TIA

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My mother (age 59) has had several TIA's in the last few years.  She went to the doctor about 2 1/2 years ago and they told her there was some blockage in her carotid arteries but not enough to require surgery.  She has not seen a doctor since. (She has no insurance)  Last week she had another TIA.  (My uncle is a doctor and identified it as such)  A couple weeks before this last TIA, I noticed a significant change in her personality.  Since the TIA last week, she has become very depressed.  She is not acting like herself - has forgotten parts of our conversations and loses it emotionally on a daily basis.  

Is a personality change normal before and after a TIA?  Also, could the blockage have become more significant in the last couple of years that would require another trip to the doctor?  Finally, are there other things that could cause these TIAs that she should have checked out?

Any help would be appreciated.  As of now, she refuses to go to the doctor and my family is extremely concerned.