Background and aims: Stroke symptoms vary and could be hard to recognize. In addition, stroke severity has decreased according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NISSH), with less pronounced symptoms expression. Knowledge on the patient’s description of stroke symptoms is therefore needed. The aim was to describe patient’s symptoms at stroke onset.

Methods: A qualitative content analysis was used. Data were collected through individual interviews with 27 patients (16 men and 11 women, median age 70.4 years). All patients were hospitalized with a first-time stroke. The interviews were conducted within 4 weeks of symptoms onset and before hospital discharge.

Results: All patients had symptoms that affected their daily life. Some patients described having multiple symptoms at the same time, others had symptoms that began insidiously and worsened over time. Symptoms such as overwhelming fatigue or nausea were described as Premonition of becoming ill, feeling unwell or that something was wrong. Motoric bodily changes were multifaceted as slurred speech or dizziness, balance difficulties and losing control of the body or motor dysfunction. But also, that the surroundings were distorted, and solid objects moved around. Symptoms of Dazed and affected senses included confusion and visual impairment or headache.

Conclusions: Stroke is a complex disease with several different symptoms’ expressions and could be difficult to recognize, especially when symptoms are less typical or perceived as not serious. Increased awareness of stroke symptoms among caregivers and among members of the community is important and needed.