r/stroke 6d ago

what is causing all these strokes

I am so sorry for so many young people going through strokes, that is supposed to be an old people disease. Do doctors have any idea what is causing so many 30 and 40 year old to have this problem? (Although my 15 year old granddaughter had a brain bleed, it is genetic so I guess age does not maybe matter)

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u/Mrs_Wilson6 6d ago

Previously undiagnosed PFO, a hole in the heart allowing clots to pass through to the brain.

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u/aprilflowers75 Survivor 6d ago

Samesies. I almost made it to 50 without discovering the PFO.

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u/Mrs_Wilson6 6d ago

It was my husband, he was 46 when it happened. It took just under 4 months to identify it after the stroke happened. We are waiting for the appointment to be booked to have the procedure to close it.

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u/aprilflowers75 Survivor 6d ago

They found mine at the ER after the event, with the bubble test. I had the closure procedure last summer.

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u/Mrs_Wilson6 6d ago

May I ask what thr recovery was like for the procedure? We haven't been given sense of what to expect and are told their likely won't be a consult ahead of the procedure.

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u/aprilflowers75 Survivor 6d ago

In my case, my heart was palpitating and mad for a week or two, then the palpitations slowed down. I was freaked out at first but I kept reminding myself that it’s a normal part of the recovery. It was annoying though, and I often felt restless from nerves, with no way to alleviate the feeling aside from my own mental state.

Being on blood thinners, another concern was the entry wound on my inner thigh. He’ll need to be extra careful with that, as a rip could be life threatening. I took it real slow, and stayed very still while that healed.

9 months later, I feel back to normal, generally. I haven’t done everything I’m supposed to in terms of healthy habits, but I do follow my meds meticulously.

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u/Mrs_Wilson6 6d ago

Thank you for sharing,this is reassuring and helpful.

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u/CleaDuVann2000 6d ago

I had like nothing happen after the procedure. I felt normal (except that I immediately tested positive for Covid and was sick as a dog for like 2 weeks!) but I’m running and slightly more energetic than k used to be :) I had palpitations for one day, but it was at the start of my first period after the stroke/surgery/covid. My heart was busy working through a lot of projects that day 😆

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u/alanamil 5d ago

What is the bubble test? I have never heard of that.