When I was first told I might have had a “mini-stroke,” I found the term oddly reassuring. Mini sounds manageable. Small. Less serious. Like something you can shrug off and bounce back from.
But as I soon discovered, there’s nothing “mini” about the impact of a TIA—medically or emotionally. In fact, the label itself can be dangerously misleading.
A Diagnosis I Might Never Have Known
When I was wheelchaired out of work and ended up in A&E, the hospital eventually discharged me with a diagnosis of an “unexplained syncope episode.” Fainting, in other words. I was sent home with instructions to see my GP the next day.
I reflected on this a few weeks later. Had I known that syncope was just a fancy name for fainting, would I have gone to see the doc the next day? The answer was a resounding yes—because I was sufficiently scared by what had happened.
I understand what the A&E doctor said and why he said it. Accident & Emergency were extremely overstretched that day—probably like they are every day. As I was taken to the CT scan area, I was wheeled past patients on beds in the corridors waiting for spaces to open up on the wards.
In my opinion, the A&E doctor wasn’t abrogating his duty or trying to move me on to free up space—he was doing the right thing by referring me for further assessment.
I truly value the fact that my GP wasn’t satisfied with the unexplained fainting diagnosis. He could have been. After all, like all doctors, he had a multitude of patients to see. But instead, he made an immediate referral to the stroke clinic, where the team reviewed my case and, with 99% certainty, diagnosed a TIA—later confirmed by MRI and heart monitor.
So, What Is a TIA?
TIA stands for Transient Ischaemic Attack. It’s often called a “mini-stroke” because it mimics many of the symptoms of a full stroke—dizziness, vision problems, confusion, difficulty speaking or walking—but the blockage that causes it is temporary.
It clears itself, often within minutes or hours, leaving no permanent damage.
And that’s the dangerous part: because the symptoms pass, people may assume they’re fine.
But here’s the thing: a TIA is a warning stroke. It’s your brain saying, “Something is wrong. Take this seriously.”
According to the NHS, around 1 in 5 people who have a TIA will go on to have a full stroke within the next 90 days—many within just 48 hours.
“Mini” Doesn’t Mean Minor
I wish we had a different name for it. Calling it a “mini-stroke” makes it sound like something that doesn’t require much attention. A blip. A scare, but not a threat.
But the reality is that a TIA is a medical emergency.
It took me weeks to understand just how serious it had been—and how lucky I was that my GP insisted on further investigation. I still often reflect on this: what if I’d just carried on? What if I hadn’t followed up?
I keep coming back to how scared I was by it. Overthinking can be a curse.
The Emotional Impact
I knew, deep down, that something wasn’t right that day. My body had felt disconnected from my mind. I’d slumped at my desk. I couldn’t hold my head up. I remember trying to answer a colleague’s football-related banter and the words just… faded away.
Then there was the nausea, the vomiting, and the crushing fatigue.
The emotional impact at the time was huge. And to this day, there are still aftershocks, as well as residual suffering on this level. More on that next time.
Warning Signs You Should Never Ignore
If you’ve had any combination (or all) of the following symptoms—even if they disappeared within minutes—please don’t write them off:
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance
- Blurred or double vision
- Confusion or trouble understanding speech
- Slurred speech or trouble finding the right words
- Weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg—especially on one side
- Sudden severe headache
These symptoms may seem to pass. But the risk hasn’t.
A Wake-Up Call, Not a Close Call
For me, this was a line in the sand. A before and after. I didn’t have a full stroke—but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a stroke. It was a chance to stop, reassess, and pay attention to the warning signs my body had been giving me.
Next time, I’ll talk more about stress—and how, despite being healthy and active, I believe it played a major role in pushing my body over the edge.
If you’ve experienced something similar—or if you’ve ever brushed off symptoms because they didn’t “seem serious”—I hope this post helps you look again.
You are the expert in your own body. Don’t leave anything to chance—seek expert advice.
In my case, I was grateful to my work friends and the emergency services for getting me hastily to a hospital. If I had been at home on my own, it may have been a completely different story.
I’ll leave it there—before I start overthinking again.
Ronnie xx
