Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2015 21:59:31 GMT
Update:
Thanks for all of the replies. She went to her neurologist this am and they determined it was a small stoke and not a TIA. They put her on an aspirin regimen and Plavix. So glad we sought a second opinion!
My mom had one over the weekend and it's got us all a bit freaked out. I went with her to her Dr. appointment today and he mentioned that there was a very slight blockage of blood flow in the neck (50%- which seems high to me but not to him). She has been really tired and fatigued since it happened and when she gets tired, we notice some slight lisping.
In researching this, she seems to have almost all of the markers for a full-blown stroke, after having a T.I.A., but the doctor didn't seem overly concerned. I'm getting ready to move to across the country for 2 months and I'm really nervous now about going.
What have your experiences been with a T.I.A.?
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Post by tallgirl on Jul 15, 2015 22:18:10 GMT
My father in law had one last fall and had a full blown stroke two days later (thankfully he recovered).
His sister had a couple of TIAs about ten years ago and nothing since then.
Unfortunately I don't think there is any way of knowing.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Jul 15, 2015 22:20:54 GMT
My Mom had a few in the weeks leading up to having a full blown stroke. I am surprised your Mom's doctor is not more concerned.
I might be seeking a second opinion.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2015 22:22:29 GMT
My Mom had a few in the weeks leading up to having a full blown stroke. I am surprised your Mom's doctor is not more concerned. I might be seeking a second opinion. Heh, when I asked him the likelihood of another TIA or stroke (which I read was common), he said "I don't have a crystal ball..." Yeah.... |
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Post by peanutterbutter on Jul 15, 2015 22:24:40 GMT
Was this her pcp or a specialist?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2015 22:42:42 GMT
Was this her pcp or a specialist? Her PCP. That's who she was directed to for a follow up. |
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Post by kandie on Jul 15, 2015 22:44:30 GMT
Wow, as an RN, you moms PCP sounds like am idiot. was she advise to go on aspirin?
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Post by pierkiss on Jul 15, 2015 22:51:25 GMT
I feel like she needs to see a cardiologist or a neurologist for this instead of a PCP. HE/she does not seem nearly worried enough about this.
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Post by peanutterbutter on Jul 15, 2015 23:01:12 GMT
Absolutely push for a follow-up with a specialist. If you can self refer, call the neuro, describe the situation and see if they feel they are the appropriate specialist. If the doctor has to refer, be insistent, and tell him if it is for peace of mind if he won't do it.
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Post by cherrie on Jul 15, 2015 23:48:40 GMT
I had one a few years ago....very scary indeed! I called the doctor's office and had trouble forming the words in my mind. I was told to go to the hospital ER and was then admitted for a brain scan, etc. They determined that I was dehydrated, had just finished chemo and that it was a TIA but not to worry about it. I had to go to physical therapy in the hospital to make sure my coordination was good before I was released. No problems since!
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M in Carolina
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by M in Carolina on Jul 15, 2015 23:53:12 GMT
I had a TIA that was misdiagnosed as a complex migraine. I can't have an MRI, and CT scans don't always pick up a clot within the first 12 hours.
I had a full blown stroke with paralysis 2 days later. I was kept in ICU for 5 days while they did tests to see why I had a stroke at 26. It turned out I had a PFO hole in my heart that allowed a clot to form and pass to my brain.
My dad had a fatal stroke following bypass surgery. He had a blockage in his neck, and all the blood thinners used during his bypass surgery caused some clots to break loose and cause a stroke in his brain stem. He was still on a respirator at the time, so he didn't die instantly. He wanted to donate his organs and tissues, so we kept him on the respirator for a few days until the medical team could come to the hospital to perform the organ retrieval. My dad had lots of blockages already.
I can't believe your mom's doctor didn't tell your mom to take aspirin or put her on heparin. That could help thin her blood enough to keep another clot from being throw and would also help dissolve the clot that caused the TIA.
The difference between a stroke and a TIA, is that the TIA doesn't kill the brain tissue--the clot either moves out of the brain or didn't block the blood vessel completely.
My husband and mom took me back to the hospital because I wasn't better in 72 hours. They did another CT and found that I had a stroke that morning. My dh picked my mom up from the airport, and I was at home asleep. I didn't even realize when I woke up that I was dragging my leg and couldn't move my left arm. I remember that day, but my brain was very fuzzy. I recovered quickly with therapy.
I hope that you can find help for your mother quickly. If you feel like she's not herself, you can take her to the ER, and they can run tests and might want to hospitalize her, especially with such a big blockage in her neck. The hospital can treat that blockage. It's easier to treat BEFORE she has a full blown stroke. Take her to a hospital that is a Stroke Center.
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Post by janniepea on Jul 15, 2015 23:56:38 GMT
My father in law has had a number of TIA's and a full blown stroke  He just had another TIA last week. He is home under hospice care now and the nurse from hospice comes out when this happens. He's almost 90 with multiple other health problems. I wish all the best for your mom. |
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Post by Dori~Mama~Bear on Jul 16, 2015 0:31:54 GMT
Hopefully she doesn't have any more problems. It would be scary though.
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Post by KiwiJo on Jul 16, 2015 1:05:41 GMT
My Dad had lots of TIAs, but never had a stroke.
He would get confused, and often he also could not get the right words out - example, he may know he wanted to say 'I am cold' but he would say 'I am cat'.
He lived with us, and at first I would take him to the ER, but every time it was just a matter of waiting for his normal self to return then they would discharge him. Eventually, with the doctors' approval, I stopped taking him in.
He had my work phone number in big writing by the phone and he was always able to ring me. If I heard mumbling, or nothing at all, I would go home to check on him. I didn't leave him by himself when he was having a TIA episode of course.
Like ALL medical issues, there are is a range of how it affects each person - seems like sometimes a TIA is experienced before a stroke, but a stroke does not always happen.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2015 1:08:54 GMT
My DH had one in early May and in addition to a trip to the ER, he's followed up not only with his primary care doctor a few times, but also had even more extensive testing done that was done at the ER and had several appointments with a neurologist.
I really think your mom needs to follow up with a neurologist. Let them do testing to determine that there's not some underlying issue going on.
With all the testing DH went through, they found nothing...which is not uncommon. The neurologist still had no issues diagnosing a TIA. One good thing with all the tests coming back clear was that we knew there was not something serious lurking under the surface. |
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Post by mom on Jul 16, 2015 2:05:09 GMT
April of 2014 I had a TIA and while I was admitted into the hospital for that, I had a full blown stroke. I was in ICU for a week, then home after 3 more days on the regular floor. For my followups, I had to go see my Hematologist as well as a cardiologist and neurologist. I did see my PCP but only because he just wanted to go over everything with me in person. I saw my Hematologist every week for almost 6 months.
If i were you, I would definitely get a second opinion!
Full disclosure: I have a blood clotting condition so this is not totally unexpected.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2015 2:23:48 GMT
Thanks for your replies, everyone.
I talked her into calling her neurologist tomorrow just to be safe. Hopefully, they'll say it's nothing to worry about but I told her I'd rather be a worrywart than have something happen that we could have prevented.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2015 5:21:46 GMT
My Uncle founded an Ischemia Foundation (for education and research). I hope you get your answers. I could PM his info to you and maybe you could check out a website from there.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jul 16, 2015 5:30:12 GMT
I had one when I was 39-- the specialists didn't classify it as a TIA, exactly, but I had evidence of having blockage in my brain when they did the scan. The symptoms went away after about an hour, and I didn't go to the ER (bad, I know, but I had no idea). So I went to my doctor a few days later, and once I described to her what had happened, from there I was sent directly to the (numerous) specialists...
Anyway, my PCP sent me to a cardiologist and a neurologist, and I had every test under the sun run on me to figure out what the cause was. They never did figure out a cause (which isn't all that rare, apparently), so I'm on aspirin as a preventive.
I'm surprised that he doesn't seem all that concerned about a blockage in her arteries, too-- I mean, they KNOW this is the the cause. right? The next step is to do something about it, isn't it?!?! The longer you go without having another one the better your chances are, but I think I'd want to eliminate the potential causes, too. I'd think that's what doctor would want, as well... wouldn't they?
I'd get another opinion.
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Southern Side eyed Pea 
He just had another TIA last week. He is home under hospice care now and the nurse from hospice comes out when this happens. He's almost 90 with multiple other health problems.
