

  All Discussions  |  

  Welcome Post  |  

  SIG's Charter  |  

  Direct Messages  |   

  Categories  |  

  How-To(Forum)

Work in progress

Simon

Andrew

I am very firmly against FAST

You have highlighted some of the reasons why.

There is a a thread here that is a tiny reproduction of what was a huge one before the stroke association deleted it about the inadequacies of fast as shown by the average #StrokeThrivers experiences.
Anecdotally it’s reliable about 15% of the time and that may be overstating it’s reliability it’s misleading in ambiguous cases about 10% of the time and completely bad guidance in approximately 60% of cases that cause acquired brain injury. One can only speculate how many cases there are where a better understanding of observations would lead to diagnosis of risk such that a future stroke would be avoided

The stroke association stands firmly as a barrier to improvement here with multiple press statements and other actively unhelpful actions

It’s an irony that they suck up the donations on the basis of having an objective to reduce both the occurrence and the impact of stroke yet they continue to create the situation that increases the number of constituents they represent - a Trumpian behaviour perhaps?

Ciao
Simon

Andrew

Simon If 15% is true, that is truly appalling. It’s a good job at at least some paramedics have a longer list than FAST represents, and even BEFAST. However, the general public treats FAST like gospel and few know even that. The ads featuring Vinny Jones and the Staying Alive theme for cardiac arrests is very effective, is taught a lot, and used by many. Is there the same for strokes, or is it more difficult to diagnose or deal with?

Nige

Andrew this might not be the norm but if there is only a bit of doubt and BP is sky high, why couldn’t a paramedic take action to bring it under control when they first see you ?
Don’t wait until someone is at the hospital to act, presumably in that ambulance journey, no one is going to relax much in that environment, get the bp down asap, even if it’s just by 10%.
That journey time is more chance of damage arising ?

Simon

Andrew
FAST is positioned in the adds as complete and reliable. If an overview of what is indicative of cause for concern the false positives would further stress the Health service at a&e/ GP level and highly improved many lives & reduce chronic care / service needs

There’s some politics in the changed messaging

IMHO changing is a no brainer but the Stroke Association and the NHS are blockers to an improved message 🙁

Ciao
Simon

Andrew

Nige Who knows what was going on? Hopefully good procedures were followed. Despite the very high BP, it was the nystagmus (noticed by my wife who is experienced with neuro kids and me, rather than by the paramedics) that really decided it. However, I was blues and twos’ed to hospital and suitable things were done. I have little idea how long such an ambulance takes to go from Warmley to Southmead, or if we had a logjam of rugby injuries there when we arrived! But I am still around and thriving now. And while certain aspects could have been done better, or more knowledgeably, I can’t really complain very much. It’s where we go from here that is important. Thanks for the thoughts, Nige.

Andrew

Nige Actually the BP was a bit of a problem. It took a few days to get it down properly. They even fitted a drain, akin to hydrocephalus, and I looked somewhat ood-like (Dr Who reference!). This was to relieve the pressure on the brain. But I didn’t even know of the existence of the drain until the doctor came a few weeks later to remove it. Now, 15 months later, I can still see where it was, a dent on the forehead which no-one bizarrely talks about, but the hole in the skull has almost completely healed. I wish that I had taken a photo!

Andrew

Simon I agree totally. These entities dare not do anything but follow the recommendations of NICE, as far as I am aware. I reckon that NICE is responsible for all of this. Perhaps I am wrong, perhaps I am right. It will take a huge issue to change views, though.

Ruthy

Perhaps there are a couple of barriers - not wanting to stray from NICE recommendations and not knowing what quick help slogan or instruction would cover all pointers. There are too many medical issues that might potentially lead to stroke - migraine, pfo, high BP, high cholesterol.and other things no doubt.
I’m not disagreeing with you all in that the FAST slogan doesn’t help a lot of people at risk of stroke, I just wonder what message could be put out there.
I was classic FAST, with low BP, low bad cholesterol, but suffered from migraine and pfo.
Which leads me nicely onto the poll I think you did @simon on here asking what symptoms did people have before their stroke, I had said I’d do a poll on Instagram but for that I need an email address (which I created) I also needed a logo (I can use the one on here if you can send it me or one that I did, then I could do a poll - does SIG have an FB account? I have a feeling as they’re linked I might need one, which is fine.
What we’re the result of the poll on here BTW?

Ruthy

I also think there are too many old schoolers on these boards who either can’t be bothered to change or are just so set in there ways.

Andrew

Ruthy Not heard of a PFO before! Looked it up, and it’s a new one on me. Doesn’t sound too good, though.

My BP was very high, as was my BMI (in the obese range) and the stress levels, but not really a FAST case at all. Goes to show that we are all quite different!

Ruthy

We are now live on Instagram www.instagram.com/stroke_improvement_group
Let me know if you want to post on it etc I can change logo, BIO, passwords and so on whenever/if ever we need to 😊👍

« Previous Page

Scroll-Me :)\<-&->


  All Discussions  |  

  Welcome Post  |  

  SIG's Charter  |  

  Direct Messages  |   

  Categories  |  

  How-To(Forum)