Stroke Like Symtoms, Intermittent Loss of speech & Balance

[Likesjewellry]

About 1 1/2 yrs. ago, I started experiencing, at the age of 49, severe vertigo, visual problems, nausea and left sided weakness. I was tested for everything imaginable, no diagnosis and yet I went from being physically fit and a chef, to bedridden and sleeping 20 hours a day, because of all the gravol I had to take to get some general relief of my symptoms.  

This past February, still holed up in the house, I experienced the normal 'weakness' on my left side but it progressed to total paralysis, inability to speak and inability to swallow.  My husband gave me an aspirin when he realized I couldn't respond to him and took me to the hospital 5 min. from our home.  I was treated as a stroke patient and sent to the downtown Toronto Stroke Centre.  Unfortunately, by the time I arrive by ambulance, (about 3 hrs. later), it was too late to administer the 'stroke buster' shot that was planned.  After about 4 hours, slowly, I began to regain feeling in my left fingers and forearm.  I felt a burning/pins & needles sensation and within that time frame, my speech started coming back, though slurry and jumbled.  I ended up being sent back to my original hospital when in the ambulance, the whole episode started again.  It was like that, back and forth, speaking, drooling, paralysis until the next day around noon.  Again, every test was done (MRI, CT scan), 3 times, looking for the cause.

I am now much better and not needing nearly the amount of gravol that I used to but I cannot drive because I have lost my depth perception, ability to judge speed or distance, and am clumsy.  I walked 5 blocks a few days ago for the first time in 1 1/2 yrs., without staggering and bumping into things beside me.   I am still not able to go into busy stores or large box stores because within about 10 - 15 minutes, I start to develop the vision problems, balance problems and become sick to my stomach.  I can't tell you how this has affected my life.  I have a loving supportive family and good friends, though I don't see people often.  Watching people talk, their hands move, or trying to have a conversation in a large group sets the whole thing off.  I really don't understand any of this.

I am 50 1/2.  I am going through menopause, had some problem with depression after my kids in my thirties, and agreed after thorough testing that perhaps a neuropsychiatrist was an option.  My doctor felt perhaps it is emotionally based.  I agreed because I am willing to expore every avenue.  The doctor I am seeing is wonderful.  My husband comes with me to my sessions which are too far for me to get to on my own, waits for me, consults with the neuro doc and we sit in together and talk about things.  I truly am a happy person at this time in my life.  My girls are grown and successful, my relationship is great and I am basically free of burdens.  What the heck is going on??

Is there anyone out there who has experienced such symptoms?  Right now, I need to go and get gravol, typing this letter has made me sick.  I have taken medicine for migraine but I am still seeing only spots of my screen and have pain in my temples, forehead, base of my neck and general woozy feeling.  When I am like this I would definitely not go out in public.  I would either be down on the ground after losing my balance completely or my field of vision would be moving and making me throw up. I am still suffering from loss of words, memory failure, jumbled words, and stuttering.

Help!

[Likesjewellry]

Hi, Likesjewellry here. I wanted to ask you how you are doing now and has anything changed at all for you? It is difficult to keep up with everyone on this site but the more posts I see, the more I think there is a connection between migraine & fibromyalgia in my case. The symptoms are exactly the same, they have not ceased at all. Life can be pretty depressing but considering all else that could be wrong, I try to see the bright side of things. Let me know how you are doing. Have you gone back to work? Have you taken up any hobbies at all? I am currently working on quilts, some of which are sent to an org. called, 'Quilts of Valour', (I believe there is also a U.S. affiliation), which donates a handmade quilt to an injured soldier returning from Afghanistan. I am also working on a gallery showing in July which will be titled, 'Quilts - Fabric Art', where I will display about 24 of my quilts all of different themes and levels of artistic adventure. They are all useable but definitely not conventional! Anyway, take good care and keep in touch. Terina

[cathyedw123]

I have had migraines since I was 16 years old I am now 27. Every migraine that I have has stroke like symptoms(loss of sight, numbness of half of body, dizziness, loss of speech, severe headaches for days after, and a foggy feeling in my brain). The first time I had an episode I was taken to the emergency room where the doctors gave me shots to get rid of the nausea, this didn't help at all. They did a CAT scan and found nothing wrong. I have linked my migraines to birth control pills and my menstrual cycle that is the only common factors every time that I have a migraine. Only prescription that works for me is MAXALT, but even for days after my migraines i have fatigue, i am very thirsty, and have a headache almost every day for 4 days.  The first time I had a migraine they thought I was having a stroke.  My mom also suffers from migraines but as she has gotten older she doesnt have them as much.

cathy

[europegirl]

Hi,

I know someone who has been having frequent stroke-like episodes.  They occur usually within about a month of each other and have been increasing in severity.  This person is only 22 years old and the episodes involves dizziness, speech difficulty, loss of balance, transient paralysis, and migraines.  He has seen many doctors, including neurologists and none of them have been able to give him an idea of what it could be. He has been to the hospital several times and they said it was possibly a TIA, however, it keeps happening so I was just wondering if maybe you could suggest some things it could possibly be so he can ask his neurologist about it.  It is just really frustrating because everyone he sees diagnoses it as something different so I thought maybe you could help by giving a list of things to look out for.  Also, he just recently had an episode and he was still feeling the effects the day after.  He said that his eye was bothering him.  Anyway I really hope you can help.  Thanks so much.

[mystdragon]

I just had my first episode with the stroke like migraine.  My MRI or MRA i think its called to look at the blood vessels in my head came back with nothing out of the normal.  I ended up in the hospital with very low potassium along with the loss of muscle control in my arms and hands, some leg control.. and the major one.. my speech.  i was able to regain it all once my potassium went up.  speech was the last thing back.  I could think rationally it just wouldnt come out.   They are thinking its migrain related but i dont have migrains.  I have PVC partical ventricular contractions of my heart as well.  I take Norvosac for that and am now on Plavix as well.   I have had Fibromyagia for years now.  I tend to wonder if that is all tied in together.    After this episode I am now really light sensitive, my hands and arms aren't fully back yet along with a killer headache that does not go away... thanks for listening to me ramble.  

Blessed Be  

[moonmaiden]

You might want to get an MRA to determine if you have a severed or dissected vertebral artery.  Follow that up with an ENG test (for vestibular and vision abnormalities).  I have had the same symptoms you describe and that is what happened to me. It took a grand total of 3 years to finally get a diagnosis and confirmation. I even went to John Hopkins Hospital for testing.  Finally, I had a brain MRI that showed that I'd had a stroke.  I was sent to a Neurologist who, fortunately for me, knew exactly what was going on when he looked at my brain MRI.  He looked at me and said, "you should be dead, we usually see this on autopsy".  I was stunned! He asked how it happened. I told him that I had been in police training where I got my neck jerked and was hit in the head at the same time.  The bodily force of the head trauma was very painful and caused me to have a severe headache.  My employer had been paying workers comp for when I was out of work, etc..., but refused to pay for further testing.  I was having to pay out of pocket, and therefore filed a law suit, which was eventually settled. Not a million, but close to six figures, minus attorney fees. However, I am permanently disabled.  

This all took 8 years to get finalized and I continued to work as a patrol officer, driving and dealing with the criminal element, carrying a gun, and taking hydrocodone as well as other medications while trying to survive. My employer was not happy with me taking narcotics and working, but my Neuro doctor told them that they should not have had such hazardous training and should do the right thing or else I was going to keep working until I could no longer tolerate it.  

I learned some ways of compensating, and my co-workers were aware of my limitations, so it worked out ok until one day I became extremely ill.  I am truly a walking miracle, or so the doctors say.  I worked for 8 years after having the stroke due to being struck in the head.  

The first instance where things started to not be done right was when I collapsed and was taken to the ER.  Even though the EMT in the ambulance told me he thought I was having a stroke, The ER doctor did not recognize that I was having a stroke. He did no CT or MRI, even though I had a closed head injury.  I was vomiting, had nystagmus, and loss of bodily functions. All documented by him, but instead of further testing and medication, he referred me to an ENT the next day! Discharged!

Seriously, you must take control of your own health care. I had to do just that in order to get the help that I needed.  Eventually, my symptoms were so bad that I had to retire after 15 years with the police department. I don't know what happned to make my already frequently debilitating symptoms become extraordinarily severe. Perhaps it was the onset of menopause, or the tremendous stress of my job, or that I have had several incidents where I was struck in the face or head since that time. It's part of being an officer.   I am taking cymbalta, diazepam, and hydrocodone for head pain.  I also take a magnesium supplement as well as B vitamins.  I went through months of vestibular therapy. I suffer from dizziness, vertigo, and nystagmus which has become oscillopsia.  I am at a high risk for falls. I gait and balance problems. Vision that is blurred sometimes and others is ok.  I don't drive when I am feeling unsteady.  I have learned many compensating techniques, that's how I kept working so long after the incident, but I don't ever drive or do housework when I am feeling very sick.  

It took me a long time to put all of the puzzle pieces together in order to get compensation from my employer, to quit working, and to get the medications that help me get through the bad days at this time. I've taken other medications, but my current medications, eleminating as much stress as possible, meditation and relaxation, and recognizing my limitations have helped me tremendously.  Keep me posted on your condition. I will let you know if I find out any further information that might help you.

[Likesjewellry]

I am not sure what I said that made a difference for you but I do understand the relief that you feel in finding others who are struggling with these same symptoms. I still can't believe that this is still going on. I think I have improved since the onset, 2 + yrs. ago but I have noticed such muscle atrophy in my body and face from having to be in bed so much and that, in particular, does nothing for my self esteem when you consider I was always so fit, slim and energetic! Sometimes I think I could handle some, (not all), of the symptoms better if I could just get out and exercise more. If I could walk six blocks on my own, spend 20 minutes on the treadmill without falling over, or do some yoga...anything to get the blood flowing that won't start the cycle of balance loss, nausea, visual interferences/loss, super sensitivity to light/noise, etc. Yes, lets keep in touch. I wonder how many people have lost such huge chunks of their lives to this phantom illness that doctors really want to call, 'depression', 'trauma repression', anything other than, 'brain disorder'. I will keep searching for a professional here who is willing to explore other avenues than psychiatric counselling for the results of living with this. In the meantime, I have once again taken up my sketch pencils and paints, which I can do in bed, and remembered that I have some talent there. So, I draw when I can, read when I can, sleep a lot because of the gravol and sit and admire the flowers in my garden. My life in a nutshell. Take care Jazzy!     ps. how old are you?? is this also a midlife situation for you?