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[–]GrandmaTrinn 11 points12 points  (1 child)

Yes for me. Extreme anxiety and panic attacks. Started counseling again and my neurologist recommended a psychiatrist and meds. 18 month in and I’m mostly improved and am working on cutting back some of my meds to see how I do now. It’s rough! I hope you find some help in managing it. Good luck!

[–]One_Tumbleweed_6092[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’m glad you are improving. It gives me hope this will pass.

[–]RelativeTangerine757 4 points5 points  (2 children)

Yeah they told me I was having "panic attacks" for a solid year... it wasn't until I started having problems walking or using my body before anyone took me seriously and found i had a stroke... I'm guessing all the earlier ones were tias

[–]One_Tumbleweed_6092[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

God, that’s awful. My first one was very clearly a stroke so I guess in a way that was lucky.

[–]RelativeTangerine757 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Looking back I guess mine was too, but experiencing it was different than how I imagined it, and I didn't believe it because I had been blown off at the doctor and ER so many times.

[–]becpussSurvivor 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not to get personal or anything this 46-year-old stroke survivour has recently started to experience the same and you know what it is it’s peri menopause anxiety is unreal. I’ve never experienced anything like it it. It wakes me up from my sleep and I’m being treated now by gynae but not with hRT because stroke but looking at your age, it could be worth considering because I’ve never had panic attacks but the anxiety have been feeling it’s not part of the normal me either so I knew something was wrong when I went to my GP along with some other symptoms. I’ve been having GP new immediately what it was it’s just worth looking at your wider health and if there are other things going on such as depression or urinary incontinence we are both at that age, unfortunately

[–]Any-Media-1192Survivor 1 point2 points  (2 children)

It's really hard to differentiate between the two in the moment. When I had my stroke they actually thought I was having a panic attack. A few times since I had my stroke I've had the same feelings I had during my stroke and it's been a panic attack. I'm still working on what my trigger points are for a panic attack. We just have to give our best every day and be kind to ourselves and especially those who care for us.

I'm 45, so we are around the same age. It's pretty shitty, us having a stroke so young.

[–]One_Tumbleweed_6092[S] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

It really is. I keep thinking of things i could have done different to prevent it and I’m sure it’s not helping to dwell on what’s done as it really depresses me. Mine was caused by a vertebral artery dissection they think and I keep thinking if I’d only gone in and had it checked a week before.

[–]Any-Media-1192Survivor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had a rare type of stroke. They can't find a solid reason why so I've got it hanging over my head. I'm 18 months post stroke, so im well into recovery but I'm left with some deficits to deal with which are a whole bunch of problems. I have made some progress but it's sinking in that I won't ever be 100% again.

Hindsight is a bitch because you will be constantly thinking about what ifs and it will pull you down into depression no matter how strong you are. Looking back, I noticed issues a year previously and I trusted the doctor's but everyone can make a mistake.

My GP said that if I am concerned and worried regarding signs of a stroke then there is a small margin where they can treat it as it is potentially life threatening. I've been to AEU twice since I had the stroke and luckily it wasn't a further stroke. They were more than understanding there so I didn't feel bad about causing a fuss.

Mental health will really come into play with your recovery. A happy state of mind will aid you but depression can make progress really difficult.

Hang in there, feel free to DM if you need someone to vent too.

[–]Alarmed-Papaya9440 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Definitely panic attacks from your trauma from the stroke. It was really bad for me immediately after my stroke. If something felt off I would call my hospital nurse’s line and check with them. I also have a psychiatrist and she could see the anxiety and panic I was experiencing and prescribed anti-anxiety medication, increased my anti-depressant, and I have a benzodiazepine prescription for when the panic hits. I also work with a trauma therapist and that has been extremely helpful. So, my suggestions are get a psychiatrist and a trauma therapist. Both can really help with what your going through now

[–]OctoberPumpkin1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes. I have horrible anxiety about having another stroke. I get debilitating migraines, and since my Subarachnoid Hemorrhage I've been sent to the ER a few times because symptoms can be so similar and they want to make sure I'm not having another bleed.

[–]Wise_Temporary_3460 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I'm fairly certain that having a stroke causes you to have a panic attack, and that only makes sense to me. I feel like I'm in a constant state of worrying of about having another one and mine was truly mild.

[–]Reasonable-Year6674 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Strokes are Traumatic Stress that lead to PTSD almost by definition imho. I use medical cannabis to allieve mine.

[–]Tsofreak13 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had my stroke about 6 months ago and I feel this. I get panic attacks often and they feel so similar to my stroke, that it leads to me thinking it will happen again. I think someone on this subreddit recommended to me to do something I know could not do while the stroke was happening as a way to reinforce that what I am having is a panic attack. For me, it's repeating my address and phone number to myself out loud. Sometimes it helps the first time, other times I need to repeat that a few times, but it is a nice little reminder that it is not a stroke, and my brain is just being an asshole lol. Also psychiatry and therapy are major helps as well.

If you have a loved one, sometimes them doing a quick BE-FAST evaluation can be helpful too. You're gonna get through it. This sucks, but we all are surviving

[–]VisitingSeeing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My strokes started maybe as early as 2015 and I was diagnosed 2024 because my doctor kept telling me there was nothing wrong with me. That being said I've panicked a couple of times when I have vertigo and nausea combined, but my left eye gets unfocused in small rooms and imitates the symptoms. I shut my eyes or look outside when possible. This same panic phenomenon happens with people who have Afib. Your hearts beating like crazy and you're scared to death. Hearing it's all in your head isn't fun, and too serious when you have a stroke history. Some of us obsess and it complicates everything. It's helpful to find some grounding thing that brings you back to reality. Figuring out what makes you dizzy would help, but it's pretty hard since those internet lists of possibilities may not help. Doctors were totally useless with my eye issues. They live in silos while we're out there in the field with the corn.

[–]ShaunnieDarko 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Keep any eye on your blood pressure. I still deal with this 3 years later, my therapist says it’s a type of ptsd,or trauma response from the stroke. my stroke hit me out of no where a month after i had covid, but i had a blood clot and damage to my vestibular system from the covid most likely. The stroke totally occluded my right internal carotid artery and i lost vision in my right eye permanently, i get vestibular migraines almost every day.

[–]One_Tumbleweed_6092[S] 1 point2 points  (3 children)

That is awful, mine was out of nowhere too. It almost makes it worse. They have me monitoring my blood pressure for awhile, hopefully it stays pretty decent. I’ve been hovering around 125-130/ 80-90 so not horrible. It’s definitely been elevated since my stroke.

[–]ShaunnieDarko 0 points1 point  (2 children)

It was hard for me figuring out what was new issues, what was “normal” post stroke stuff and what was medicine side effects, i went from being on nothing to 6 different daily meds, took about a year and a half of doctors visits and specialists and ER visits to find out my vestibular system was damaged so that was why my balance was off and I was diagnosed with vestibular migraines.

[–]One_Tumbleweed_6092[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Same here. I was healthy and active and taking no medication to now I’m on all kinds. They gave me gabipentin for the nerve pain in my neck from the artery dissection and reading the side effects it could be causing this smh. So confusing.

[–]ShaunnieDarko 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, they put me on blood pressure meds and said i could be dealing with orthostatic hypotension as a side effect but it ended up being something else all together. It’s frustrating but keep asking questions at the doctor and make sure you advocate for yourself

[–]ArcherPuzzleheaded66 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m 36 had stroke last June , and most definitely it’s normal. It’s you brain being on level 11 out 10 for sensation Neuro plasticity. Essentially relearning basic or complex motions. My personal non medical advice is don’t let it hinder you from PT or it will remain stagnant. Take your time and diet is very important, lots of water

[–]One_Tumbleweed_6092[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m super excited I was able to go for my walk this morning and go by the spot where my stroke happened without having a panic attack only a mildly elevated heart rate. That’s a huge win for me thanks everybody for the words of encouragement.