connections and getting rid of debris. Give it a break!

I'm pleased your TIA was only little and that you're functioning well. It's a bit more than a bruised toe, though. The best thing you can do is sleep a lot. You may also find it helpful to perform repetitive routines: anything from step patterns, like line dancing, to playing Tetris. If you're a knitter, that might prove soothing. And sleep!

I’m sorry you have this added stress.

What do you mean by a TIA? What symptoms did you have?

Stress by itself isn’t a cause of TIA (the though chronic stress is a risk factor for vascular ill health). Does the GP mean they don’t think it was a TIA but rather the symptoms were caused by a stress response?

Current guidance says you should be reviewed by a specialist within 24 hours of a TIA. So I’d suggest an A&E visit given you’re day 4 and still feeling unwell. Did GP advise you not to drive?

For about an hour and a half what I was thinking and what I was saying or writing were completely at odds. It was very weird and freaked my kids out. I had a ten minute sleep and then was better. But have the weird headache since.

as I’m young, fit and healthy the doctor thinks it’s just because of the stress I’m under. Still referred to stroke clinic which could be up to 2 weeks and he’s sending me for some bloods (I had some done in Feb as part of a medical and all fine)

will rest but not sure what to do about work on Tuesday

I spoke to a gp on 111 earlier as I wanted to know if I could take paracetamol on top of the aspirin and he didn’t think a&e necessary and said it sounds like a stress headache

It’s bold to put that down to a stress headache without further investigation. As I say, suspected TIA should be seen within 24 hours. I’d be going to A&E. Neurological symptoms followed by persistent headache warrants further investigation.

It doesn’t sound like you’re well enough to work so phone in sick. Do not drive.

I'd go off sick for the rest of the week. Probably exactly what you need. You clearly need rest- and treat yourself to a nice gooey cake 🍰

You won’t know if it’s a TIA unless seen at a TIA clinic. Could be a bad migraine. You’ll need to wait and see.

I don’t drive anyway so not a problem!

I think I’ll be more stressed knowing what I’m not doing at work that I should be!!

Anyway thank you - the headache has eased a little so I will see how I am in the morning after a good sleep.

Can I ask - how do they work out of it was a migraine or a TIA? I didn’t get the headache until after the speech/comprehension problems had stopped

I do feel like my GP thought I was a bit of a nuisance tbh

How can you know you’ve had a TIA without being seen at the hospital?

Stress doesn’t cause that either. I’d be wanting this looked at immediately, you could’ve had a stroke and you’re still having symptoms. Never mind about work, you need to go to A&E

She absolutely does not need to wait and see.

With the speech and comprehension problems plus the ongoing headache and fatigue she needs to go to A&E. They will give her the necessary scans and if she has had a stroke she will be given the medication that could save her life.

Telling someone with stroke symptoms to “wait and see” or “eat gooey cake” 🙄 is so dangerous

But other than the headache (which is a dull headache - maybe a 3/10) I don’t have any other symptoms except tiredness which the doctors said wasn’t abnormal and I should only worry about the headache if it gets worse?

my blood pressure is within normal range

I’m going to urge you to attend A&E one more time. A two week referral isn’t good enough and goes against current guidance. Lots could be going on here including TIA and migraine but you need a scan sooner rather than later, given your neurological symptoms and ongoing headache I’d want to rule out a leaky aneurysm and that 1)
is urgent, and 2) cannot be done by a GP over the phone.

Please do not take the word of this doctor. They have not done what they should’ve done which was send you to A&E.

If you thought you were having a TIA why did you not go straight to A and E?

I’ve spoken to 3 different doctors - one in person - who all said to wait for the referral and call 999 if any stroke symptom. I queried whether or not I needed to be seen sooner and all three said that’s just the way it is these days. The first 111 doctor I said to spoke to the neurologist at the stroke clinic who doesn’t seem to have been concerned enough to call me in quicker than the pathway.

The headache is very dull - more brain fog and has eased tonight and I feel better than when I wrote the OP. I don’t want to worry people on here - I’m obviously worried but don’t want to exaggerate

I didn’t really understand what was happening at the time so it was only later after i’d recovered that I called 111.

I’ve ended up coming into A&e after speaking to another 111 doctor who said she was surprised id not had any tests yet and thought best to be safe than sorry. Feel a bit of a fraud

You’ve done the right thing. You’re not a fraud!

How did you get on?

Everything clear. Still getting the fuzzy tired headache so she signed me off work for 10 days so I could have the stroke clinic appointment before going back - that’s booked for early next week.

I had a TIA a couple of years ago. Luckily I have no deficits.
I went blind in my left eye and felt pins and needles on the left side only.
I phoned an ambulance and they confirmed my suspicions.
I sat in A&E for 7 hours before I was seen.
Doctor referred me for an MRI, but I have an aneurysm clip so that's not possible. CT scan confirmed it.
All I got was advice to stop driving for a month and not fly - was due to get on a flight the day after.
Good

That all sounds reassuring!!

Sorry you missed your holiday though - did you feel quite anxious for a time after?