Do YOU know the symptoms of a STROKE ?!

My mother had an extremely mild stroke nine years ago. I took her to the doctor the next day because I did not realize what it was. Her only lasting problem is a limp. She speaks clearly and has all of the faculties she possessed before the stroke. I know now how fortunate we were.

Someone sent me the following in an email. I am including it here in the hope that others won't be as clueless as I was then.

I will continue to forward this every time it comes around!
STROKE: Remember the 1st Three Letters....S.T.R.
My nurse friend sent this and encouraged me to post it and spread the word. I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks.
Seriously... Please read:
STROKE IDENTIFICATION: A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.
RECOGNIZING A STROKE: Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, S-T-R. Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S *Ask the individual to SMILE [normal smile good, crooked or droopy smile bad]
T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (I.e. It is sunny out today.)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. [Raise arms straight out in front if both arms straight and parallel good if lopsided or uneven bad.]
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
New Sign of a Stroke ------ Stick out your Tongue
NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved. I have done my part. Will you?

I hope this helps someone.

Those are the steps my brother took before calling 9-1-1 on my Dad. Being the stubborn man he is, he still wanted to wait, take a nap, rest, before calling. Brother said I don’t care IF you get mad at me, I’m calling. Good thing he did. By time they got there he was OUT OF IT. By time they gave him that shot and med-flighted him, it took SIX people to hold him down, even at 74 he was still very strong, THEN in ICU he kept pulling out his IV and they had to restrain him and put some sort of like boxing gloves on his hands. I am glad I didn’t see that part. He is all recovered now and IF you didn’t know it, you’d never know he had a stroke except his drop-foot gait but that is because of neuro Charcot-Marie-Tooth. Oh and because of that he told his doctor a month before, since the nerves are damaged in his legs because of the CMT, that maybe he shouldn’t be taking the blood pressure medicine, and doc said OK . . . month later STROKE. You’d think they would have monitored him or tapered off or said NO you still need to take it, just when standing up stand there for a minute before walking until dizziness goes away.

We now have a magnet on his refrigerator that tells the STROKE steps to take AND with the paramedics in Arlington, a sticker on the front door, back door and on the refrigerator which lets them know to look in the door of the refrigerator for a bottle, like a tall prescription bottle, that contains emergency contacts, medical history and a listing of all his current medications. I thought that was a pretty good idea when time is of the utmost importance and everyone is stressed out.

Just got an up date from one of my friends
who went to visit him.
He had another stroke this morning about 3am.
and now is in the ICU.
Thank goodness he was in the hospital!
Haven’t talked to his wife today so will know more
when we finally make contact.

Thanks everyone.

Oh. Just got off the phone with the ICU.
They were able to get the medicine (what ever it is.)
into him within three hours so that is a plus.
He’s semi concious but doesn’t have control of his
left side. Now they are waiting for the brain swelling
to go down some.

Will post more as I hear it.
Tet.

My friend did not make it, suffered more strokes last night.
They have his body on a ventilator for a while, hoping to
find people who can use his organs.

He was a fine fellow, the best friend a person could hope
for. He served thirty years on the Atlanta PD rising to
the post of Deputy Chief of Operations.
A hunter and arms collector and craftsman
I will miss him.

Will Post his obit when it comes out.
No decision on a memorial service as yet.

Tet68.

Sunday the 24th, I had a stroke becoming paralyzed totally on my right side and unable to speak. Medics were called and I was transported to the nearest hospital. An hour after arriving my feelings came back to my body and I could talk again. After around 30 minutes I became paralyzed again and could not talk. I was immediately transferred to a larger hospital in a big city and during the trip, I again started to talk and move my arms and legs. I remained overnight and on Monday they did MRI’s, various scans, etc. The doctor determined I had had an actual stroke and not a mini stroke.

I came home Monday with no major damage. Only a small unbalance when moving quickly and seemingly no other complications.

I’m considered a miracle by the doctors. I’m 66 and in good health except a 50 year smoker (not anymore) and a Class A personality always on the go. Just thought I let you know it is possible to have a full-fledged stroke and be normal again.

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