BE FAST: Balance (dizziness, uncoordinated movements) Eyes (blurred vision) Face (one side sagging, difficulty smiling) Speech (slurring or not finding words) Arms (coordination/movement) Time (to go to the hospital)
@traceyvanklingeren7563 that's not quite right. You can ask them to stick out their tongue and it will deviate to the right or left depending on what side the stroke is happening in the brain.
This happened to me 7 yrs ago. The ER took their good ol' time treating me, because I didn't "present the classic symptoms". I still can't walk properly.
“Always err on the side of caution” is completely undermined by outrageously high cost healthcare lack of universal coverage in the US. Calling 911 and going to the ER for a suspected stroke could set someone back $10k. We need to fix the system so people aren’t ignoring life threatening conditions for financial reasons.
Yep. I've had to talk people out of calling an ambulance for me for migraine symptoms. It sucks, but if I went to the hospital every time I was potentially having stroke symptoms I'd be there every other week.
I don’t know exactly when it happened but I had a stroke in my 50s. I was at a convention and at lunchtime I went to walk down the stairs and I forgot how I made myself do it sideways but I didn’t know that something was wrong like a stroke. I didn’t find out until years later when I had a MRI and it showed I had a small stroke. I believe there was some cognitive problems too, but I didn’t know why they were there. People should be more aware of how young you can be and have a stroke.
I had a stroke at 16 in my left basal ganglia. Even though the part of my brain was small the doctors said i should have died or have been paralyzed due to the severity and longevity of the stroke (over 12 hours due to my inability to communicate to my sister what was happening due to gurbled nonsense,and not wanting to bother my parents at work) It has left me with irreversible brain damage and a laundry list of deficits. I went to physical, occupation and speech therapy for me to only decline further in my condition. They were able to get me comfortable at home but having a job and college was no longer on the table. My mental health also suffered greatly , but i’m still here and i’m getting ready to turn 21 in 4 days, and this is the first birthday since my stroke that i’ve actually been looking forward to and excited about. I hope your condition improves much more and i’m so happy you’re still here 💕
I have PTSD and whenever it kicks in, I show all the signs of a stroke. Sagging face, paralysis of my left arm, dizziness, slurred speech, etc. I've had, on multiple occasions, someone call the emergency hotline for that reason. One of those times, after being taken to one of two separate hospitals, I was told by the doctors to not bother coming back to the ER unless it is an actual stroke. (I do not go to that hospital anymore if I can avoid it.) Anyway, I just wanted to say that sometimes other illnesses can masquerade as something far more serious, but it is still important to seek help if you're not sure. I am grateful to those who stepped in to help a complete stranger simply because they saw the obvious signs of a stroke. Granted, it wasn't that serious, but they all would've probably saved my life had I actually been having a stroke.
Yeah many things can cause neurological abnormalities even "normal" migraines that's why I at least always ask my patients if theyve ever had sth like this before if they're able to answer. Of course when in doubt I'll still book a Stroke Unit but in your case if you told me you experience the same symptoms in PTSD Episodes and this feels like usual (you don't have to answer that but maybe there was even a possible trigger) then I'd probably consult with the hospital and likely would just make it a normal neuro bed instead of a high alert stroke bed. Sometimes it's nothing but sometimes symptoms are really deceptive so rather do to much than to little not just in strokes bodies are very weird sometimes
It's so tricky when you have other conditions. I also have PTSD, plus physical chronic illness. And all of those symptoms are things that happen to me on and off. It wouldn't be super unusual for them to all come at the same time. I often have heart attack type symptoms as well. Basically just have to accept that if I start dying I might not know until it's too late...
I'm sorry... I'm still stuck at the part where you were told not to come back to the hospital! What?? The thing is, if others are trying to help you by calling EMS, and you aren't able to stop them, you should STILL go. What if that one time was something other than the PTSD? Just wow! I'm sorry you were treated like that. 😖☹️
I don't know why they were so rude, but that wasn't the first time they were that way. My grandma had cancer and fell from her toilet one night. She was taken to that hospital, and they gave her morphine for the pain and sent her home. It was a week later that she decided to go to the other hospital because of the pain in her back. Come to find out, the cancer had spread to her vertebrae, and when she fell, two in her lower back had practically disintegrated. She never left that second hospital. She passed away in comfort care shortly after a CT scan revealed the cancer was in her brain. There's even more things beyond those two instances as well. So my mother, brother, and just about everyone in the family avoid the first hospital if we can. We're lucky we live right between two of them in terms of distance. Both take a half hour to reach, so the ems drivers will ask which one we want to go to verses just for one or the other.
Thanks for using what happened to you as a teaching moment for the rest of us! Interestingly, here in the UK the acronym in public information campaigns is simply "FAST" - I had no idea that it was also important to check people's balance or eyes if a stroke is suspected. That seems like a pretty important thing to leave out, but hey now I - and presumably others passing through - know that extra detail and might be in a better spot to help if the need arises
It used to be just "FAST" here too but then they realized that strokes of the posterior circulation, like Jo's, were being missed. The "balance" and "eyes" helps people catch posterior strokes.
Something they're trying to change in canada is the T meaning. They want it to mean terrible headache I feel like it's cheating to use an adjective in an acronym but maybe it's not a bad idea. Ive been told if you have a sudden onset of any of the symptoms in the acronym you should call 911. I also heard a really bad headache is an early sign of stroke (ie thunderclap headaches in brain bleeds) and one that's really easily dismissed Perhaps including headaches in the acronym would help catch strokes earlier
In my country it's also FAST. But yeah, I somehow remember the doctors flashing light in my eyes and they noticed that my pupils were uneven, left one didn't react to light at all.
This is such an important message. My brother was 14 when he had a slow stroke. He went to hospital and was diagnosed with bells palsey and sent home. 2 days later he had "a full stroke" and was admitted to hospital. I know the FAST acronym but didn't know the BEFAST version. Thanks for sharing ❤
I had a friend have a stroke right beside me in my car and I didn't know it, I brought him back to his apartment complex and he ended up in the hospital the next morning
Also if you're told you "only" had a TIA, not a stroke, you had a stroke. The best predictor of having a stroke is already having had a stroke. So take a TIA a seriously as a stroke, because it is a stroke.
It's true. The thing is, the symptoms in TIA are reversible. "Full blast" strokes are often not. But yes, TIA is a stroke, sometimes referred to as "mini stroke" because the chance of recovery is much higher. Also, if you get to the hospital with TIA and get treatment, you can prevent more "serious" strokes occuring in the future.
@@Pslm.103_1-4 You could do like thousands of other Montanans do each year and drive across the border to the nearest Canadian hospital. You'll still have to pay eventually, but it will probably only be a quarter to half of what American hospitals charge. Even if you don't have insurance, you still pay for the ridiculous amount of overhead caused by your ridiculous private insurance system & all the associated lawsuits.
Having worked in a hospital (admittedly the IT department) the focus was always made for a stroke on the FAST portion of this acronym. (I've been out of hospital IT for about 14 years, so it may be a more recent change, or just something that wasn't emphasized.) I always _try_ to notice oddities in people I am familiar with, but a stranger, I'm more likely to believe it to be an issue that isn't "abrupt" unless it clearly is. (Someone collapses, that's abrupt, no matter how you consider it.) I am very glad to see you are getting more active online. Tbh, the internet isn't the same without you. (And it is a far less tolerable place without you, Jo.)
Jo, you have come so far lovely! I know it’s been scary and frustrating but you have proved if you put the hours (and hours) of work in with your physiotherapy you can recover and still be you! Never give up girly! You’ve got this keep shining brightly 🤗🦿🤗B.E.F.A.S.T
If you (or anyone) had had your systems, I would have called an ambulance immediately. And I did, for my neighbor, a few weeks ago. Turned out it wasn't a stroke, but it was serious and I knew something wasn't right.
I know in the US healthcare cost is a worry. But if someone is not responding call an ambulance. EMTs can figure it out better. If it is nothing, the person can dismiss care and cuss at their discretion. If it is something serious, help is on the way
My friends 49 yr old daughter had a stroke and also had no idea. Luckily someone was with her who recognized it right away. Glad you are on the mend. BTW I just saw you in a Nurtec commercial!! Stay strong!
I had 3 seizures and a stroke..only symptoms..WORSE migraine ever..and not able yo focus eyes! Woke up in icu 2 days later! Good luck coming back. I'm very lucky only side effect is can't think quick about names and some words. I went from being a trivia winner to not being able to think quich. So glade your getting things back on track!
I also get Migraines. When I woke up in the middle of the night. I couldn't do anything. Not even roll off the bed and reach for the phone. About 20-30 minutes later My pain had subsided some, so I could get to the phone and dialed 911. That was exactly what I said "it's the worst Migraine I have ever had." (At first I thought I was having a stroke.) And off to the hospital. Then, I lost 5 days. Apparently, I am hilariously funny when I'm in that much pain. Endorphins are a wonderful thing . Please, please don't just write it off to the worst Migraine you've ever had. Please don't take the chance that you are wrong. The neurological surgeon looked me straight in the eyes and told me I should be dead. Please call 911. Personally I think it was the Migraines that saved me. My brain was so use to the pain of Migraines that it just dumped an excessive amount of Endorphins into my blood stream. Sometimes being in chronic pain can be useful. If I can influence just one person to dial 911, it was worth going through it.
It's similar to my case. I have a history of migraines, my stroke started with a seizure, and the "funniest" part of the story is that I actually developed focal epilepsy from brain damage that stroke did to me, and now I have to live with it.
I always have balance issues. My ankle is wonky. People would assume I'm drunk, not having a stroke. At least, I won't be facing an unnecessary ambulance trip! 😮
Ive had three friends in their twenties have strokes. These words could not be more true!! Lovely to hear your voice again, hope you are healing well ✨
Thanks for building awareness for strokes! I was an emergency medical technician for a few years and people often miss signs that are very clear for medically trained staff. A lot of the times we had older people who called the ambulance because they fell and couldn't get up without help amd when we asked how it happened they couldn't explain it. Simplest way to check for a stroke: - ask about simple things like the date, day of the week, their name, birthday etc - check if their eyes respond normally to light vs shadow - cross their arms over each other and hold both of their hands like a handshake at the same time asking them to squeeze tightly with both hands If there's irregularity in one of those things, it's an indicator for a stroke, call the ambulance and get them to the hospital as quickly as possible.
What do you do to check if their eyes are responding normally to light vs shadow? As in what specifically are you looking for and what indicates that there might be a problem?
Unfortunately as much as this is very good advice for 99.9% of people, I've had to talk people out of calling due to several of these being migraine symptoms as well. And it really sucks to have to ignore potentially serious symptoms, but I'm not going to the hospital every other week to be treated like a drug seeker, despite refusing drugs most of the time I'm offered them.
@@Seriskey both pupils should shrink to the same size, but go back after the flashlight is removed. Not necessarily all the way back, but they should be even.
@@Seriskey yup, use a flashlight to check, try one eye at a time to see if both eyes react (they eyes should be in sync, if not it's a sign for a neurological issue), then switch between flashlight/no flashlight and see if they go back to enlargened pupils in a reasonably quick time. Again, if they are slow to react or don't react it's a sign for a neurological issue that needs medical attention.
Another friendly reminder, especially for women, heart attacks are always these major events where you feel chest/arm pain, there are silent heart attacks
It is so great to see you back and recovered! I'm older and larger than you but your attitude is an inspiration to me. It's so good to see you again. Fellow right BTK.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I wanted to say how happy I was to see you in the commercial with Lady Gaga. Wow wow wow! Couldn’t be happier for your success.
Thank You so very much for continuing to be used to bring much awareness to what we don’t often think about enough. I could only think to myself (after listening here many times) only if we were all so diligent and cared for one another as we should. And we see you doing in spite of the many tribulations you’ve allowed us to see here. Many blessings and as we pray for your complete restoration.
YOU ARE SOOOOOOOO REMARKABLE !!!....from your toes to your smile...to your strength and unsaid feels....we sincerely love seeing you do your thing!! YOU ARE SOOOOO LOVED.... Hugs from the TexFam ❤❤❤
When my grandfather had a stroke, we were lucky enough that my mother happened to call him. He was talking like they were having a normal conversation, but it was all nonsense. Because of that, we were able to get him help quickly. He's since passed, but it wasn't from the stroke and he was able to live almost a decade after his stroke.
I get all of these symptoms nearly constantly, which makes it really difficult to know when to go to the ER. I am also allergic to the IV contrast they use in CTs so I usually just don't go to the ER at all unless it stays bad after my migraine meds and my heart medication (if I can still swallow) or it worsens quickly. Always a bit funny or disheartening to see my daily function be listed at emergency level but when I get (driven by a friend or parent NOT an ambulance) to the ER they leave me alone for hours without being seen mostly because I lose the ability to speak read or write during these events. I have a lot of factors raising my stroke risk that I was born with so I am pretty aware of the odds that I get one well before turning 25. Lol I'm venting in a yt comment here, but I'm really glad you got the help you needed and are recovering so well!
I'm glad you're educating folks on the FAST thing, I'm a nurse so when I heard you saying in the video you made about the stroke how you couldn't string a sentence together and couldn't find you balance, my stomach dropped. I work in heart surgery and strokes are one of the less common side effects of the surgeries we do. Always be watchful, always look out for these symptoms folks, it could be the difference between someone regaining their faculties near completely and being bedridden, unable to communicate for the rest of their life. I've seen both and timing and area impacted are the biggest facto4s in how that person's life is gonna look like post stroke.
Thank you for this. My docs didn't even think of this, POSSIBLE STROKE. I have been seeing specialists about this. Everyone dismissed me, which was NEVER okay. Have been looking for a new Dr. Thanks for STROKE AWARENESS & now STROKE PREVENTION AWARENESS.
You are so strong ❤ I wish you the best future ❤ My dad had a stroke, and he didn’t really show any of the signs. He could talk, move without difficulty, follow a finger movement with his eyes, all he complained about was a headache. And he said that something was wrong. We “the kids” were there visiting, we had just had a gathering. Anyways we told our mom to call an ambulance, because we were sure something was wrong. 5 minutes later he couldn’t see, he couldn’t move half of his body, and he started slurring. Yes it’s different for all, and please be safe ❤ My dad is still here almost 10 years later with hardly any signs of what he went through because we acted quickly, and were close to the hospital.
The thought of getting a stroke is terrifying to me because I chronic migraine condition, and some of my migraines have the same symptoms as strokes but are completely harmless. With how expensive healthcare is here, I can’t afford to get an ambulance ride to the hospital every other time I get a migraine, so I’ve just been taking migraine meds every time I have stroke symptoms… if I were to actually have a stroke, I’d be screwed.
Few months ago i had really bad cluster migraines. I do have chronic migraines since i was a kid. Day 6, i started being dizzy, having trouble making sentences at my usual speed and visual symptoms. I got to the hospital, they didnt make me wait. They did BEFAST immediately. Thankfully it was only really bad migraines with exhaustion. But i remember the feeling when talking to the nurse as she was doing the tests, the slight worry in her voice at first...
Glad to see you again! My friend had a stroke recently. He was only 36 with no health issues when it happened. You never know for sure if you're genetically predisposed to this until it happens. It's important to know the signs even if you think its not going to happen to you.
Thank you for sharing this. If anything goes numb, like your arm, or you have trouble with coordination of legs or arms, it could be a stroke. Also, hearing-associated with balance. I witnessed an 18 yr old have a stroke in a class in college. Very scary. Called an ambulance. A lot of ppl don’t get checked out bc the symptoms go away quickly. Turns out, he had an undiagnosed hole in his heart and had emergency surgery. He was back at school the next semester though, he had to relearn some things, but he was alive and at school!
It's wonderful to see how far you have progressed. My stroke kept me from standing up. I also started throwing up to the extent that it seemed normal. I knew I needed to reprogam my brain. I was totally cognizant and developed my own balance exercises and made them get me up and walk. I was fortunate to progress quickly enough that I went in on Tuesday and got out the following Tuesday. I also got in within an hour. Considering how long it took for you to get in, I am amazed how well you have recovered. Even though we look great there are still some hidden effects to overcome. It's good to see you are overcoming the obstacles placed before you. I wish you well.
Wow this is good to know, my husband used to get migraines and sometimes they would be so bad it would blur his vision. He's taking blood pressure medication and hasn't had a migraine since, but if this occurs again while he's still taking medication I'll be more vigilant. Unfortunately he won't want to go to the hospital easily.
If you have a suspicion someone is having a stroke ask them to draw a traditional clock face. If they are having a stroke 9/10 times they will put all the numbers in a lump or on one side of the clock depending where the stroke is. It is a simple and surprisingly accurate diagnostic. Then immediately call an ambulance and tell dispatch they already failed a stroke diagnostic. It can speed up response time.
I have had 2 "mini" strokes. Couldn't find words, and one side of the body, not the face, wasn't responding to the thought of movement. Was extremely scarry. By the time EMTs showed up, I was partially recovered. At the ER, they acted like I was fine, and nothing happened. So frustrating yet in my medical records as having mini strokes.... yet they did nothing. No testing or anything.
Silly! In Australia it’s “FAST” Face (drooping on one side) Arms (inability to lift arms) Speech (slurred) Time (to call emergency, time is of the essence!) They always say “Better act FAST.”
My dad once had a stroke that was very very hard to recognize. He had had a brain tumor removed two years earlier. As a result he allready had three of those stroke signs permanently. At hospital he was then diagnosed as only being dehydrated, they could not find the stroke even looking for it. The stroke was only found three days later when they did his routine MRI a feew weeks earlier while he was still at hospital.
Quick drop by to add that an important factor can be their length of symptoms. Typically, a stroke is sudden to immediate onset. For example, I have blurred vision and lots of balance issues. Balance issues with me would not be a good indicator to check for a stroke. However if my partner started having coordination problems, that's alarm bells because it isn't, for want of a better word, a preexisting symptom.
BEFAST is so important!! I remember learning about that when I was like 7 years old, and my parents were very serious about us being able to identify and understand various first aid concepts. Also, a stroke in the occipital lobe will definitely cause visual and speech difficulties, as it’s the center for visual (and other sensory) processing. And since it’s the center for sensory processing, things like balance (hearing/inner ear) and speech can be significantly affected. I’m glad you’re on the road to recovery, strokes of any magnitude are a serious condition, but I’m glad you’re here now to spread awareness and help others identify how they can present.
My mother had zero external signs when she had her stroke. The only thing it affected was the part of her brain that deciphered words and numbers. She used to do crosswords every day but never did them again. It took two years for her to be able to dial a phone 😞
My mother has a stroke that affected her vision back in 2022... And we didnt realised it until its been like 10hour or so... And thats just cuz I forced her to hospital on my gutfeeling... Strokes are scary! Im so happy that you are recovering and taking your time doing so❤❤❤
Thank you babe! I'm a huge stroke risk; I'm hoping if it ever happens I can call an ambulance for myself. So Glad you're looking & sounding so Great! 👍🏼🥰
I have terrible migraines that effect me to the point I throw up and pass out at the same time it's horrible. I don't wish a stroke on anyone your in my prayers for healing ❤️
Thanks I found out that as a lady who suffers from halo migraines that I am at higher risk for stroke so thank you for sharing your personal experience ❤
Ya I have an undiagnosed issue that hits me out of nowhere sometimes but the first time it happened in front of my family they had no idea what was happening until they tried to talk to me and I couldn’t hear or see them so I couldn’t respond. All I could do in the moment was focus everything I had into holding onto a doorway for support as I was losing control of everything else. The second and third time it happened I got help much faster because they noticed sooner but every time I made it to the hospital I wasn’t seen at all after hours of waiting or they would find nothing because it was over before they got to me. The first time anything happened to me was one summer when I was still in middle school I woke up with no idea where I was, the year, who I was, couldn’t stand without falling back down, couldn’t remember my family, and could barely tell up from down anymore. That first incident probably lasted anywhere from 10-30 minutes but I had no way of knowing how much time was passing when it happened. I’m just lucky I didn’t get really hurt or die from the first incident because I tried to stand up after dragging myself out of my room and I almost fell head first over a railing that separated the upstairs landing from the stairs below. Strangely enough that incident never got checked out by a doctor but I didn’t understand what happened to me enough at the time to explain it to my family to get help🤷♂️ I have no idea if I’m having seizures, strokes, Or something else entirely but it is driving me crazy not knowing what to expect or if this could somehow kill me in other ways than just a nasty fall. It’s scary knowing that you can lose control of your body at any time anywhere without any safety net there to save you if you’re alone or fall in a bad way. My only comfort is that the last few times I had a good idea of what to expect and it was still rough but nothing as bad as the first time it ever happened
I noticed my mother having a stroke. I didn't know it was a stroke at the time, but her eyes were wrong. I insisted she go see a doctor, something she didn't think was necessary at first, but changed her mind on when she saw how worried I was. Turned out she had a stroke and didn't know it. You just don't expect someone who's only 57 to have a stroke.
![The day I lost my leg she ghosted me: the close friend who left me after my amputation [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EhRA-B8LhSI/mqdefault.jpg)
![The day I lost my leg she ghosted me: the close friend who left me after my amputation [CC]](/img/tr.png)
BE FAST:
Balance (dizziness, uncoordinated movements)
Eyes (blurred vision)
Face (one side sagging, difficulty smiling)
Speech (slurring or not finding words)
Arms (coordination/movement)
Time (to go to the hospital)
Time is also for speed. The sooner they get care, the better their chances of recovery are. Great info in this short! ❤🎉
hell i have issues with pretty much all of those anyway 😭 i guess i’ll have to hope for my face to sag if i have a stroke
@@eggchompI was just about to say this haha
tongue, stroke victims can't poke out there tongue
@traceyvanklingeren7563 that's not quite right. You can ask them to stick out their tongue and it will deviate to the right or left depending on what side the stroke is happening in the brain.
You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you talking faster than the speed of light again. After all that horror.
Huh? What happened?
@@CookieSinner she had a stroke, which affected her speech for quite a while.
This happened to me 7 yrs ago. The ER took their good ol' time treating me, because I didn't "present the classic symptoms". I still can't walk properly.
“Always err on the side of caution” is completely undermined by outrageously high cost healthcare lack of universal coverage in the US. Calling 911 and going to the ER for a suspected stroke could set someone back $10k. We need to fix the system so people aren’t ignoring life threatening conditions for financial reasons.
Ambulance fee is not always covered by insurance. Medicare doesn't cover it.
@@joannemorris4451 Exactly. And a 5 mile trip costs $3000.
Yep. I've had to talk people out of calling an ambulance for me for migraine symptoms. It sucks, but if I went to the hospital every time I was potentially having stroke symptoms I'd be there every other week.
I don’t know exactly when it happened but I had a stroke in my 50s. I was at a convention and at lunchtime I went to walk down the stairs and I forgot how I made myself do it sideways but I didn’t know that something was wrong like a stroke. I didn’t find out until years later when I had a MRI and it showed I had a small stroke. I believe there was some cognitive problems too, but I didn’t know why they were there. People should be more aware of how young you can be and have a stroke.
30 min ride cost 8500$.
I had a stroke at 16 in my left basal ganglia. Even though the part of my brain was small the doctors said i should have died or have been paralyzed due to the severity and longevity of the stroke (over 12 hours due to my inability to communicate to my sister what was happening due to gurbled nonsense,and not wanting to bother my parents at work) It has left me with irreversible brain damage and a laundry list of deficits. I went to physical, occupation and speech therapy for me to only decline further in my condition. They were able to get me comfortable at home but having a job and college was no longer on the table. My mental health also suffered greatly , but i’m still here and i’m getting ready to turn 21 in 4 days, and this is the first birthday since my stroke that i’ve actually been looking forward to and excited about. I hope your condition improves much more and i’m so happy you’re still here 💕
Happy 21st Birthday!
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Happy 21st Birthday!! 🫂
Happy 21st birthday. Much love to you 🩷
You know we are similar and that's too bad.
Unrelated, but I love the design on your prosthetic liner, Subtle but very cute.
I’d say it’s related to an extent I mean this is a medical based video, but yes her prosthetic leg is awesome!
I have PTSD and whenever it kicks in, I show all the signs of a stroke. Sagging face, paralysis of my left arm, dizziness, slurred speech, etc. I've had, on multiple occasions, someone call the emergency hotline for that reason. One of those times, after being taken to one of two separate hospitals, I was told by the doctors to not bother coming back to the ER unless it is an actual stroke. (I do not go to that hospital anymore if I can avoid it.)
Anyway, I just wanted to say that sometimes other illnesses can masquerade as something far more serious, but it is still important to seek help if you're not sure. I am grateful to those who stepped in to help a complete stranger simply because they saw the obvious signs of a stroke. Granted, it wasn't that serious, but they all would've probably saved my life had I actually been having a stroke.
Yeah many things can cause neurological abnormalities even "normal" migraines that's why I at least always ask my patients if theyve ever had sth like this before if they're able to answer. Of course when in doubt I'll still book a Stroke Unit but in your case if you told me you experience the same symptoms in PTSD Episodes and this feels like usual (you don't have to answer that but maybe there was even a possible trigger) then I'd probably consult with the hospital and likely would just make it a normal neuro bed instead of a high alert stroke bed. Sometimes it's nothing but sometimes symptoms are really deceptive so rather do to much than to little not just in strokes bodies are very weird sometimes
It's so tricky when you have other conditions. I also have PTSD, plus physical chronic illness. And all of those symptoms are things that happen to me on and off. It wouldn't be super unusual for them to all come at the same time. I often have heart attack type symptoms as well. Basically just have to accept that if I start dying I might not know until it's too late...
Why were the doctors so rude about it?
I'm sorry... I'm still stuck at the part where you were told not to come back to the hospital! What?? The thing is, if others are trying to help you by calling EMS, and you aren't able to stop them, you should STILL go. What if that one time was something other than the PTSD? Just wow! I'm sorry you were treated like that. 😖☹️
I don't know why they were so rude, but that wasn't the first time they were that way. My grandma had cancer and fell from her toilet one night. She was taken to that hospital, and they gave her morphine for the pain and sent her home. It was a week later that she decided to go to the other hospital because of the pain in her back. Come to find out, the cancer had spread to her vertebrae, and when she fell, two in her lower back had practically disintegrated. She never left that second hospital. She passed away in comfort care shortly after a CT scan revealed the cancer was in her brain.
There's even more things beyond those two instances as well. So my mother, brother, and just about everyone in the family avoid the first hospital if we can. We're lucky we live right between two of them in terms of distance. Both take a half hour to reach, so the ems drivers will ask which one we want to go to verses just for one or the other.
Thanks for using what happened to you as a teaching moment for the rest of us! Interestingly, here in the UK the acronym in public information campaigns is simply "FAST" - I had no idea that it was also important to check people's balance or eyes if a stroke is suspected. That seems like a pretty important thing to leave out, but hey now I - and presumably others passing through - know that extra detail and might be in a better spot to help if the need arises
It used to be just "FAST" here too but then they realized that strokes of the posterior circulation, like Jo's, were being missed. The "balance" and "eyes" helps people catch posterior strokes.
Don't forget the BE
B is Balance and coordination,
E is for eyes such as blurred vision
😊
Yes. FAST is well known here. I think the BE part needs including. So important!
Something they're trying to change in canada is the T meaning. They want it to mean terrible headache
I feel like it's cheating to use an adjective in an acronym but maybe it's not a bad idea. Ive been told if you have a sudden onset of any of the symptoms in the acronym you should call 911. I also heard a really bad headache is an early sign of stroke (ie thunderclap headaches in brain bleeds) and one that's really easily dismissed
Perhaps including headaches in the acronym would help catch strokes earlier
In my country it's also FAST. But yeah, I somehow remember the doctors flashing light in my eyes and they noticed that my pupils were uneven, left one didn't react to light at all.
This is such an important message. My brother was 14 when he had a slow stroke. He went to hospital and was diagnosed with bells palsey and sent home. 2 days later he had "a full stroke" and was admitted to hospital. I know the FAST acronym but didn't know the BEFAST version. Thanks for sharing ❤
I had a friend have a stroke right beside me in my car and I didn't know it, I brought him back to his apartment complex and he ended up in the hospital the next morning
Wow how awful
Also if you're told you "only" had a TIA, not a stroke, you had a stroke. The best predictor of having a stroke is already having had a stroke. So take a TIA a seriously as a stroke, because it is a stroke.
It's true. The thing is, the symptoms in TIA are reversible. "Full blast" strokes are often not. But yes, TIA is a stroke, sometimes referred to as "mini stroke" because the chance of recovery is much higher. Also, if you get to the hospital with TIA and get treatment, you can prevent more "serious" strokes occuring in the future.
Im your age and this happened to me too. I live in Montana and was gaslit to hell and back. Long recovery. Love your light and strength. ❤❤
Wow I'm so so sorry to hear that, what a painful experience and cruel of the gaslighters. I hope you are safe from their effects now.
I hope you're doing okay
Logan Health? I wouldn’t doubt it. 🙄 Hello from fellow Montanan who doesn’t trust our hospitals
@@Pslm.103_1-4 Bozeman Health, Billings Clinic and Livingston Health all are worse than useless.
@@Pslm.103_1-4 You could do like thousands of other Montanans do each year and drive across the border to the nearest Canadian hospital. You'll still have to pay eventually, but it will probably only be a quarter to half of what American hospitals charge. Even if you don't have insurance, you still pay for the ridiculous amount of overhead caused by your ridiculous private insurance system & all the associated lawsuits.
Having worked in a hospital (admittedly the IT department) the focus was always made for a stroke on the FAST portion of this acronym. (I've been out of hospital IT for about 14 years, so it may be a more recent change, or just something that wasn't emphasized.) I always _try_ to notice oddities in people I am familiar with, but a stranger, I'm more likely to believe it to be an issue that isn't "abrupt" unless it clearly is. (Someone collapses, that's abrupt, no matter how you consider it.)
I am very glad to see you are getting more active online. Tbh, the internet isn't the same without you. (And it is a far less tolerable place without you, Jo.)
Jo, you have come so far lovely! I know it’s been scary and frustrating but you have proved if you put the hours (and hours) of work in with your physiotherapy you can recover and still be you! Never give up girly! You’ve got this keep shining brightly 🤗🦿🤗B.E.F.A.S.T
If you (or anyone) had had your systems, I would have called an ambulance immediately. And I did, for my neighbor, a few weeks ago. Turned out it wasn't a stroke, but it was serious and I knew something wasn't right.
Glad to see your return Jo. And even happier for you that you seemed to pull through it. Welcome back from another BKN friend.
You're one resilient little lady. I'm happy you're getting better. One day at a time. Glad to see your happy go lucky videos again.
You look and sound amazing. I'm glad to see you recovering so quickly. I know it doesn't feel like it. But your progress is noticeable in every video.
That's scary... Someone could just think you're tired and not know to act.
I know in the US healthcare cost is a worry. But if someone is not responding call an ambulance. EMTs can figure it out better. If it is nothing, the person can dismiss care and cuss at their discretion. If it is something serious, help is on the way
My friends 49 yr old daughter had a stroke and also had no idea. Luckily someone was with her who recognized it right away. Glad you are on the mend. BTW I just saw you in a Nurtec commercial!! Stay strong!
Yes! I saw the commercial yesterday also! 😊
Saw that too!
I knew fast but befast is even better. I hope you continue to recover wonderfully!
I had 3 seizures and a stroke..only symptoms..WORSE migraine ever..and not able yo focus eyes! Woke up in icu 2 days later! Good luck coming back. I'm very lucky only side effect is can't think quick about names and some words. I went from being a trivia winner to not being able to think quich. So glade your getting things back on track!
I also get Migraines. When I woke up in the middle of the night. I couldn't do anything. Not even roll off the bed and reach for the phone. About 20-30 minutes later My pain had subsided some, so I could get to the phone and dialed 911.
That was exactly what I said "it's the worst Migraine I have ever had." (At first I thought I was having a stroke.) And off to the hospital. Then, I lost 5 days.
Apparently, I am hilariously funny when I'm in that much pain. Endorphins are a wonderful thing
.
Please, please don't just write it off to the worst Migraine you've ever had. Please don't take the chance that you are wrong.
The neurological surgeon looked me straight in the eyes and told me I should be dead.
Please call 911.
Personally I think it was the Migraines that saved me. My brain was so use to the pain of Migraines that it just dumped an excessive amount of Endorphins into my blood stream.
Sometimes being in chronic pain can be useful.
If I can influence just one person to dial 911, it was worth going through it.
It's similar to my case. I have a history of migraines, my stroke started with a seizure, and the "funniest" part of the story is that I actually developed focal epilepsy from brain damage that stroke did to me, and now I have to live with it.
I am glad you are doing. I missed seeing you. Keep up the fight.
Glad to see you're doing better.
Mine was balance!
I walked it off. Then it did it again… 3 hrs later . I didn’t walk it off.
I always have balance issues. My ankle is wonky. People would assume I'm drunk, not having a stroke. At least, I won't be facing an unnecessary ambulance trip! 😮
Mine too. Then it was slurring. I was slurring like I was completely drunk. I was aware of how bad I sounded uit couldn't do anything about it.
I’m so happy that you’re feeling well enough to post again Jo! Here’s to a speedy continued recovery
Great PSA! I hadn't heard the B.E. part! 😬👏
I am just so glad you are still HERE, Jo!!❤😮
I fell down in public, and no one stopped to check
So glad you are ok and well enough to post again we missed hearing from you and getting very useful information
Amazing! I’ve seen my share in the hospital for the past 11 years. You’re looking better everyday Jo. 😊
I'm so glad you're on the mend. 🙏💕 As always, thank you so much for sharing ❤️❤️❤️
Ive had three friends in their twenties have strokes. These words could not be more true!! Lovely to hear your voice again, hope you are healing well ✨
Jo i saw you on the Nurtec commerical !!!!! 🎉 Do not have anymore strokes, Jo two is two many. You're beautiful and young,stay healthy ❤
Thanks for building awareness for strokes! I was an emergency medical technician for a few years and people often miss signs that are very clear for medically trained staff. A lot of the times we had older people who called the ambulance because they fell and couldn't get up without help amd when we asked how it happened they couldn't explain it.
Simplest way to check for a stroke:
- ask about simple things like the date, day of the week, their name, birthday etc
- check if their eyes respond normally to light vs shadow
- cross their arms over each other and hold both of their hands like a handshake at the same time asking them to squeeze tightly with both hands
If there's irregularity in one of those things, it's an indicator for a stroke, call the ambulance and get them to the hospital as quickly as possible.
What do you do to check if their eyes are responding normally to light vs shadow? As in what specifically are you looking for and what indicates that there might be a problem?
Unfortunately as much as this is very good advice for 99.9% of people, I've had to talk people out of calling due to several of these being migraine symptoms as well. And it really sucks to have to ignore potentially serious symptoms, but I'm not going to the hospital every other week to be treated like a drug seeker, despite refusing drugs most of the time I'm offered them.
@@Seriskey both pupils should shrink to the same size, but go back after the flashlight is removed. Not necessarily all the way back, but they should be even.
@@waffles3629 ah I see, thanks for the response
@@Seriskey yup, use a flashlight to check, try one eye at a time to see if both eyes react (they eyes should be in sync, if not it's a sign for a neurological issue), then switch between flashlight/no flashlight and see if they go back to enlargened pupils in a reasonably quick time. Again, if they are slow to react or don't react it's a sign for a neurological issue that needs medical attention.
Another friendly reminder, especially for women, heart attacks are always these major events where you feel chest/arm pain, there are silent heart attacks
On an unrelated topic... That's a really cool liner!
Yayy I'm so happy to see you pop up on my feed again! It's so nice to see you being so lively and cheerful! ❤
I am glad to see you be more like yourself
Glad you're ok, you're my inspiration ❤️
It is so great to see you back and recovered! I'm older and larger than you but your attitude is an inspiration to me. It's so good to see you again.
Fellow right BTK.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I wanted to say how happy I was to see you in the commercial with Lady Gaga. Wow wow wow! Couldn’t be happier for your success.
So glad you're ok. Love your upbeat attitude. Love your channel!!
Thank You so very much for continuing to be used to bring much awareness to what we don’t often think about enough. I could only think to myself (after listening here many times) only if we were all so diligent and cared for one another as we should. And we see you doing in spite of the many tribulations you’ve allowed us to see here. Many blessings and as we pray for your complete restoration.
Thank you ! ❤ Such an important message. I'm glad that you are healing so well.
YOU ARE SOOOOOOOO REMARKABLE !!!....from your toes to your smile...to your strength and unsaid feels....we sincerely love seeing you do your thing!! YOU ARE SOOOOO LOVED.... Hugs from the TexFam ❤❤❤
When my grandfather had a stroke, we were lucky enough that my mother happened to call him. He was talking like they were having a normal conversation, but it was all nonsense. Because of that, we were able to get him help quickly.
He's since passed, but it wasn't from the stroke and he was able to live almost a decade after his stroke.
It makes me really happy to see you doing better and we can see you again beautiful
I sure hope you're continuing to get better, Jo!
So good to see you back, Jo.
Jo your sleeve is looking amazing!
Thank you for this! We should all know this.
I get all of these symptoms nearly constantly, which makes it really difficult to know when to go to the ER. I am also allergic to the IV contrast they use in CTs so I usually just don't go to the ER at all unless it stays bad after my migraine meds and my heart medication (if I can still swallow) or it worsens quickly.
Always a bit funny or disheartening to see my daily function be listed at emergency level but when I get (driven by a friend or parent NOT an ambulance) to the ER they leave me alone for hours without being seen mostly because I lose the ability to speak read or write during these events. I have a lot of factors raising my stroke risk that I was born with so I am pretty aware of the odds that I get one well before turning 25.
Lol I'm venting in a yt comment here, but I'm really glad you got the help you needed and are recovering so well!
I'm glad you're educating folks on the FAST thing, I'm a nurse so when I heard you saying in the video you made about the stroke how you couldn't string a sentence together and couldn't find you balance, my stomach dropped. I work in heart surgery and strokes are one of the less common side effects of the surgeries we do.
Always be watchful, always look out for these symptoms folks, it could be the difference between someone regaining their faculties near completely and being bedridden, unable to communicate for the rest of their life. I've seen both and timing and area impacted are the biggest facto4s in how that person's life is gonna look like post stroke.
Saw you in a Comercial on TV, it was great, you were great, you were just a regular person, it was awesome, yeah congrats ❤😂🎉
Hey there resilient person, you seem like you're healing VERY well. 😁 Hope you continue to heal and feel better.
Excellent PSA, thank you.
been worried about you happy to see you back online
Thank you for this.
My docs didn't even think of this, POSSIBLE STROKE.
I have been seeing specialists about this.
Everyone dismissed me, which was NEVER okay.
Have been looking for a new Dr.
Thanks for STROKE AWARENESS & now STROKE PREVENTION AWARENESS.
You are so strong ❤ I wish you the best future ❤
My dad had a stroke, and he didn’t really show any of the signs. He could talk, move without difficulty, follow a finger movement with his eyes, all he complained about was a headache. And he said that something was wrong. We “the kids” were there visiting, we had just had a gathering. Anyways we told our mom to call an ambulance, because we were sure something was wrong. 5 minutes later he couldn’t see, he couldn’t move half of his body, and he started slurring.
Yes it’s different for all, and please be safe ❤
My dad is still here almost 10 years later with hardly any signs of what he went through because we acted quickly, and were close to the hospital.
Thank you Jo. You are like a teacher. Im learning a lot.
Thanks for the information. I hope all is well with your recovery. ❤
Now if i can get my Dr to look at my x-rays. You keep your head up, we are here for you.
Love to see you back. Take care.
The thought of getting a stroke is terrifying to me because I chronic migraine condition, and some of my migraines have the same symptoms as strokes but are completely harmless. With how expensive healthcare is here, I can’t afford to get an ambulance ride to the hospital every other time I get a migraine, so I’ve just been taking migraine meds every time I have stroke symptoms… if I were to actually have a stroke, I’d be screwed.
Glad to see that you’re back Jo! But more importantly, I’m so, so happy to see that you’re doing better given everything that you’ve been through.
Few months ago i had really bad cluster migraines. I do have chronic migraines since i was a kid. Day 6, i started being dizzy, having trouble making sentences at my usual speed and visual symptoms. I got to the hospital, they didnt make me wait. They did BEFAST immediately. Thankfully it was only really bad migraines with exhaustion. But i remember the feeling when talking to the nurse as she was doing the tests, the slight worry in her voice at first...
Glad to see you again! My friend had a stroke recently. He was only 36 with no health issues when it happened. You never know for sure if you're genetically predisposed to this until it happens. It's important to know the signs even if you think its not going to happen to you.
I’m so sorry you went through this. But I’m glad you are sharing it. A lady I met through work had a stroke in her eye. Just her eye.
Thank you for sharing this. If anything goes numb, like your arm, or you have trouble with coordination of legs or arms, it could be a stroke. Also, hearing-associated with balance. I witnessed an 18 yr old have a stroke in a class in college. Very scary. Called an ambulance. A lot of ppl don’t get checked out bc the symptoms go away quickly. Turns out, he had an undiagnosed hole in his heart and had emergency surgery. He was back at school the next semester though, he had to relearn some things, but he was alive and at school!
It's wonderful to see how far you have progressed.
My stroke kept me from standing up. I also started throwing up to the extent that it seemed normal.
I knew I needed to reprogam my brain. I was totally cognizant and developed my own balance exercises and made them get me up and walk. I was fortunate to progress quickly enough that I went in on Tuesday and got out the following Tuesday. I also got in within an hour.
Considering how long it took for you to get in, I am amazed how well you have recovered. Even though we look great there are still some hidden effects to overcome.
It's good to see you are overcoming the obstacles placed before you.
I wish you well.
Wow this is good to know, my husband used to get migraines and sometimes they would be so bad it would blur his vision. He's taking blood pressure medication and hasn't had a migraine since, but if this occurs again while he's still taking medication I'll be more vigilant. Unfortunately he won't want to go to the hospital easily.
I am so glad you're doing better now!
If you have a suspicion someone is having a stroke ask them to draw a traditional clock face. If they are having a stroke 9/10 times they will put all the numbers in a lump or on one side of the clock depending where the stroke is. It is a simple and surprisingly accurate diagnostic. Then immediately call an ambulance and tell dispatch they already failed a stroke diagnostic. It can speed up response time.
I have had 2 "mini" strokes. Couldn't find words, and one side of the body, not the face, wasn't responding to the thought of movement. Was extremely scarry. By the time EMTs showed up, I was partially recovered. At the ER, they acted like I was fine, and nothing happened. So frustrating yet in my medical records as having mini strokes.... yet they did nothing. No testing or anything.
Silly! In Australia it’s “FAST”
Face (drooping on one side)
Arms (inability to lift arms)
Speech (slurred)
Time (to call emergency, time is of the essence!)
They always say “Better act FAST.”
My dad once had a stroke that was very very hard to recognize. He had had a brain tumor removed two years earlier. As a result he allready had three of those stroke signs permanently. At hospital he was then diagnosed as only being dehydrated, they could not find the stroke even looking for it. The stroke was only found three days later when they did his routine MRI a feew weeks earlier while he was still at hospital.
That scares me, because that list of symptoms sounds like an average Tuesday to me, except for the face thing...
I never knew . Thank you for sharing.
Great public announcement, Jo - and I love the acronym.
I’m so glad you’re doing better!
Quick drop by to add that an important factor can be their length of symptoms. Typically, a stroke is sudden to immediate onset.
For example, I have blurred vision and lots of balance issues. Balance issues with me would not be a good indicator to check for a stroke. However if my partner started having coordination problems, that's alarm bells because it isn't, for want of a better word, a preexisting symptom.
Thanks for the info! Lovely to see you back doing video ❤ hope you are recovering well ❤❤
BEFAST is so important!! I remember learning about that when I was like 7 years old, and my parents were very serious about us being able to identify and understand various first aid concepts.
Also, a stroke in the occipital lobe will definitely cause visual and speech difficulties, as it’s the center for visual (and other sensory) processing.
And since it’s the center for sensory processing, things like balance (hearing/inner ear) and speech can be significantly affected.
I’m glad you’re on the road to recovery, strokes of any magnitude are a serious condition, but I’m glad you’re here now to spread awareness and help others identify how they can present.
My mother had zero external signs when she had her stroke. The only thing it affected was the part of her brain that deciphered words and numbers. She used to do crosswords every day but never did them again. It took two years for her to be able to dial a phone 😞
Glad you are okay!
So glad you’re doing well❤
My mother has a stroke that affected her vision back in 2022... And we didnt realised it until its been like 10hour or so... And thats just cuz I forced her to hospital on my gutfeeling...
Strokes are scary!
Im so happy that you are recovering and taking your time doing so❤❤❤
And this is unhelpful and terrifying when all of this happens to you on a normal basis because you just don’t human right
Thank you babe! I'm a huge stroke risk; I'm hoping if it ever happens I can call an ambulance for myself. So Glad you're looking & sounding so Great! 👍🏼🥰
Love the liner ❤
I have terrible migraines that effect me to the point I throw up and pass out at the same time it's horrible. I don't wish a stroke on anyone your in my prayers for healing ❤️
Thanks I found out that as a lady who suffers from halo migraines that I am at higher risk for stroke so thank you for sharing your personal experience ❤
Puppy in the background says "Hey MA I'm starvin ' ova here!!!
I didn't have a stroke, my TBI was a hemorrhage, but it mimicked a stroke....due to a car accident. Thanks for the awareness updates.
Ya I have an undiagnosed issue that hits me out of nowhere sometimes but the first time it happened in front of my family they had no idea what was happening until they tried to talk to me and I couldn’t hear or see them so I couldn’t respond. All I could do in the moment was focus everything I had into holding onto a doorway for support as I was losing control of everything else. The second and third time it happened I got help much faster because they noticed sooner but every time I made it to the hospital I wasn’t seen at all after hours of waiting or they would find nothing because it was over before they got to me.
The first time anything happened to me was one summer when I was still in middle school I woke up with no idea where I was, the year, who I was, couldn’t stand without falling back down, couldn’t remember my family, and could barely tell up from down anymore. That first incident probably lasted anywhere from 10-30 minutes but I had no way of knowing how much time was passing when it happened. I’m just lucky I didn’t get really hurt or die from the first incident because I tried to stand up after dragging myself out of my room and I almost fell head first over a railing that separated the upstairs landing from the stairs below. Strangely enough that incident never got checked out by a doctor but I didn’t understand what happened to me enough at the time to explain it to my family to get help🤷♂️
I have no idea if I’m having seizures, strokes, Or something else entirely but it is driving me crazy not knowing what to expect or if this could somehow kill me in other ways than just a nasty fall. It’s scary knowing that you can lose control of your body at any time anywhere without any safety net there to save you if you’re alone or fall in a bad way. My only comfort is that the last few times I had a good idea of what to expect and it was still rough but nothing as bad as the first time it ever happened
Good to see you, Jo! So good...
This is a deep rooted fear for me. Thanks for the updates information.
Thank you!!❤❤
A really bad migraine can also look like that. Which is scary and confusing when it happens at work and your coworkers are really worried about you.
Natrafiłam przypadkiem, masz niesamowite podejscie do życia, niesamowite poczucie humoru,jestes niesamowitą osobą. Pozdrawiam serdecznie ❤
I noticed my mother having a stroke. I didn't know it was a stroke at the time, but her eyes were wrong. I insisted she go see a doctor, something she didn't think was necessary at first, but changed her mind on when she saw how worried I was. Turned out she had a stroke and didn't know it. You just don't expect someone who's only 57 to have a stroke.