THESE MIMICS ARE NOT TIA, BUT WHAT?
Posted , 3 users are following.
My symptoms are always the same and have been going on for months; I feel a flushness in the right side of my face and my right foot feels heavy. Symptoms last less than a few minutes. Earlier this year I went to the hospital and over the next 24 hours was tested for pretty much everything. The diagnosis was that it was definitely not TIA.
But what is it? The doctor suggested it might be a lack of electrolytes. I frequently drink a bottle of wine in the evening and always have a Monster beverage in the morning. Since my hospitalization I have daily taken a hydration multiplier yet my symptoms persist.
I am a 67 year old Caucasian male in excellent health. With my diagnosis the doctor said "whatever you are doing, continue doing it". The only prescription drugs I take are an occasional Lorazepam and I rarely take Zolpidem. Occasionally at night I vape marijuana. All this helps me sleep.
Once, and only once before I was hospitalized for the tests I tried to print and found that I could only print in a very small and infantile way. That scared me but that issue has never recurred. My speech has always been fine. When I have an attack I can still walk but my pace is very measured. Until yesterday I have not had any attacks. Yesterday I had 5 {by far a record}. Today I had none.
Has anyone else has similar issues? Any thoughts?
Has anyone else has any symptoms like this?
0 likes, 4 replies
effie_gee doug90274
Posted
Hi I'm feeling my way through what happened to me last Sept and, in the absence of medical opinion, have resorted to on-line research. I think this is correct, TIAs don't show on CAT scans but do show up on MRI scans. I assume you had these as part of your tests? If your medics have ruled out TIAs have you asked them to say what else these symptoms might be? I've read about so called silent strokes, so that might be worth looking into. There is also a type of stroke that's associated with migraines, the type of classic migraine or migraine with aura as they're known, that are often accompanied by a heavy/numb sensation in the arm and face. Not heard of it happening in the foot though. My writing just after the stroke was minute, so it's interesting you mentioned that. I think that benzos, cannabis and alcohol might not be the best mix, even occasionally, and wonder if you can pin down your episodes to occasions when they have been used concurrently? I hope someone here will come along to suggest something to help you. I've learned from Facebook groups in the past 6 months, by reading posts and asking my own questions, and now realise that there are an infinite number of symptoms and after effects that doctors don't tell us about. It's not just FAST. Maybe medics themselves don't know. The information swap is invaluable on FB, highly recommended. As those survivors say, no stroke is the same. Best of luck.
doug90274 effie_gee
Posted
Thank you very much for getting back to me.
The MRI showed no sign of TIA. I asked the doctor two questions: what caused this and what should I do if it happens again. He speculated that it might be an electrolyte deficiency, hence my now daily intake of that supplement. He said not to worry unless it lasts for a half hour or more. That surprised me. I have never had a migraines and rarely get headaches. None of my symptoms have been painful, but that one time I printed in such an uniquely infantile scared me because that struck me as brain-connected.
The use of any drug carries consequences. My first two attacks did occur late at night when I had a moderate amount of alcohol and a little marijuana, but the vast majority have occurred in the daytime. Could that be a result of my one Monster drink? I do not do any other drugs during the day, but of course it could be just a build-up of substances in my body. The doctor did know my history. And since alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, that could explain his suggestion of electrolyte deficiency.
Thanks again.
a76141 doug90274
Posted
Hey doug90274,
I have had a PE and a stroke and in the aftermath of the stroke had similar symptoms to what you are describing. I have also noticed a correlation between these symptoms and my fluid intake. A clot can lodge itself, cause symptoms and then break lose ( this is what I have been told by medical professionals) thus alleviating the symptoms. If you're health you are probably eating a lot of veggies. You may want to try lowering the quantity of the ones that are high in vitamin K and definitely up your water intake. Cinnamon is a good energy booster also instead of the energy drink. Just a few thoughts based solely on my personal experiences. Good luck to you and hopes that you are able to find resolution and more importantly peace of mind.
effie_gee doug90274
Posted
Thanks for replying, isn't it all so weird and confusing? I find your doctor's 1/2 hour remark strange too. I thank you for reminding me that I don't drink enough and that's something I have to address. Maybe my strange after effects will benefit. I hope you find a solution, I wish I had one that I could share with you, I sometimes think that anything outside of that very narrow band of recognised symptoms is beyond the ken of some medics. That's the most frustrating part for me, getting someone to hear me and not keep putting stuff down to old age. That explanation is wearing kind of thin now! All the best.