Me lose brain!

[Bunny_Rabbit]

Hi all.

I went to a Neurologist last year regarding a pinched nerve in my neck that was giving me headaches, numbness, and pain. 8 months later I had an MRI done, and now a year later I got my results. Apparently I have white spots on my brain that she seems to think were caused by TIAs...or mini strokes (whichever you prefer).

I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience like this....the TIAs or the white spot thing, and what their input on it is.

She flip flopped on putting me on baby Asprin or Coumadin...I picked the Asprin because I'm just not ready for all the nonsence of Coumadin yet. And I also want to see how this progresses with a little time.

I'm just lookin' for anyone with similar experiences, or any general input.

Thanks in advance.

 

[geebee]

Bunny,
I have had a number of TIA's over the years. They pretty much stopped a few years ago when my cardio decided to use aspirin in addition to the coumadin I was taking for my MV. I now take the "baby dose" of aspirin daily.
I have not had an MRI so I cannot relate to the white spots on the brain. Although they may be an indication of something that has happened, I think the most important issue is whether you have symptoms of any permanent damage (paralysis, speech problems, etc.). If you do not, consider yourself very lucky (as I do myself) and go on with your life taking the baby aspirin. I am a strong believer (and proof) that aspirin works for me and should work for others.
Good luck.

 

[tobagotwo]

...As opposed to those of us who are certain we must have left some vital brain cells in the pump during AVR...

Pumpheadedly,

 

[Nancy]

Hi Bunny-

Joe's had about 16 TIAs. They are not happening now and haven't for a while. Some of them happened when his INR wasn't being monitored very well in the past, and some of them happened when his mitral valve was not functioning well, both times. They could also happen now, if his INR gets too low, and I am always nervous when that happens.

He did go to the ER for all of them, and did have neurological consults on a couple of occasions. I don't believe he had any MRIs, but did have catscans. No one mentioned any white spots. But that doesn't mean they weren't there.

I have read some about them in the past, and the thinking then was that although they do not cause any visible symptoms, once they have passed on through, they can do small amounts of damage and that can be cumulative which is why many doctors add medications to try to prevent them. Because many of Joe's displayed in his eyes with temporary blindness, he did go to the ophthalmologist who told him in no uncertain terms that his doctors had better get them under control before they did permanent damage to his optic vessels. He was very concerned.

I do know that one of them manifested itself while he was doing a very minor mechanical thing, and he has lost some minor ability to do mechanical things. The neurologist explained that the TIA had traveled through the area of the brain that controls mechanical ability.

So I am not at all convinced that these are as benign as most think. I DO believe that they have to be kept in good control.

I think the fact that your MRI showed the white spots attests to the fact that they apparently leave tiny remnants.

Joe was put on Plavix during the time when they were happening, in addition to Coumadin. He is no longer on that.

And other than the very small loss in mechanical ability, everything else cleared up. He never developed eye trouble or loss of vision except for the normal aging process.

 

[Mary]

Bunny,
I spent my last birthday in the hospital for 5 days after having a TIA. I had the CAT scan and MRI. The tests showed a TIA plus a previously unknown benign brain angioma.
They said the TIA was caused by a fleck of calcification breaking off of my bicuspid aortic valve, so I was put on Plavix and 81mg of enteric covered aspirin to prevent it from happening again. I took the Plavix for about three months, but it caused me great problems with bleeding during my periods, and I quit taking it.
I experienced an episode of tunnel vision when the TIA occurred, lack of strength on my left side, and a delay between what I wanted to say and my spoken words. The symptoms quickly disappeared except for the speech hesitancy. I was unwilling to have a conversation with anyone except close family members for several weeks. Of course, as everyone who knows me will tell you, that didn't last long!

 

[Bunny_Rabbit]

I do consider myself lucky that I haven't had any permanent affects from the TIAs. Unless you count my inability to do math...but I'm not sure if that was there before or not.

I agree with you Nancy, I don't think they're as harmless as once thought. Permanent scarring on your brain couldn't possibly be considered a good thing.

I don't know what the future will hold when it comes to keeping an eye on these things. The doctor didn't know if they were old spots or new. So I'd imagine that more MRIs would be in my future to see if any more show up.