Aa
TIAs
Hi, for a year now i have been having these "episodes" firstly it started with visual disturbance, and unable to maintain balance while i was driving my head/body kept falling to the left as if i was going to hit the passenger seat which i almost did, then few months later i kept getting visual disturbances and balance was total off walking into walls, doorways almost like i was drunk, an my concentration was awful driving thru traffic lights completely not knowing wat i was doing, then the third time was worst visual disturbances, severe headache on a scale of 1 to 10 it was a 10, feeling awful again drunk like slurring words, confusion and then this really loud explosion in my head? is anyone else had any of these experiences? Doc told me could be TIAs though i feel some of the symptoms are lasting 5 to 20 mins but dizziness an drunk feeling lasting longer? i am 36 yrs old and have high cholestrol 8.4, but blood pressure normal? HELP
Hi shaza04,
I haven't posted since the latter part of April. I hope you're finding some medical answers to the blood work being done. One of the residual symptoms I seem to still experience since my TIA in late February is feeling rather tired a good bit of the time. I had my annual physical with my internist last week, and all of my blood tests, etc. came back great. My physician still is perplexed as to why I had the TIA, since the MRI, etc. showed no physical causations. The xanaz I'm taking at night helps with a good night's sleep but the next day I don't have the energy I've usually had before the TIA. Maybe I'm just getting older since I'll be 77 in October and that naturally brings some loss of energy. Too, I'm feeling the need to cut back on some of my community involvements and trimming those down some. Good luck and best wishes to you as you get further medical results
known. tomcat626
I haven't posted since the latter part of April. I hope you're finding some medical answers to the blood work being done. One of the residual symptoms I seem to still experience since my TIA in late February is feeling rather tired a good bit of the time. I had my annual physical with my internist last week, and all of my blood tests, etc. came back great. My physician still is perplexed as to why I had the TIA, since the MRI, etc. showed no physical causations. The xanaz I'm taking at night helps with a good night's sleep but the next day I don't have the energy I've usually had before the TIA. Maybe I'm just getting older since I'll be 77 in October and that naturally brings some loss of energy. Too, I'm feeling the need to cut back on some of my community involvements and trimming those down some. Good luck and best wishes to you as you get further medical results
known. tomcat626
Hi everyone, update on 2nd visit to neuro, still no answer from neuro, got more blood tests for isoenzymes to find which part of me is culprit for the high CK levels, have been taken off all meds to determiine whether this is the cause and therfore they cant treat my Cholestrol as meds would affect these levels too! So rountine bloodtests for 2mths till my body is clear from current medication!!
Thanx so much 2 all of u for ur care and support if i get any other updates i will b sure to post them
shaza
Thanx so much 2 all of u for ur care and support if i get any other updates i will b sure to post them
shaza
hi just to go bac on wat i said bout waiting 4 wks on lab work, hospital called just after i posted my previous msg and i now got to go bac thurs am as it is urgent Creatine levels in the blood are abnormally high and they need me to come bac to see the neurologist anyone any ideas y??
shaza
shaza
Hi everyone, just to say hi and thankyou for all your support over last few months, much appreciated. outcome of my neurology appt yesterday was ECG was perfect, Carotid arteries Perfect, had bloods done tho will be bout 4 wks before i get results, diagnosis occular mirgraines, but cant explain dizzy/lightheads! Anyway glad in a way that i have got the all clear but still i feel i wasnt given chance to explain all of my symptoms, was more focused on visual problems and how long they lasted. Maybe i will go to emergency room the next time i have an episode just to b on the safe side. Thanku all again for your care and support.
shaza
shaza
Hi Shaza04,
Please keep us appraised after you've had your visit to the neurologist. The symptom of the struggle to understand what's being said when a group of 2-3 people are talking with
you sounds so similar to the sudden lack of any clarity I could get when the TIA hit me.Although lasting for about 5 minutes then, I still have some difficulty in hearing clearly
and understanding what's being said now. It certainly is exhausting and one of the major fears I have is not knowing how and when I'll ever "recover." I find that currently my meditation practice helps some with the stress of it all, in addition to the xanax. I go back to my internist on May 12 for a follow-up visit and to one of the hospital neurologists for followup the first part of June.
Again, best wishes and support,
tomcat626
Please keep us appraised after you've had your visit to the neurologist. The symptom of the struggle to understand what's being said when a group of 2-3 people are talking with
you sounds so similar to the sudden lack of any clarity I could get when the TIA hit me.Although lasting for about 5 minutes then, I still have some difficulty in hearing clearly
and understanding what's being said now. It certainly is exhausting and one of the major fears I have is not knowing how and when I'll ever "recover." I find that currently my meditation practice helps some with the stress of it all, in addition to the xanax. I go back to my internist on May 12 for a follow-up visit and to one of the hospital neurologists for followup the first part of June.
Again, best wishes and support,
tomcat626
hi, thanku for your post it has been really helpful. I totally agree with the emotional after effects, i have been experiencing similar symptoms. Although i am not having panic attacks i do have a sense of overwhelming i feel when i am in a group of more than 2 people. i have never had such symptoms prior to my episodes i love my friends and being out there among people, but lately all that has changed, i feel i cant deal in a group of people i get the feeling that they are all talking to me at once (even though they are not) and i cant understand any of them, it just seems too much to deal with and i find it hard to cope with. if i talk to one person at a time i can understand them, but if there are two or three persons i hear words and my brain just cant process what they are saying and because of this my brain doesnt take it in and im am lost about what they have said??
I really did think I was suffering from exhaustion and stil do a bit but i hope the neuro had some answers for me as i just feel totally lost and all these changes to the way i perceive things are really scarring me! Although im not absolutely sure that i have suffered a TIA but do agree that the after effects are just as important as the initial episode, and should therefore be of as much concern. I hope that you dont feel as alone as i do right now and i hope that soon your are able to go back into the public.
God Bless and keep in touch please as the more information i can go into the neuro with the better picture i can give to him. I would not have even thought of mentioning those after-effect symptoms but not i will after reading your post.
Thanx again and keep well.
Shaza
I really did think I was suffering from exhaustion and stil do a bit but i hope the neuro had some answers for me as i just feel totally lost and all these changes to the way i perceive things are really scarring me! Although im not absolutely sure that i have suffered a TIA but do agree that the after effects are just as important as the initial episode, and should therefore be of as much concern. I hope that you dont feel as alone as i do right now and i hope that soon your are able to go back into the public.
God Bless and keep in touch please as the more information i can go into the neuro with the better picture i can give to him. I would not have even thought of mentioning those after-effect symptoms but not i will after reading your post.
Thanx again and keep well.
Shaza
My best wishes to you in your upcoming appt with the neurologist. I would encourage anyone who might have even the barest symptoms of a TIA, for instance, to seek consultation. I am 76 years old, retired, have been a picture of good health for years
(no blood pressure issues, good cholestorol, walk 2 miles daily, etc.). Two months ago, while leading a discussion with 25 persons in an educational event, all of a sudden my vision got cloudy, I couldn't get my thoughts together, I couldn't understand the words people were saying to me, even the page numbers on top of pages for my notes made no sense, and felt disconnected from the folks in the room. This lasted for about 5 minutes
(though feeling like 5 weeks!), and then my vision cleared up and my thoughts got clearer.
Some people in the group later said they thought I had just lost my place. But I knew deep inside of me that something dreadfully unusual had just happened to me. Afterwards, I I remained tired, a little bit shaky for the rest of the day, and sorta dumbfounded about what had taken place. The next morning I called my internist and his office told me to go to the emergency room of the hospital. The ER folks examined me and immediately said I had had a TIA (the so-called "mini-stroke"). I was in the hospital for 3 days while all of the
usual tests were conducted (MRI, CT-scan, catorids, etc.). There were no predetermined causes found--blood pressure great, etc. Yet, I had suffered a TIA. What caused it, I don't yet know. I do feel that I had a slight sense of elevated stress but nothing unusual at the point that the attack hit me in my educational presentation in the group. Since that time, I have felt depressed at times, sleep unsettled, etc. Most of the literature indicates that in contrast to a stroke, a TIA victim returns to "normal." And there is little material concerning the emotional after-effects of a TIA. I have come to believe there are many
after-effects and they need much research attention. For instance, I began having symptoms of panic attacks especially in sleep disturbance or facing the prospect of going to a public meeting. Nearly 30 years ago, I experienced a period where I had some panic attacks, but eventually through meditation and stress reduction (and without medication)
they diminished. Now,30 years later, some of the strong symptoms have returned. For
instance, I have almost suffered PTSD in thinking about returning to the classroom
space where I suffered the TIA. My internist thankfully has prescribed some xanax for me
and what a difference that has made mainly in my getting good sleep. I hardly take the
xanax during the daytime unless needed. About 2 weeks ago, I came down with a sinus
infection (antibotics, antihistimine) and am now just emerging from those physical
symptoms. It was difficult to separate my need for the TIA recovery from the ordeal of the sinus infection symptoms. But I'm not getting much better in that awareness.
All of this is to share with you that I feel that any consultation dealing with possiblilites of TIAs and fear of strokes is well worth it! Also, I'm interested in the issue of TIA recovery dreadully needing more research attention and medical awareness. Thank goodness, my internist seems to understand. And I'm interested if anybody else out there in our
stroke community has suffered anything similar to my experience--where just out of the blue and amidst rather good health and no pretermined physical causes has gotten struck
with the hellish matter of a TIA--which I have come to believe does not easily get one
quickly back to "normall" (whatever that is).
Please know of my support for you in your upcoming consultation.
tomcat626
(no blood pressure issues, good cholestorol, walk 2 miles daily, etc.). Two months ago, while leading a discussion with 25 persons in an educational event, all of a sudden my vision got cloudy, I couldn't get my thoughts together, I couldn't understand the words people were saying to me, even the page numbers on top of pages for my notes made no sense, and felt disconnected from the folks in the room. This lasted for about 5 minutes
(though feeling like 5 weeks!), and then my vision cleared up and my thoughts got clearer.
Some people in the group later said they thought I had just lost my place. But I knew deep inside of me that something dreadfully unusual had just happened to me. Afterwards, I I remained tired, a little bit shaky for the rest of the day, and sorta dumbfounded about what had taken place. The next morning I called my internist and his office told me to go to the emergency room of the hospital. The ER folks examined me and immediately said I had had a TIA (the so-called "mini-stroke"). I was in the hospital for 3 days while all of the
usual tests were conducted (MRI, CT-scan, catorids, etc.). There were no predetermined causes found--blood pressure great, etc. Yet, I had suffered a TIA. What caused it, I don't yet know. I do feel that I had a slight sense of elevated stress but nothing unusual at the point that the attack hit me in my educational presentation in the group. Since that time, I have felt depressed at times, sleep unsettled, etc. Most of the literature indicates that in contrast to a stroke, a TIA victim returns to "normal." And there is little material concerning the emotional after-effects of a TIA. I have come to believe there are many
after-effects and they need much research attention. For instance, I began having symptoms of panic attacks especially in sleep disturbance or facing the prospect of going to a public meeting. Nearly 30 years ago, I experienced a period where I had some panic attacks, but eventually through meditation and stress reduction (and without medication)
they diminished. Now,30 years later, some of the strong symptoms have returned. For
instance, I have almost suffered PTSD in thinking about returning to the classroom
space where I suffered the TIA. My internist thankfully has prescribed some xanax for me
and what a difference that has made mainly in my getting good sleep. I hardly take the
xanax during the daytime unless needed. About 2 weeks ago, I came down with a sinus
infection (antibotics, antihistimine) and am now just emerging from those physical
symptoms. It was difficult to separate my need for the TIA recovery from the ordeal of the sinus infection symptoms. But I'm not getting much better in that awareness.
All of this is to share with you that I feel that any consultation dealing with possiblilites of TIAs and fear of strokes is well worth it! Also, I'm interested in the issue of TIA recovery dreadully needing more research attention and medical awareness. Thank goodness, my internist seems to understand. And I'm interested if anybody else out there in our
stroke community has suffered anything similar to my experience--where just out of the blue and amidst rather good health and no pretermined physical causes has gotten struck
with the hellish matter of a TIA--which I have come to believe does not easily get one
quickly back to "normall" (whatever that is).
Please know of my support for you in your upcoming consultation.
tomcat626
Thanx susancm, i have an appt with neurologist on 9th May, and hopefully i wil get some answers. Hope ur r ok? Im 36 yrs old and never even thought of it being TIA/Stroke, tho after reading some posts on this forum i now realise they can happen to anyone of any age! Im just scared right now an i think its more to do with not knowing. Tho i hav suffered headaches in the past i have never had kaleidoscope vision thing and not being able to walk in a straight line or even sit upright tho the vision and part of the balnce was short lived but since my vision i ok but my balance is still off an my memory is awful things i hav been doing on a routine basis for the last 16 yrs im forgetting i just feel how has this happened. Anyway thanku so much for ur reply an i wil keep u updated with my outcome from neuro. Thanku.
Shaza04
Shaza04
Hi shaza04,
I've read that anytime symptoms last more than 24 hours, it's a full blown stroke. I know of people who had negative test results, (MRI, CT) and made multiple visits to the ER before they were actually diagnosed even though they were symptomatic.
If it were me, knowing what I know now, I wouldn't wait; being stubborn in this case might mean the difference between life-long disability and total recovery.
I was 36 when I had my stroke; no warning, "normal" cholesterol and BP, there are many survivors much younger than that.
Please take care of yourself,
susancm
I've read that anytime symptoms last more than 24 hours, it's a full blown stroke. I know of people who had negative test results, (MRI, CT) and made multiple visits to the ER before they were actually diagnosed even though they were symptomatic.
If it were me, knowing what I know now, I wouldn't wait; being stubborn in this case might mean the difference between life-long disability and total recovery.
I was 36 when I had my stroke; no warning, "normal" cholesterol and BP, there are many survivors much younger than that.
Please take care of yourself,
susancm
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