21yr old stroke survivor

[JQ]

Hi, I'm a 21 yr old female who had a iscemic stroke 3 months ago caused by my pill. I'm almost back to normal now living my life which I was before the stroke.

I'm on clopidagrel to thin my blood which I need to be on forever.

I want to hear from anyone in the same age bracket - to talk to.

[jen_e-g25aries]

hi there my name is jen.  like you i had a stroke at a young age, i was 24 and feb 2005 i had a tia on feb 10 and a ischemic on feb 13.  i was in the hospital for 2 1/2 months, i would have stayed longer but i wanted to get the hell out of there!  it really felt like a constant hangover 24/7, dizzy the room spinning all of the time, vomiting 24/7, unable to move my whole left side.  i felt like a doll being poked for blood 6 times a day!  its gotta be one of the most horrible things in life for anyone to have to go through.  now a day there are still problems i have like not being able to run, wear heels, wisp when i talk, total uncontrol of my emotions like i laugh at everything.  life is definitely not the same.

so you had a stroke because of your pills?  what kind of pills? how are you now?  what kind of problems did this cause you?  its nice to have someone to relate to.  let me know.

------:) jen

[JQ]

Hi Jen, It is really good to actually speak to someone the same age. Most people are in their 30's and above.

I had my 21st birthday in July this year. We went out for my birthday on the Saturday and on the Sunday morning I was in hospital, no warning signs as I was asleep and woke up with a major headache, went to the hospital and after 2 days in emergency they finally told me I had a stroke.... A bit too late to take any medication then.

They put it down to my pill because they couldn't find any other explanation. I was on the Levlen ED pill. I lost my whole right side of my body and 3 months later its all pretty much back to normal.

Are you serious? I find that now I smile, laugh or cry at the drop of a hat, its so annoying.

I'm getting married in February next year, only 3 months to go. After that my Dr's have said that I can try for a baby too. I think its a bit soon but the Dr's know better right?

Do you have MSN? my hotmail address is jacci_colb***@**** if you want to chat I'm always online.

[C.F.]

FYI:  If they think that the pill (hormones) caused  your stroke...then you should be very careful because your hormones change during and especially after pregnancy.  You should probably check with a high risk ob/gyn.

I was also on the pill for a brief period of time right before I got married and my leg got heavy...I didn't follow up with tests because the heaviness went away.  It wasn't until afer I gave birth that I had problems.  My doctors don't think that it had anything to do with with hormones, but they don't know for sure.  where are you located?  I have some really good doctors where I live if you want to speak to them.

[JQ]

Hi C.F.

I am located in Australia.

I had been on the pill for as long as I can Remember and about 2 months before the stroke my dr at the time changed me to a higer pill (levlen ED) so we are pretty sure its that caused my stroke.

[C.F.]

hi. JQ

I was also on the higher dose pill when my leg got heavy>>>>>

[caregiver222]

Wheoever told you need to be on a blood "thinner" for life is sniffing spacedust. Your stroke had a specific etiology, which was the pill. The half-life of that medication had by now resultedm in an insignificant quantity of nthe drug, which means you should have a normally functioning body. You are being presented with a standard stroke protocol, but one that is inappropriate. You need another consult, preferably from a physician who reads medical journals.

[jen_e-g25aries]

caregiver,

whoever told her to stay on a blood thinner isnt sniffing spacedust,  they are right.  the reason hy they had her stay on the blood thinners is because unfortunately now that she has already had a stroke she is at high risk to have another, regardless of her perfectly "normal functioning" body. it sounds to me like you must have wuite a few medical degrees yourself, so you probably skipped that page in your medical journal!

[C.F.]

I also had a stroke and all of my top doctors said that it is more dangerous to stay on blood thinners for your whole life than to be off of them....especially if it was because of the pill!  For example, if a person on blood thinners were in a car accident, they would most likely bleed out.  I was only on them for a year and then I was put on aspirin and now on baby aspirin.  You should look into these options.

[caregiver222]

At for the life-long dependency on so-called "blood thinners" for an otherwise healthy woman in her twenties with a stroke of known etiology I stand by my criticism of her treatment protocol. I am reminded of the line by my favorite television doctor "Rocket Romano" from the show ER. "Have they even established they HAVE medical schools in Croatia?" Your comment Jen, that it is always necessary to continue on blood thinners" indefinitely has no basis in fact or logic. I do not recommend self-treatment. There certain circumstances where blood thinners would not be contraindicated, such as an elderly person with known atheroscheloritic deposits that permanently narrow the interior diameter of the blood vessels. My gut feeling is that this woman needs another (second) opinion - from an M.D. - preferably more than one M.D. The thing to remember ios that all medications that interfere with clotting mechanisms have their own dangers - if you fall off a bicycle and hit your head, for example, and are on thinners, you have a higher liklihood of bleeding into the brain - There is a "risk-benefit" analysis, and in the case of the young woman who posted I am concerned that this ratio was not adequately addressed.

[caregiver222]

And yes, aspririn is often an acceptable low-risk option.

[caregiver222]

For the record, clopadagrel, or Plavix, is being pushed by Dr. Garret Fitzgerald of the University of Pennsylvania, as an alternative to aspirin that does not use the COX molecules. Bristol-Meyers manufactures clopadagrel, and is in the midst of a massive marketing effort to promote this expensive drug as well as keeping track of it's post-stroke utilization in a massive drug study, the ethics of which are getting mixed reviews. This is not to say that this drug is bad or harmful or to refleck adversely upon Dr. Fitzgerald. Many lifesaving treatments have been developed by the American drug companies. It is a fact, however, that there are many rice-bowls involved, and there is often more in the selection of a drug by a physician than meets the eye. Low dose aspirin has been safety tested for over a century.

[Tressa999]

I definitely think you should get 2nd and 3rd opinion about lifelong blood thinners.  If you are no longer taking the medication that caused the stroke, then there are much safer alternatives to something as risky as you're taking--aspirin, garlic, fish oil, nattokinase, gingko, etc.

[caregiver222]

Excellent advice tressa999! My personal preference is for daily fish oil and garlic, a daily multi-vitamin, and paying special attention to good hydration. Ginko works well, however it is a powerful anti-coagulent, but I would hesitate to self-medicate with that herb in a post-stroke situation. It is difficult establish what dose of the herb you are getting.There are several other non-prescription herbal substances that promote blood flow and lubricosity. I hesitate to mention them in this post because they all have pros and cons. You might consider consulting a physician with a naturopathic orientation.

[losingit2]

Ok, what if you had a stroke that was caused by a dissected artery and you are taking Plavix for the rest of your life?  Is that acceptable or reasonable?  I am 42 years old. I do not take birth control pills.

[caregiver222]

Plavix is not the worst drug in the world, and I has a relatively good safety history. It is being inappropriately promoted, but that does not mean that a physician is negligent for prescribing it. As for "taking it the rest of your life", maybe and maybe not. There is a great deal of difference of opinion. A dissected artery is a tricky thing. Ther is high mortality, and you are aware of that. One of the almost unsolveable issues is whether the dissecdted artery is a localized "one-time" event or some kind of genetic vulnerability. Let's give an example. An atomobile accident with a sudden stop can cause a tear/injury that may eventually result in a dissected artery. Or a punch from a boxer. A fall from a high place can sometimes do the same thing. On the other hand some people have a genetic susceptability to this sort of thing. You need to searchg MEDLINE and the net and to constantly look at the current literature, which expands our knowledge of these events every day. I would follow your physicians recommendations for the short term, but constantly review the situation, preferably every six months, and certainly not less than once a year. Do get a second opinion.

[nika26]

Hi,
I had ArterioVenous Malformation ruptured in my brain in 2005, at 27. Similar effect to stroke with all bad aftermath of it. Now I am getting better and just wonder if anyone knows a good high-risk ob/gyn and neurologist for headaches and dizziness in Chicago area? Me and my husband might think about a baby soon, but are too scared for rihgt now. I do not want to go just to any dr. as i had pretty bad experience with first neurosurgeon Tim Malisch, who instead of preventing AVM from rupturing sped it up. I would appreciate advice.
Thanks

[cpooch]

I am 30 and had a stroke during brain surgery while they were removing a tumor. My left side is paralyzed and this SUCKS!!!!!

[lobsta721]

I am a 20 year old stroke survivor. I experienced a massive brainstem stroke when I was 18 from my birth control and almost died. If anyone would care to chat you can catch me best by sending me an email ***@**** :)

[LLOYD1014]

My son 13 just had a stroke NOV 28 due a blood clot in his basilary artery (brainstem),he spent 4 weeks in icu and antoher 4 weeks at NYU for rehab he has made remarkable recovery to the point where he is already getting tutoring to go back to school. He has some very slight slurring of speech and some issues with balance, but also seems to laugh at things too easily. he is on blood thinners for the next six months and we hope he can return to being a normal teenager without taking blood thinners but rather just aspirin -any thoughts on the laughing or thinners

[freehearted]

hi  i had tia or mini stroke july 5. my speech were slurred and vision  blurry. i have recovered well except my speech is somewhat off. my doctor said i will be on coumadin for six months. he started me out with a high dose but not i'm down to 2mg. i just  try to be careful and know that if anything else happen that its in our heavenly Fathers hand.

[mrstlogue]

my mother in law had a car accident in 8-06.  One month later began having strokes on right and left side of brain.  She has had to go on long term disability, cannot drive, trouble remembering words, etc.  In the accident her head struck the roof of the car with quite a bit of force.  One year before accident she had a knee replacement.  Before replacement she had to undergo physical and see cardiologist.  Absolutely nothing wrong with her then.  Has anyone ever suffered from stroke from car accident.  The doctor said something about lesions on the brain, but this was before I could get to hospital.  I lived 8 hours away.  Anyway that was the neurologist on call-nobody could remember what he was talking about.  When the strokes first started it was slurred speach, blurry vision, trouble with train of thought.  Her carotid artery was 45% blocked.  Several more strokes over the next few months.  By 1-07 there was 95% blockage.  Had stent put in.  No more strokes.  Lots of damage to speach and train of thought.  Does anyone know if this could have been the result of her car accident.

[MonkeeGal]

Hi
I'm 29 and I've suffered from 3 strokes - at 22, 24 and 26. I was on Coumadin for the last one and now take Fragmin and asprin.  I've officially been categorized as a cryptogenic stroke patient aka we can't find anything that is to blame.
I had residual affects from all 3 strokes and feel them when I'm tired or stressed but most of it now is phsycological and emotional.

I'm really happy I found this forum as I have found no support groups etc to talk to.  I can be reached at ***@**** if anyone ever feels like talking more.

Thanks.

[Athina21907]

I am a 27 year old birth control pil;stroke survivor (2/19/07). I was in the middle of a workout at the gym when I saw flashing lights and got a head ache. My instructor and workout partner thought I had a seizure and took me to the hospital I felt the effects immediately. I began losing mobility in my left arm and leg. After about 45 minutes in the  they finally did a CT scan and determined that I had had a stroke. Scary! After 2.5 days in my tiny hospitals way northern CA. I was flown to UCSF for 8 days then trandfered to a rehab hospital for a month.With slurred speech no left side mobility. All I wanted to do was get the hell out of there, back to my old life and my high heels. I was in PTandOT until this january when they discharged me saying there was nothing else yhey could do for me that I couldn't do for myself. I can walk with the aid of an AFO (ankle foot orthosis... not conducive to wearing heels). I'm getting movemeny back in my arm but nothing really functional YET.So, I keep waiting just like the rest of you. Keep up the hard work!  

[cjn560]

I am 48 years old and had a stroke on 2/29 that only affected my speech (I was lucky).  They took off the pill that I had been on for almost 20 years.  I was looking for an answer to safe methods of birth control now.