Terrified I had a mini stroke, can somebody help me?

[Notcopingok]

I don't know what to do. I had 2 gin and tonics last night, all fine, not drunk or anything, drank a big glass of water and then went to bed. Sometime in the night I don't know when I rolled over and woke up and the whole room was spinning really violently - it reminded me of being really drunk about 20 years ago. But I wasn't drunk. I closed my eyes and the spinning stopped after a few mins. But I think I felt disorientated and just wanted to go back to sleep.

My mum died recently and I have some medical issues myself and I am in therapy for extensive trauma around medical procedures and abuse by a trusted healthcare professional, and I just cannot cope with this. I'm trying to google to see how likely it is to be a TIA but my throat starts closing up in panic and I can't breathe. I'm abroad and my GP has no appointments left today. My partner is having a dental procedure today and I don't want to cause worry.

Does it sound like a TIA stroke and I do need to go to get checked out? Or is this a panic response? I don't know how to judge the situation, I'm just panicking really badly.

Sounds like vertigo. Usually caused by a calcium deposit in your ear that’s gone walkabouts to the wrong place causing extreme dizziness. Best to see a GP though just to be sure.

Could be a migraine?

Sounds more like vertigo than a TIA. I would suggest making a GP appointment and explaining everything then go from there.

Vertigo, can happen with menopause. Shocked me first time

Sounds nothing like a TIA, OP.

In a kind way, you have anxiety, it was probably a panic attack with all you've got going on. Chase up that GP appointment and consider anti anxiety meds and counselling.

Sending you a hug!

If you suspect a stroke dont faff about.
Go to an A&E as the meds used after a strole need to be given within a short window.
A GP if you get an appointment will just refer you on anyway.

I don't know what it is, but your response sounds like anxiety related to your mum's death (and I send my condolences) and your medical past. Please step away from Google, it sounds like your anxiety will be looking for the worst case. I hope you can find some reassurance soon.

Ask GP to check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as your heart function - maybe through a 24 hour holter test.

Happens to me frequently if I’m lying down and lift my head to turn over. I put it down to inner ear issues.

Sounds like vertigo. Could be caused by labyrinthitis. I've had this before and it was not pleasant but did eventually go after a few weeks.

It could be benign positional vertigo. I get it periodically and it’s unpleasant. Your gp can do a simple test for it and give you exercises to help.

Might be BPPV - a kind of vertigo. There are particular movements of head to fix this problem (if diagnosed) - best done by ENT doctor. Or if possible treatment by use of ''Epley chair'' of which there are only 2 in Uk (but many in France - if you're there).

It sounds like vertigo to me OP. I say this as someone with health anxiety. It may happen a few more times yet if you’ve got a virus / vertigo setting in. Sending you love.

Very unlikely. My friend had a TIA but had weakness all down one side to go with the dizziness. It sounds more like a panic attack.

I've had this exact thing. Thought I was having a breakdown! Room spinning violently, sick everywhere, like and extreme form of that "spinning sensation" you get when drunk. It was about 8 years ago. Never happened before or since. I put it down to labyrnthitis after some Googling. Not pleasant, you have my sympathy!

Migraine sufferer here all so suffer panic attacks.

It may be a migraine thats how some of mine start.
Full on spinning followed with head pain some times none.
And i feel off for a few days like im here but not here.
Sometimes i cant get words out all jumbled up.
Feeling like ive just got off a boat when walking.
And my fight eye closes on me sometimes my forehead drops as well.
I could go on.
Anxiety/panic attacks can make you feel like your throat is closing.
Do get checked out with a doctor.

It sounds like Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo to me (BPPV). In fact, as it happened when you rolled over, that's very very likely. I have it and it can be really unpleasant. It comes and goes, that's the paroxysmal bit. It's not dangerous from a health point of view, that's the benign bit. It usually happens when you suddenly change your head position, that's the positional bit. The vertigo is the horrible dizziness. As you say, when it happens it reminds me of being drunk in a way I haven't been since student days, with the room spinning. Sadly, it's one of those things that isn't in the forefront of medico minds. My GP diagnosed it but said he'd never heard of it until his wife was diagnosed with it a few weeks before I went to see him. Like you, I thought something awful was happening to me. It's best to get it looked at though, to put your mind at rest, if nothing else.

My mum has a big history of TIAs, or migraines mimicking a stroke. This doesn't sound like them (thpugh she does also suffer from vertigo and ear issues)

Her symptoms normally are feeling very odd during the hours before, slurring her words, face and sometimes arm dropping, very slurred voice and struggling to put sentences together, tired.
She would have no memory of most of the hour before and of the attack, and depending on the severity some of the hours after, so she doesn't normally have any memory of speaking to doctors, and sort of comes around while waiting for an MRI.

The fact that you have memory of it doesn't sound like one to me.

It sounds like vertigo or labyrinthitis (ear infection) which can cause vertigo.

It feels like a spinning sensation, sometimes to the point you think you're going to fall out of bed.

I have had it a few times. It can last anything from minutes to a few days.

I have health anxiety and i wouldn't think TIA.

It could be the G&Ts! Depending how strong they were.

Positional vertigo. If it becomes consistent look up the Epley maneuver to help with it. But talk to your GP for peace of mind

Just looked up the Epley manoeuvre. Not easy to do alone!

Sounds as though could possibly be vertigo or even more likely a panic attack which is totally understandable with all that you are contending with please don’t Google it’s not helpful when you are feeling like this, chase up a GP appointment asap.
I have had a couple of TIA both times on my right side I lost the feeling in my face/arm/leg was completely symmetrical couldn’t put my words together.
we have a tendency to underestimate sometimes what stress trauma & loss can mess with our thoughts & bodies, hope you feel much better very soon.