I'm back

[Mark3142]

Well, I'm not so sure I was missed but thought I'd let you all know I'm back.
i had a minor stroke in Jan this year, but bizarrely I had a cigar 2 days before. I thought I was fit and healthy, 24 yrs in the Army so not in bad shape. So my thought process told me the stroke was caused by the cigar. So I emptied the humidor, sold or gave away the entire contents. Not a huge amount but all the same a few quid lost. But hey ho it's only money.
now almost 12 months down the line I'm ready to get back into cigars again and chatting about them. I wasn't a prolific poster before but then I knew nothing so soaked up the knowledge from others. So now I'm back to rekindle my love and learn all over again.

[PeeJay]

Odd thought process but understandable in the circumstances, welcome back and glad to hear you're recovered

[Mark3142]

I could see no other reason for the stroke. Fairly fit, 45 yr old, no family history etc etc. So the only external influence was the cigar. Made sense then but looking back, it was a daft assumption .
just want to restock the humidor now and get back to enjoying cigars

[Budgie Smuggler]

Welcome back Mark.

My older brother is a personal trainer and teaches martial arts, has a resting heart rate in the high 40's but, like you, had a stroke 5 months ago.

They think the cause may have been the removal of a wisdom tooth, just goes to show these things can happen to anyone.

Best of luck with your continued recovery [emoji106]


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[Mark3142]

Thank you. I was lucky, if you can call it lucky. I had a clot on the brain rather than a bleed. It's the better sort of stroke to have, if there is a better sort???

[cj121]

Welcome back mark and good to hear that you're on the better side of that ordeal

[Mark3142]

Many thanks.

Never been so scared. Even after 24yrs in the Army, this was the scariest thing to of ever happened to me. Probably because I had no control over it.

[Simon Bolivar]

Hi Mark & welcome back! Whilst we are all pleased to see you back, I will be the one to raise a note of caution. Writing as a Medic& one who is currently studying including heart attacks & strokes; your initial fear that the C.V.A. may have been related may not have been unfounded. And whether is was a factor, however small; the risk of it possibly causing a future stroke should be carefully considered. Basically smoking makes the platelets sticky & more likely to form a clot. I would send these links by PM but as you do not have them I just suggest you read these, do some more research on your own & then consider if the risk of a further C.V.A. is worth the pleasure of an occasional cigar.

I have nursed many stroke victims & seen the effects on their families. Your were lucky this time but unless the cause of the clot was found (high cholesterol, heart arrhythmias, cardiovascular disease ect) & treated, a future C.V.A. outcome could be far more serious.

Personally if I had a heart condition I might still have the occasional smoke & risk a sudden fatal event but I would give up if I had a C.V.A., to avoid the risk of being left partially or severely disabled, greatly affecting the quality of my life & a burden to my family.

You are an adult & are free to make your own decisions, all I advise is that you carefully consider it & make an informed choice. Either way I won't mention this again & appreciate this isn't what you were looking for when you posted but we must accept our actions have consequences & sometimes they may effect those we love for many years to come.
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/...432Conclusions These results suggest that smoking-enhanced platelet thrombosis may be an important contributory mechanism for acute coronary events in smokers that is not prevented by aspirin treatment. Catecholamine release and heightened platelet aggregation response to in vivo agonists may contribute to the prothrombotic effects of smoking.https://consumer.healthday.com/senio...ubmed/15247989

[Mark3142]

Simon

Many thanks for your words of wisdom. I'll post in open as I don't have PM's yet. When I had the stroke, my wife called for the ambulance and I was in A&E within 1hr of the stroke starting. Had a CT scan, MRI scan within another hour. Sent to recovery room to recouperate. Given 300mg aspirin to thin the blood. Was sent home 4hrs later.
Was called to see the stoke clinic the next day. Another CT and MRI. All clear nothing to report. So had a 7 heart rate monitor thing attached to my chest. Came back all clear. So was then asked to attend hospital for a "bubble test" felt very strange but that came back all clear.
I do have slightly high cholesterol. Currently taking Clopidigril and lipitor. (I think) 1 tablet daily of each.
No signs or symptoms since. Hence me waiting almost 12 months before I came back. So I have an empty humidor but a need to have a cigar. I'm working in Bath tomorrow and I know there is a small cigar shop tucked away so might have to go find it. Even if it's to just have a look and dream

[Simon Bolivar]

So I am guessing they classed it as a T.I.A. as thst's a stroke were the effects last longer than 24hrs. That's a lot less serious than a full blown C.V.A. Some people who have T.I.A. never have another one, others do & they can be a precursor of a more serious event. However, as you have had all the tests & all appears normal, hopefully you will have no more problems. But still something to keep in the back of your mind. So couple ofbpractical tips: carry a 300mg asprin in your wallet & slowly chew at first sign of a new problem, which can be fairly minir or dramatic e.g. my mother suddenly lost vison in her right eye for several hrs; secondly get an S.O.S. bracelet & put inside date of previous T.I.A. & current meds. This will hopefully save time & quicken response from first aider/ paramedic that might find you if you collapse or can't comminicate. Hopefully you'll find it reassuring to wear it, after such a scary event ;0)

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[Mark3142]

Can you biuy 300mg aspirin? Never seen them anywhere. Yes TIA, couldn't think of the name so I just say minor stroke. People seem to understand that more than TIA. Hadn't thought about an SOS bracelet but will look into it.
Bizarrely during my issue, I first lost use of my right arm, then my face drooped, and finally my speech. That was the worst part. The arm and face didn't phase me, but losing speech was so scary. I don't mind admitting it, I cried from fear. In all of this my wife was superb. She had completed a 3 day first aid course several years ago and remembered the symptoms, but I'm a first aid instructor and didn't recognise the signs and symptoms in myself. But then I suppose self diagnosis is always hard.

[Simon Bolivar]

Sure sounds scary to me too! Glad you're wife was up to speed. Here's the link, best 55p you will ever spend!http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Aspiri...blets_1178966/

[TheMonk]

Welcome back once again, mate!

[Mark3142]

Welcome back once again, mate!

Thank you. Just spent the last 1/2hour looking at your stock of cigars. Looks like you have more than my local cigar shop

[Johnny Thunder]

Welcome back Mark.