annabelle96

I keep trying to answer your email, but either I don't know how this email works or mine is not working correctly.  I'm sorry.  I wouldn't want you to think I was ignoring your email.  Here is the answer:

A TIA is a transient ischemic attack.  It happens when blood flow is reduced to the brain.  I actually had what is called an amarousis fugax in which all or part of the vision of one eye is blacked out (I just had a little blacked out).  It's painless and usually lasts from a few seconds to a few hours.  Mine lasted only seconds.  It can be caused by a tiny blood clot from one of the carotid arteries or from a tiny blood clot from the heart.  That's why I'm having the echo and the carotid duplex.  I'm on 81 mg. aspirin daily because TIAs can be the first warning sign of a stroke, though a stroke doesn't always follow one.  A lot of people have TIAs and never have a stroke and have a healthy heart and clean carotid arteries.  An amarousis fugax can also be caused by a vasospasm in the eye due
to a change in posture, bright lights, temporary low blood pressure, and cocaine use (I've never used illegal drugs, I feel bad enough on my own. LOL).

My doctor says he expects normal results and I hope he's right. :)  I hope I just had a vasospasm.  That's bad enough.