"Diagnosis Experience with Atypical Stroke"

In 2024 after falling down at home, I went to my medical clinic and saw the doctor on duty. The doctor, suspecting a stroke, told me and my wife to go to Chinook Regional Hospital's (CHR) Emergency Department. 

At CHR a CT Scan and functional tests of extremities (arms, legs) were completed. Nothing showed up on the CT scan and I was able to complete all tests satisfactorily. Discussion took place about new medication I had started and the attending Emergency Physician thought a reaction to the medication caused me to fall down, and I was discharged.

Again in 2024 after falling at home and experiencing right hemiparesis, my wife called 911 and I was transported to CHR Emergency. A CT scan was done again without any abnormalities. After consulting with the Stroke Team in Calgary, a decision was made to do an MRI, which showed that I suffered a lacunar-infarct in the corona radiata (ischemic stroke). I spent the next 4 months at St. Michael's PARP (Post-acute rehabilitation) followed by 12 weeks of outpatient rehab at Bridges downtown clinic. I'm now exercising and rehabbing on my own at a local gym while navigating the red tape to get my driver's license back, and fighting to get right side function and balance back.

A concern I sent to the Head of Emergency (at CHR) was met with the an apparent excuse that it would have taken 3 days before an MRI could be done and that everything was done according to their protocols.

From looking into this further, I found some other options like Angiograms or MRI's, which could be considered to be standard procedure, along with a course of  medications may have prevented this stroke and it's subsequent expense and suffering from occurring.

I feel standard procedures/ protocols must be changed where it's unknown or suspected a stroke may be in progress to exactly diagnose what the problem is. This will allow for rapid response treatment, thereby saving thousands of dollars in Post Acute Rehab Costs, and prolonged patients' suffering.