Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

[joelene_h]

hi all

abby........the surgeon appointment was put back by 8wks, but NL appointment stands, i have waited along time for this, im going to request a Lumber puncure, and full body CT, as CT shows up different things, than MRI,

Shirley....... asprin is good stuff, after an attack i feel the affects for months, and this is the first time i had asprin within 10hrs of an attack, and i havent had the months of crap, so there is something in that,

if asprin makes you feel beta and takes the symptoms away, atleast thats one good thing, i understand how scarey that is for you, i worry everday "is it today that its going to make me paralysed perm, or know me on the floor, i worry alot i have 3kids here, my oldest is 11, ive shown what to do if i fall over and to call an ambulance, i also worry that i will die and they wont know what to do, im here on my own for most of the day when they are at school and kindy, and if anything happens, theres no mummy to pick them up, its sad thinking like that, but i have to think of all avenures, i have colllapse yet, and i pray that i wont.

right carotid artery surgery, might have left some lasting effects, have you spoken to your specialist about it?

mabe another clot has started, have you had a recheck anything in those lines?

joelene

[Zipperhead08]

Jolene,

I am so glad that you are here and are participating in these discussions. I am sorry that your surgeon appt got delayed again, but so happy that you are seeing the NL. When is that appt? Be very careful requesting the lumbar puncture. I didn't know before that this can be very dangerous for people with Chiari/Syringo. Sometimes it is necessary and we have to take the risks, but make sure that this is something that your doctor is confident in doing. CTs do show different things than MRIs. I hope that a CT scan will be helpful in your doctors figuring out what will make you feel better. I just had a CT scan done on Friday. Don't know what is going on with me. Pressure headaches a lot. It may be my shunt and hopefully a simple adjustment will make me feel better!

Love,

Carla

[Christine1]

Hi Joelene. I'm new to this site and came upon your post.

I too had a TIA on Feb. 18, 2011. I was diagnosed with Chiari 1 9mm back in summer 2010. To add insult to injury, I also suffered Bells Palsy and sensory neuropathy. They too sent me home with asprin and a cholest. lowering med. My cholest. wasn't that high, but they said it was part of the stroke protocol. They did check my corotid arteries and they were clear. Not sure if it's Chiari related. They also did an echo on my heart. That too was good. Thank God!

My Chiari however has been getting increasingly worse. My headaches are also there everyday, all day sometimes. Hard to get a handle of. My left shoulder is also frozen and has 2 tears & a cyst in it. Til I have decompression surgery, I can't find an anesthesiologist to do my shoulder surgery. I'm considered high risk. I also have a 2mm brain aneurysm as well. I really got hit hard this past year.

I hope you feel better soon and keep in touch! :)

Christine XO

[Zipperhead08]

Christine,

You are really have had a arough year! I'm glad you are here so that we can offer you support and friendship. When you have these illnesses, it can get very lonely.

Carla

[joelene_h]

hi christine

im soooo sorry you have had to put up with this,

my heart goes out to you,

i think these tias and aneurysm are related to chiari, im no doc, just experience.

what type of cyst do you have in your shoulder?

i hope you feel better, you are not having a good time, and im so sorry, i wish i could take your pain away.

joelene

[joelene_h]

i would just like to add.

when i was in ED, they said TIA, but didnt give me blood thinner there and then, they gave me a scrip for it, it was late at night and no pharmacies open, so how would i get them,,, DONT YOU NORMALLY TAKE BLOOD THINNERS STRAIGHT AWAY, JUST IN CASE.

the more i think about it the more angry i get, you should never wait, lucky i had my own asprin in the capboard, so i took a double dose.

i have never taken the calestorel pills, dont see the point, im also not taking asprin,

joelene

[Christine1]

After a 1/2 hour in ER, they gave me a double dose of asprin and I haven't stopped since. I agree, they should have put you on blood thinners (like asprin) right away! TIA's can glad lead to stroke. I'm glad you're on asprin now as a precaution (dr's orders of course). Asprin isn't right for everyone. Asprin can be a little rough on the tummy, so I'm on Nexium too. I've had alot of heartburn as well. Yeah me!!

My cholest., it was 211 (not high), but since I've been on Zocor, it's now 184, so I guess that's a good thing. I have hereditary high cholest. in my family and it's never been below 200. My HDL & LDL are better numbers too. I guess because high cholest. can lead to stroke, they weren't taking any chances with me. I also have that darn aneurysm too.

As far as my shoulder, it's frozen & I have a glenoid cyst and a labral tear & slight bicep tear. Very painful! I did have surgery for that scheduled back in March, but they cx'd it because of the TIA/Bells. Now, they won't do it at all. High risk because of the Chiari/aneurysm. I may still have an ortho who is willing to do it because my arm is so bad. Thought doing this first before Chiari surgery would poss. eliminate some of the neck pain. Who knows??? The theory was that if I had this done first, I could really make an assessment of my neck pain. Lately though, my symptoms are getting progressively worse and it's NOT from my shoulder, it's from the Chiari. Mornings are tough, I feel nauseous & unsteady right. That's a daily occurence.

I know I'm not unique on this site. I def. don't feel alone anymore. The support is exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you all for your comments, I do appreciate it! :) Christine
joelene hossack said:

i would just like to add.

when i was in ED, they said TIA, but didnt give me blood thinner there and then, they gave me a scrip for it, it was late at night and no pharmacies open, so how would i get them,,, DONT YOU NORMALLY TAKE BLOOD THINNERS STRAIGHT AWAY, JUST IN CASE.

the more i think about it the more angry i get, you should never wait, lucky i had my own asprin in the capboard, so i took a double dose.

i have never taken the calestorel pills, dont see the point, im also not taking asprin,

joelene

[joelene_h]

hi christine

i stopped the asprin, the doc i saw after the carotid artery test, told me i was too young to have TIAs and said that i dont need to be on it,

i told her, never say too young, but i stopped taking them, is it best to keep taking them?

im sorry you have shoulder problems its not fun, and waiting surgery, when will that be done now?

i understand what its like, i have a arachnoid cyst compressing my spinal cord, at T6, this is my second one, my last cyst was 4.1cms big, they were surprised how i didnt have more problems with it, but was told that within a year, i would be paralised if it isnt removed, now this second one made me cry, i didnt want to go though that again,

But now, the problem is...... is the cyst really causing the problems, or chiari,? you are in the same boat on this,,,

joelene

[Christine1]

Hi Joelene! You poor thing. You're really going through a time yourself! I've never heard of "too young for a TIA". It's not common for young people, but I'm not sure about that comment from your doctor. Why stop the asprin? If you're a risk for these TIA's, then why not the asprin. What dr told you not to take it? A cardiologist? or neurologist? If neuro, I would think they would keep you on it as a precaution. Obviously check with your doctor before doing anything. I would def. ask though.

I'm so sorry to hear about the 2nd cyst! Is it causing you alot of pain? Is it as big as the first one? I hope you can have they fixed as soon as possible. I think it's possible that the Chiari is causing the cysts. Chiairi puts so much pressure on the spine. Not sure though.

I know you''ve prepared your kids for the "what it" and it's good to let them know what to do just in case. You are so smart! I've gone over this stuff with my kids too. Don't want to startle them, but they need to know the reality of the situation. We so want to protect of kids from all this. Please keep us posted. I will put you in my daily prayers. What a courageous person you are. You're not alone. We're all here for you!!

Love, Christine XO

joelene hossack said:

hi christine

i stopped the asprin, the doc i saw after the carotid artery test, told me i was too young to have TIAs and said that i dont need to be on it,

i told her, never say too young, but i stopped taking them, is it best to keep taking them?

im sorry you have shoulder problems its not fun, and waiting surgery, when will that be done now?

i understand what its like, i have a arachnoid cyst compressing my spinal cord, at T6, this is my second one, my last cyst was 4.1cms big, they were surprised how i didnt have more problems with it, but was told that within a year, i would be paralised if it isnt removed, now this second one made me cry, i didnt want to go though that again,

But now, the problem is...... is the cyst really causing the problems, or chiari,? you are in the same boat on this,,,

joelene

[joelene_h]

abby..... i do try to push, i dont give up, just some days i wonder why,

thankyou for your worry, but im ok, i get though it, hard as it is at times, but i do, i worry more for you,

you are a dear friend, its makes me smile everyday knowing you are here for me,

christine.........in nz, you are too young for most things, if i was 80, it would be a different story, they need to educate themselves that it happens to anyone,

my last cyst was in T7-T9 this one is only little in comparison to the last, i havnt been given measurements, but that its in T6-T9 and got a 2mm extra compression in 6months,

my GP is horrifed that my NS appointment had been put back another 8wks due to the change, MY NS ttold me that if it changed he would have me on the operating table quickly, he didnt want to muck around,

i also asked him if it was due to the chiari, he told me no, chiari cysts sit in the spinal cord, this cyst sits in the surrounding layers in the spine,

heres a pic of what it looks like,

I think i should start the asprin again, it also helped with certain headaches and pain in the face,

i havnt taught the young ones what to do if anything happens, im unsure weather they will understand it,

but yes it is important to have something in play

joelene