Mini Stroke

[DonutMum]

My mum just told me she has had a mini stroke. She is 59. GP thought it was a detached retna (she has a small bleed behind eye) but when she went to see opthalmologist (sp?), he said he thought mini stroke. Blood pressure 200/85 at one point. Am very worried. Should she get a second opinion. What can I do? She is an exercise freak (6 sessions a week) - aerobics, weight training etc which I've been on at her (from way before now) to give up and do yoga, pilates, walking instead - should I be doing that or will the heavy exercise be better. She's a very anxious person anyway.

It's worse because I'm in Bharain and she's living in my house in England and she's missing the kids, and I think I'll stop now because I'm going to cry.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks.

How worrying for you. She needs to see her GP again and maybe be referred to a specialist. High blood pressure can cause a mini stroke, and tablets can control this.

Hope someone else comes along with more advice, but try and remember, with the right treament, your mother's condition is very controllable.

I'm sorry to hear that. Unfortunately I haven't got any advice. My FIL had one years ago and was told it could never happen again (he has died now - he was in his 80's when he died and it was due to another, unrelated medical problem) and it never did. I didn't want your post to go unanswered though. I'm sure when it gets later and people are around you will have some more responses.
Take care.

Both my parents have had mini strokes- my mum when she was staying with me. She had a one-sided headache and tingling in one arm.

I think your mum needs a diagnosis, froma neurosurgeon- they would scanher brain looking for signs of a stroke.

Can she remeber having the stroke? did she black out- for seconds? Have any weakness or numbness at all? I t can happen during sleep, so she wouldn't know about it.

In any case, her blood pressure is too high- the optimum is under 120/80 and that figure is considered the top healthy figure now-
She needs help to get it down and should probably be taking statins, or changing her diet etc- sounds as if she does enough exercise, but maybe she can reduce stress?

I'd advise her to see her GP and be referred toa specialist, as soon as poss.

My fit, healthy (but a smoker) DH had one about two years ago at the age of 43. He woke up one morning and had lost the vision in his good eye (he has limited vision in one eye due to failed surgery as a child).

We went to the GP who referred us through to the eye clinic at the hospital who in turn, send us though to the stroke unit where a mini stroke was diagnosed.

He now takes half an aspirin daly as well as a statin, sadly he still smokes despite being toldto stop by the hospital.

Get her to go back to her GP and ask for a referral to a hospital.