Tia?

[Christina L]

I had been going along just fine, aside from the PACs that are a constant part of my life any more, until today....

I was sitting at my desk working (typing at my part-time job) and feeling pretty good - in a split second (this is very hard to describe) everything went "black" I felt the room shake and heard a banging noise - "came to" (still sitting in my chair) and expected my co-workers to say, "Wow, what was that?" and realized everyone else was going along as usual - nothing had happened extraneously - it was "me".

Again, this happened in a split second. Was it a TIA? I haven't had one of my visual spells for quite a while (weeks) and this is the very first time something like this has happened.

I can't say it felt like I was going to pass out - just that I was in another world or something - but only for a nanosecond.

I would appreciate any comments. I am waiting for a call from the cardiologist on-call as I type this. I really don't expect him to say anything except - go see your primary cardio next week.

Thanks all.

Christina L.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Hi Christina

Hi Christina

Hi Christina,
TIA's are mini strokes they serve as a warning sign that a more significant stroke may be approaching. Please!!! Please!! Get checked out by a doctor as it is better to be safe than sorry plus we don't want to hear that you have had a stroke. Take Care, Harrybaby666

 

[Christina L]

Harry,

I just talked with the cardiologist on-call and as I suspected he couldn't tell me much, except that he suspects it "could have been" a TIA that I "threw some platelets" as he put it. He told me to take two aspirin a day through the weekend and then one aspirin a day and see my primary cardio next week - I know these guys inside and out!! Knew he would tell me that.

He said even though my valve is repaired it is still not a normal valve and probably will have a tendency to throw clots.

Do you think I am safe with the aspirin? What else can I do? I am on the verge of tears....trying to keep calm and be brave.

Christina L.

 

[Mary]

Christina,
I can tell you of my experience with my TIA and see if it helps. I haven't had my valve replaced yet, and so a piece of the "heavy calcification" broke loose and traveled to my brain.
I experienced sudden, momentary inability to speak, complete loss of strength in my left leg, and experienced tunnel vision, In addition, I had a significant loss of grip strength with my left hand.
When I arrived at the Emergency room, I was still hesitant with my speech and my left side was noticeably weak. I underwent a CAT scan and was started on warafin. Four days later I was released on a daily Plavix tablet and 80mgs of aspirin.
I have been told that the Plavix and aspirin work to keep the platelets from sticking together; thereby reducing the risk of any big clots. If you are on coumadin, I would think with the addition of aspirin you should be all right until you see your doctor. I'm not sure, but it sounds as though your episode was very brief and possibly indicates a very small clot.
Although I had significant symptoms, the clot didn't register on the CAT scan. Most TIA's don't, because they're just too small.
You're in my thoughts,
Mary

 

[MelissaM]

Hi Chris,

Breathe. . .and focus on your here and now. Whatever happened, happened. It may or may not happen again, but from the sounds of it, you recovered quite nicely. So do your best to figure out what happened, without obsessing about the past (that moment) or the future (a moment that may not come).

Easier said than done, I know.

Perhaps my nonchalance comes from the fact I get episodes akin to the one you describe several times a month. Usually it is after I sit at the computer for a while. My vision goes dim, the room starts to spin, and it takes several moments for equalibrium to reestablish itself. Even then, there are some lingering visual effects. But they evenutally go away, and, as you could tell from our visit on Thursday, there aren't any huge side effects.

What I am saying is put this in perspective. Get it checked out, but don't let it dominate your life, let it control you, your sleep, or keep you from eating anything yummy (a big no-no! =). Chin up, girlfriend!

Melissa

 

[Nancy]

Hi Christina-

It does sound like a TIA. Joe's had quite a few of them, not recently though. They can be scary. They are, for the most part, benign and will go away in a short period of time with no damage. However, because a small number can be a precursors of a stroke, they have to be reported and evaluated by your doctor. You did the right thing and called, and got some help from your doctor.

I hope you have no nore of those scary incidents.

 

[Christina L]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I am feeling a bit better mentally today - what can I do? - I feel a bit like a ticking time bomb, but after your reassuring posts, I am not so scared as before.

I am taking my aspirin - two a day (81 mg) and will call my cardio tomorrow morning.

Mary: I am glad that your TIA was so small and that you recovered. My episode had no numbness or speech problems - it lasted less than a second (I think) and it was over. I felt like I was in a black void and there was a clunk sound and I honestly thought something had hit the building as it seemed the building shook. Of course it didn't - it was my brain doing weird things.

What I am wondering about also is instead of a TIA, could there be brain damage from being on the heart/lung bypass machine??? Loss of oxygen to the brain??? It kind of makes sense. Of course in a weird way I would rather have "brain damage" than the fear of clots.

Melissa: Thanks for the pep talk. I didn't realize you were getting episodes that frequently. I have had the blurry vision episodes (not for a long while now) - even way before my surgery - where it feels like I am looking through a prism and then it goes away, leaving a mild headache. I still think these are ocular migraines - also somehow related to the heart and to the surgery. This episode I had yesterday was something WAY different - it is hard to explain how I felt. What are your episodes like??

Mark: Can you explain your episode a little bit more to me? I am glad they ruled out TIA with you - I hope they will do the same with me. I think my cardio will probably tell me to stay on the aspirin. I am wondering about Plavix - is it with less side effects than Coumadin? The cardio on the phone yesterday told me Plavix is a different class of drug than Coumadin.

Nancy: Your help is always appreciated. You are so sensible and calm even in the face of something that could be very dangerous - I guess you have a lot of experience. Your husband is very lucky to have you.

Thanks again everyone for your input and hope to hear more from you on this matter. I definitely need the reassurance right now.

Christina L.

 

[Nan]

HI Christina, first of all, just wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts! And to hang in there til you see your cardio. And secondly, I wanted to suggest you discuss coumadin with him/her if you haven't already thought of doing so. I went to your profile, and you didn't have it listed under your meds. If you are not on it, good idea to discuss it or Plavix....

There is always the possibility that it was not a TIA. In which case you will want to track down what it was, if possible.

I understand fully the fear that you are experiencing. It is probably my biggest fear, that I will have a stroke. I have a blockage in one carotid that is being watched which makes it very real for me.

Keep us posted and good luck!

 

[Sherry]

Hello, Christina,
I was quite surprised to read your post. I'll be anxious to hear what you find out, if you find out anything. I think I mentioned this once before a few years ago, but I had an episode of transient global amnesia about three years ago, four hours of a Saturday afternoon that I simply don't remember. I was concious, but another mother picked up that something wasn't right and took me to the e.r. I was hospitalized overnight, had CAT scans etc, and no evidence of a stroke was found (That was my fear). A consulting neurologist diagnosed it and explained that it's a misfiring that takes place in the brain, sometimes it's momentary and other times it lasts a few hours. I have no idea that this is in any way related to what you went through, but I'm offering it as a possibility. Take care and let us know what you find out.

 

[Christina L]

I have a 1:30 appointment with my cardiologist. I spoke with his nurse on the phone this morning - she said every TIA episode is different for each person. She also asked if I was hydrated - a frequent question of hers - especially since I have started having more PACs. She also asked if I have a family history of stroke which I do not.

I am trying to work this morning, but find it hard to - took an aspirin already.

Thanks for all your well wishes and prayers.

Okay, Mark, I will try to stop with the "brain damage" thinking but for ME, I would prefer to think that that is what this episode was from, rather than a mini-stroke or TIA.

Sherry, your neurologic episode is quite interesting. My episode sure felt like a "mis-firing" but a TIA is also very likely.

I will let you know later today what the cardio says. I think it will be "keep on the aspirin and watch your diet and exercise" but who knows - he may want me to have some testing.

Christina L.

 

[Ross]

My episode sure felt like a "mis-firing" but a TIA is also very likely.

Christina L.

You just need a new distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs, timing checked and perhaps ignition wires and you'll be fine.

 

[Christina L]

Ross, I wish it were that easy!!

FYI - I was just on the web looking up aspirin effectiveness for TIAs or stroke prevention as I remember reading in the paper several weeks ago about the finding that some people are aspirin resistant. What I found interesting is that baby aspirin or the 81 mg type and also the coated are NOT near as good in antiplatelet effect as an adult, uncoated aspirin (per the recent study)! I guess that would be 324 mg (?) that is the most effective.

I will ask my cardio about that and let you know what he says.

Christina L.

 

[Christina L]

P.S.

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but prior to this TIA-like episode on Saturday, I had not taken any aspirin for weeks, probably months.

Since I had a valve repair not a replacement, they did not keep me on the Coumadin that I was on right after my surgery for an episode of a-fib. I have not had a-fib since then but have many, many PACs.

I don't remember my cardio ever telling me that it was mandatory to take aspirin.

Christina L.

 

[Ross]

Well maybe you just need some more heat sink grease on your control module.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Christina,

So sorry to hear of your experience. Though I never had a symptom like yours...was convinced I had a few TIAS. Best way to find out is a CT of the brain. Did so and mine came out clean.

I have a copy.....if needed in the future they have something to refer to. In my case...they deemed them to be migraines. Have been suffering the last month. We went away on vacation....different climate. Poof, gone. Now they are back.

Do you drink caffine? If so, try cutting back and see if you notice a difference.

Also, I feel anyone who has had a repair, pig, tissue, etc. Should take a daily aspirin. Ask your card what he thinks about that before getting involved with the Coumadin. See if you can get them to order a CT to rule out TIA. If they find you have had one...I am sure it will be Coumadin time. Much better than the alternative I say! Use to think it was a death sentence. But heck...it's keeping me alive and kicking, so what the heck!

Take care.

PS. How about low blood pressure? Some of my issues are linked to that was well. I do have a history of post surgical PAC's. Inderal LA has cured that for the most part.

 

[Christina L]

Do we need

Do we need

doctors at all???

Okay, here's the scoop: The cardio does not know what my spell was, but does not think it was a TIA - said the symptoms were totally atypical for that. He said he didn't even think it was neurological - he doesn't know what it was, but "not to worry about it, you are fine."

He said we could do all the tests, i.e. CT of the brain, transesophageal echo, etc., but thought it would be to no avail and useless to go through that when he thinks my spell was "nothing."

He said I could go to see a neurologist, but he looked at me when he said that like he didn't think it was necessary, so I said I would take his word for things, that I was "okay."

Also I told him for the first time about my optical migraines - he said that is what I probably have as far as those go (the blurry vision like I am looking through a prism and slight headache afterwards) AND as far as us heart patients having a lot of those symptoms post surgery, he seemed to know what I was talking about saying it has something to do with a change in the shape of the eye during/after heart surgery (??). He didn't elaborate. I personally don't think that is the case - I think it is hormonal, stress on the body somehow affecting the blood pressure and hormones, etc, causing optical migraines. Of course, he didn't ask my opinion. Hee.

I can't say I am totally relieved with his diagnosis, but I am somewhat relieved as he really did not believe this was a TIA.

Nancy, what kind of symptoms does Joe have for his TIAs??

Oh, and Mark, as for not feeling 100% yet, from all I have heard it takes a year plus, to feel close to normal again and as many have said, I don't think we will ever feel really "normal" again, but what was the alternative, right???

I hope this saga has helped others somewhat who may have or may yet experience what I experienced on Saturday.

As for the aspirin (324 mg versus 81 mg), my cardio said that more aspirin is not necessarily better. However (and I did not tell him this), I am going to take two chewable (not coated) baby aspirin a day from here on out, not just one.

Thanks again for all the concern and help. I appreciate this board so very much.

OH - the best part of all - the cardio listened to my heart and smiled and said, "No murmur."

Christina L.

 

[Christina L]

Gina,

I gave up caffeine totally about two months before the surgery and now only drink decaf (Swiss water method and organic). I was a hard-core four-cup a day coffee drinker before.

I also have cut way down on my wine drinking - only on special occasions.

Sounds awful doesn't it? However, I haven't missed the caffeine or wine nearly as much as I thought I would.

As for low BP, my BP today in the office was 130/90, but I had just talked with a friend in the hallway and was probably all hyped up from that. I am pretty high-strung (ask Melissa!).

I may end up asking my cardio if I can try Inderal. I was on it when I was around 20 years of age for tachycardia - the tachy went away on its own and I haven't had many arrhythmias at all until now with the PACs. The nurse today heard more PACs than ever when taking my pulse.

Glad to hear that you have that baseline CT to rely upon and that you did not have a TIA.

Christina L.

 

[Granbonny]

Christina

Christina

Be sure and post what your Cardio had to say......I just ran down to the local produce market on the corner. Friend has run it for many years. Was chatting with him..about his having a stroke this summer. I said, you look good, how do you feel? He said, awful..that it had left him funny in the head..like he gets so mad now...Said, they had put him on an anti-depressent and plavix..but not aspirin .that his blood was thin enough. Has a hard time when he cuts himself...with the bleeding.......He said, he had been on the anti-depressant for a month to help him from getting angry...Said, old friends would drop by and say something and it just gets him mad. I told him, they are not friends if they get you mad..to ignore them.. Running his produce stand is stressing. He has to make long drives to pick up fresh veggies and fruit to bring back to sell...and it's only a 6 month living for him. Winter's he is closed......so many heart stories in my little area. Guard at our Gate...His wife had a heart attack and was in hospital the same time my son-in-law was there last week. Had to be in ICC for a few days..but home now...Same thing..they have to grow a garden to live off... Some of our residents are going to get together and go over to help him out. He is so nice...Does a great job securing our gated community....Heart disease is rampant..even in a small area where I live. ........................Maybe you should be on plavix?..........Take care..Bonnie

 

[Granbonny]

Chris

Chris

You posted the same time..LOL..glad you are fine...b/p is high..sounds like you need to relax too. LOL..Bonnie

 

[MelissaM]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the update. You know how sometimes someone cuts right in front of you and only your quick reaction keeps a major accident from happening? You drive away thinking that your insurance company should give you a special reward for avoiding major damage and cost? In the end, you have to drive down the road, pissed at the driver, but knowing that everything is okay.

Same thing here. You might have been really close to an "accident" or an "event" - maybe a clot temporarily blocked an artery. BUT, it didn't. You recovered without any apparent damage.

Just like the averted car accident, you may get a little shook, but need to drive away knowing that everything came out okay and no damage was done. You may want the doc to do a bunch of tests to reassure YOU, but your information to him was enough for him to know that no lasting damage was done.

Sorry you had a close call and a bad experience. Hopefully, you can drive away from this incident, grateful this close call wasn't a full-blown accident.

Melissa