Make sure your doctors checked the carotid artery which has had an endarterectomy on it - as that is the only artery she now depends on. Sometimes it can close off rapidly after endarterectomy and may need to be checked out, especially since she's having symptoms again. Sounds like she's having more symptoms now than she did beforehand? That is concerning. But if her carotid on the left side is ok then you should look for other explanations. Make sure her blood pressures don't drop too much. Also, if she's on Coumadin (is that what you mean by blood thinners?) and keeps falling all the time - that is not a good combination at all.
Ultimately, she may just need some more rehab but you should generally try to take TIAs seriously - someone should try to offer a good explanation as to why this is happenning so much.
A TIA is very serious and should not be taken lightly. If stroke syptoms occur you only have 3 hours to get family to the hospital for tPA to be used, if it ends up being a stroke. Maybe you should talk to a different doctor. You can also go online to http://www.strokeassociation.org for more info. Or find a website where you can get adive from an MD that specialized in stroke to give you the info that you need. Good luck!
Thanks for the replies. She is in the hospital right now. We were hoping we could bring her home today, however the doctor stated that she needed to keep her an extra night in order for her to qualify for an in patient rehab facility inside of the hospital. Turns out, now they don't have a bed, but because that is what they recommended, they cannt release her until tomorrow, even though she won't be getting into the program! Go figure! She has not fallen or had anymore TIAS while in the hospital. Someone at one point stated that these TIAs are actually a cast off from the initial stroke that occurred on March 6, not as a result of anything "new" going on. Is this true? also, that these sort of things wax and wane...could have several in a week and none again for a year! ALso, that there are more the first couple of weeks after a stroke and that then they quiet down. If you know of any articles regarding this, I would love to read them. I just began searching and that is how I found this forum. Thanks, Carol
I would take the TIA's very seriously. My mother at 87 years old had a TIA, (she probably had several previous), but this one slurred her speech...it resolved. The next day, she had a major stroke that affected 70 percent of her brain. Today, 4 years later, she is still right side paralyzed and cannot speak at all. It has been a nightmare. My recommendation is get another opinion and take the TIA's very seriously. Don't listen to the Doc's that say "don't worry about them and don't bring her in" That is B.S.
I had a stroke 8 weeks ago and its scary because you think you are going to have another one at any time. The medical staff dont really help you. I dont mean to be cynical but you are just a number among other numbers!
I stopped crying after 4 weeks and slept better. (I always feared I was going to die). I make sure I have protein at every meal, fruit, vegetables (cant have some of them because of blood thinners), drink 2 litres of water every day, avoid sugary foods at all cost (it become an type of acid in your brain that doesnt help with healing process) and try to walk. Although, walking is a problem because of the dizziness, ringing in the ears and headache.
How is your mother doing now?