Striking Stroke

What is stroke? What types of stroke are possible? How dangerous are strokes and most important, how to recognise stroke symptoms as early as possible?

Before getting HeartMate3, me and my surgeon went through the process of what will be done during the surgery whilst in full anaesthesia, waking up from anaesthesia and of course the most important - possible complications. I remember going through the list of possible complications with the percentage range. The list was long: death, anemia, edema, right ventricle failure, lung failure, some of them were 50%, some less. Stroke came up to 2% of possibility. We even made a joke that this is just not a threat for me, but let me tell you, it was life threatening complication which I ended up having. 

Ischemic Brain Stroke - Ischemic strokes occur when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow. Deprived of oxygen and other nutrients, the brain suffers damage as a result of the stroke, so the nerve cells starts dying in the area affected. Depending on the affected area in the brain, there can be weakness or loss of certain mobility and orientation.

Left Brain

If the stroke occurs in the left side of the brain, the right side of the body will be affected, producing some or all of the following:

• Paralysis on the right side of the body

• Speech/language problems

• Slow, cautious behavioural style

• Memory loss

Right Brain

If the stroke occurs in the right side of the brain, the left side of the body will be affected, producing some or all of the following:

• Paralysis on the left side of the body

• Vision problems

• Quick, inquisitive behavioural style

• Memory loss

Stroke Symptoms

Use the FAST test to check the most common symptoms -

Face: Smile and see if one side of the face droops.

Arms: Raise both arms. Does one arm drop down?

Speech: Say a short phrase and check for slurred or strange speech.

Time: If the answer to any of these is yes, call the ambulance right away and write down the time when symptoms started.

I did not know how dangerous strokes are.

I started reading and getting to know the effects, survival and life expectancy after. The statistics are scary. So many people are affected by strokes, but only few are nearly recovered with a significant risk to have the second one in within the first year. All I remember the weakness in my left side from the head to the toe, not able to lift hand or leg, Physiotherapists and doctors have pushed me everyday through the pain and weakness so I would recover as much as I can. And I did. With mild impact.

Today I really know, how lucky I am.

Thank you Universe