Re: Can hole in heart cause tingling and numbness?

Posted By Beverly on August 03, 1999 at 14:06:54
I have been dx with a patent foramen ovale. I have multiple white dots on my MRI,most on left , few on right. Surgery has been advised. Suffer from severe migraines. I am getting tingling and numbness on my left side of face, lip, arm, hand, and now my tongue. It has become pretty regular over the last few months. My doctor said it is probaly due to the blood crossing over in my heart. Echo showed PFO with blood crossing even at rest.
I notice when I am rsting or sleeping and first awake there are no symptoms , but within 1/2 hour of waking and moving around the house it begins.  I have read on this forum that the hole in the heart will not cause this. My doctor says it will. i do not have a right to left shunt.
1. Can the hole in my hart be causing this tingling in numbness only on the left side?
2. I have felt 2 stabbing pains to the left side of my head in the last week that took my breath away, and increased the symptoms, does that mean I am getting worse or that it was a clot. It has made me very nervous. I am taking aspirin per my doctor, what else can I do?
3.Does blood flowing across even at rest mean it is a large PFO, and will it go away (tingling after the surgery?
4. Is it okay to do strength training with light weights?
Thank you your advice, One of the sharp pains to my head was while I was driving with my kids, it disoriented me for a few minutes, I am afraid to drive with them in the car. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on August 03, 1999 at 14:22:56
Dear Bev,
I'm not sure a PFO can explain all of your symptoms but given the MRI and echo findings I would agree with your doctor that the PFO needs to be closed. You are probably getting small blood clots going across the PFO to your brain and this can certainly cause some of the symptoms you describe.  It's hard to say if surgery will relieve all of your symptoms.  You may be a candidate for a closure device that can be put in through a leg vein without requiring open heart surgery.  Your doctor can advise you on the weight training.
Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.











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