mikeswuk's blog

Glad to hear you've recovered well Mike.
Was a shock to hear about your stroke.
Just take the time to get back to 100% and we look forward to seeing on the mats again soon.

Oh sorry to hear that I wish you a speedy recovery but also take it easy too.

I had heard rumours of this but didn’t know how “public” it was. Big hugs and best wishes being sent your way.

speedy recovery Mike

Good luck to you.Hope you make a full recovery

Glad you are thawed and that you are feeling fine. Fingers crossed for good test results and hugs to you!

Sorry to hear that Mike. Get well soon

Ed

Sending you my best wishes, hopefully your results will make you smile and you can get fully mobile with your wheels back!
But, of course, take things easy too!

Hi Mike ,good to read you are recovering well,however take it easy for a while.
I also had a stroke 4 years ago and I am pleased to say I recovered very well.
Have you seen the Stroke Association ?, they will offer very good advice .

Hello Mike sorry to hear that, but I'm glad you are okay and yes you are to vibrant and active to let this stop you, just make sure you take care of yourself

Wishing you a rapid and complete recovery.

Sorry to hear that Mike, wishing you a speedy recovery

mri scan says I didn't have a stroke after all, although the numbe lip remains a mystery. 100% better now so will see you on the mats at some point

Hey Mike, glad to hear your feeling better.

Depending on the timing of the MRI relative to the event, MRIs can miss a stroke. MRI's are no help when the event is brief (TIA, transient ischemic attack), with symptoms lasting less than 24 hours. Also, an MRI is only as good as the radiologist reading it; sadly, they miss subtle things all the time.

Lip numbness WITH facial weakness would be consistent with a small vessel (thrombotic stroke) that could be very subtle on MRI, and is a very common type of TIA.

A TIA treated just like a stroke, in that risk factors are assessed (high blood pressure, total cholesterol over 200, LDL over 70, smoking, being overweight) and all treated aggressively with medication. Atrialfibrilation is excluded with a 24 hr holter or overnight monitor in hospital, the carotid artery is looked at with ultrasound or MRI to exclude stenosis of greater than 75%, and an anti-platelet medication (usually aspirin) is started if no contraindication (and if another medication is not needed to treat a clotting disorder).

Although this sounds like a lot, the idea is to prevent the next stroke: stroke is the #1 cause of adult disability, which sucks for the patient and family, and is very expensive for society long term. The upfront cost of testing and preventing a stroke is much less expensive (and much better for the patient) than possibly missing a cause and having a stroke 2 weeks later.

Lip numbness in isolation would be an atypical presentation of stroke. Lip numbness can be seen with acephalgic migraine (migraine without headache) (but only with a history of previous migraines), migraine that include a headache, or possible hyperventilation syndrome.

A last possibility is a Bell's Palsy. The lower face droops (the forehead remains strong). Patient's often report a sense of "numbness", but when actually tested by a physician, sensation is intact. The numbness is the patient's sensation of lack of sensation from being unable to move the face; when touched, the face can feel normally. Bell's Palsy (actually called idiopathic facial weakness) is caused by a virus, usually improves rapidly (days to weeks), but can take months. Steroids (not the muscle building kind!) given in the first 48 hrs have been shown to improve healing and shorting the clinical course. There is no association between a Bell's Palsy and stroke risk.

Sorry for the long post, but I hope it helps you to ask good questions of your physicians. Feel free to message me with any other questions.

please don't apologise; all knowledge is good. the circumstances you describe seem to agree with the clinician i.e. it wasn't a stroke. the bell's palsey idea is intriguing; the numbness came on as I was recovering from acute flu symptoms, so a viral component is possible. thank you for taking the time to elucidate all of this

Sorry to hear that. Get well soon.

mri scan says I didn't have a stroke after all, thank goodness. feeling very relieved

Good to hear

Want you back on the mats Mike!

should be there at the end of the month. according to the medics it wasn't a stroke after all, according to a random wrestler (who sent me quite a long and detailed assessment) it could have been a viral infection.

Get well soon Mike sending love to you

Mike,
I Hope you make a full recovery soon. I also hope you will be able to do some form of Tai-Chi
until they clear you to make us tap. I loved watching you do Tai-Chi. I am glad the news so far is
not too bad, Sir.
El

I wish you the best treatment and all the best !!!

most recent test cleared me of having a stroke - it might have been a viral infection, which would tie in with a recent flu virus

Hope all better soon!

most recent test cleared me of having a stroke - it might have been a viral infection

Hi,
I also had a similar effect.
Such an effect can be triggered if the body undergoes a large-scale cooling,
(for example, cold air and/in to minor clothing) and in addition an infection effect is superimposed.
The blood circulation of peripheral skin and limbs is suddenly greatly reduced.
For example, can be affected nose, mouth, fingers, both hands, wrists...
Reason: There is a complex error-stimulus. And the effect triggers a sudden reduction in the aterial blood circulation.
Remedy: Immediately take a warm bath or shower (about 15 to 25 minutes while drinking a warm black or Porter beer). This complex body reaction can occur more often. And sometimes it's annoying, just like an allergy.
But comfort you; everything will be fine again.
(But sorry, I'm not a Dr. med.)
Greetings C.

thanks - that's reassuring. another possibility that's been suggested is a viral infection such as bells palsy. it came on after a severe bout of flu so may be linked

Whatever the problem was i hope you are fighting fit soon.

Best wishes.

Brian

mri scan ruled out a stroke, and so another possibility that's been suggested is a viral infection such as bells palsy. it came on after a severe bout of flu so may be linked. hopefully back on the mats soon

A good recovery from France ;-)

wishing you well mike and a full recovery from whatever it was that affected you

thanks. medics ruled out a stroke thank god, and there is some suggestion it ws a viral infection. almost back to normal, although the flu took it out of me. hopefully see you next year :)

great looking forward to it already

Hi Mike, your problem obviously happened when I was away, and subsequently didn’t log on. Firstly, really sorry to hear it happened and secondly, genuinely pleased it was nothing serious.

thanks - back to normal now :)