Tia?

[tobagotwo]

The likelihood is that you'll wind up taking aspirin daily. That is what most people over 50 do nowadays, anyway. At least those who can.

There is also a possiblilty of short-term use of Plavix, if they can determine that it was a TIA. Plavix is often used instead of Coumadin for this purpose because of its less chemically active nature. While Plavix would not be effective for a mechanical valve, it is very effective against strokes. Aspirin is, also. Plavix doesn't require testing, either.

When I came out of surgery, they put me on Plavix for about five weeks, to avoid clotting and strokes, rather than Coumadin. Coumadin is a useful and lifesaving drug, but interacts with many other drugs and foods, requires careful monitoring, some lifestyle changes, and affects medical treatment for many lesser problems, including dentistry.

I'm betting it wasn't a TIA, anyway. Sounds like you fell asleep and bonked your head on the monitor...

Best wishes,

 

[Granbonny]

Aspirin?

Aspirin?

Years ago, maybe 10..my hubby was taking an aspirin every a.m. I asked him why? He said ..he heard it was good for you.. Never question him..but for years, he bled so badly from every little cut. I knew so little about medical terms, ect. so never knew that aspirin thinned your blood..............He is now being seen every year by a Cardio..Just..b/p meds..I go with him every time..and they have NEVER said anything about aspiren.......NOW, since he quit over a year ago..NO more bleeding.. He now can work and never see his blood all over his arms , ect......So. I disagree....anyone over the age 50 should take aspirin....Daddy is age 90 and does not take it..and he works like a horse and I have never seen a bloodly sore on him...He takes 1 B/P pill a day.. I hate the fact, I knew so little before my Valve replacement..but have learned so much..now can help my Hubby and friends with many questions.....This site is so great. Seems, like. everyday..I can help someone.with heart problems.Bonnie

 

[tobagotwo]

Bonnie, it certainly sounds like it wasn't right for him. Also, some people are allergic to it. The operant words were "most" and "those who can."

However, the stories about the bleeding make the point. It does keep those nasty-but-necessary platelets from sticking together when they shouldn't. (In his case, when they should, too...)

Possibly, he would have been served better by an 81mg (baby) aspirin, rather than a standard 5-grain (325mg) aspirin. Or not. Everyone's different.

Best wishes,

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Another note about aspirin. My aunt was advised by her nephew (he's an MD) that it is a good idea for a lady her age. 80's to take a daily aspirin. She ran out of the regular and took coated. They got stuck and on the side of her throat and caused a major bleed. She could not eat anything solid for 2 months or so. It was sad. At a family party she had to leave the room when the food was being served She has not been the same since. In and out of the hospital, etc.

I also do not agree with the aspirin/coumadin combo some patients are on. They had me doing this post op. I made it three weeks until I was re-opened to drain the hemmorage. My other organs where also bleeding, brain, liver, etc.So fortunate to not have any lasting effects.

Be careful with that aspirin!

 

[Christina L]

Bob,

I was tired on Saturday...hmmmm....

Seriously, you are so knowledgeable about a lot of things, what do you think this episode could have been if not a TIA? - to be told by the cardio it was "nothing" when it most certainly was something to me! - that is kind of bothersome.

Do you think it could be a side effect of the heart-lung bypass machine? Brain damage of some sort (sorry Mark).

Thanks so much!

Christina L.

 

[Bryan B]

Well I guess I'm the odd one...as usual. My vision used to go out of focus on occasion and would take up to 15 minutes to clear up. This happened on a semi-regular basis for many years leading up to my surgery. Stress seemed to be a commom link but not always. Since my surgery I haven't had any visual disturbances. I also noted that I had almost NO feelings of pumphead after surgery which lasted over 6 hours (and I was on the H/L machine a long time). Hope you figure out what caused it...or better yet that it never comes back!

 

[Christina L]

Mark,

Yes, I did ask my cardio about the brain damage theory of mine. He didn't scoff at me or laugh!! He answered that "yes, possibly you could have residual from the heart-lung bypass machine." I asked him outright if "weird" things happen to people after heart surgery and he said yes. He did seem to know about the blurred vision that a lot of us have post surgery but again, he didn't elaborate.

I know in time this incident will become a fuzzy memory, until/if the next one occurs. I think that is what the cardio is wanting to do - wait to see if this happens again - that way maybe I will have different symptoms and he will be able to diagnose what is happening to me.

I really pray and hope that it does not happen again and it was an isolated incident.

I will take the two baby aspirin a day and try to get on with life as best I can, as hopeful and happy as I can!

Thank you everyone, as always, for all your help and well-meaning advice.

Christina L.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Gina,

How did you KNOW that your brain was bleeding when you were on aspirin? How much aspirin? Coated or plain? What did it FEEL like?

My cardio has me on one 81mg coated aspirin in addition to my Coumadin. He instructed me NOT to take any more aspirin.

'AL'

 

[tobagotwo]

Al,

The coated aspirin dissolves in your colon, instead of your stomach, so the coating basically just moves the problem to where you won't notice it. I doubt if it actually saves you from any bleeding.

However, there is evidence that coated aspirins are often less effective in most people that regular aspirin. That may be the reason for the two baby aspirins accorded to Christina's prescription.

Christina,

It is a worrisome thing, I know. However, with the number of odd symptomia that creep through our membership, it is not altogether surprising. While you were the one who posted, I will guess that dozens of members are reading this with rapt interest, saying, "Yes! That's what happened to me! Maybe someone will tell me what it was." Events of this type are much more common that you may think, and only a small percentage of them ever reach the doctor's ear.

For all that, it is possible that you actually did nod off for just a second.

I agree with your cardiologist, that this would be a long and fruitless chase to determine cause. And if it was a TIA? Well, only a very small percentage of them ever really forecast anything either. And the most recommended response to TIA for the prevention of possible future strokes? Prophylactic aspirin. So, you're covered anyway.

It has been said that everyone is born with brain damage. If so, then it is heartening to know that it is also said that we only use a very small percentage of our brains. I suspect mine is already riddled with physical insult, as well as all the useless drivel I've packed in there "just in case I need to know it later."

Heck, yours sounds in better shape than mine, and I still pass for normal most places I go, my wife's opinion notwithstanding.

As for the memory of this, let it fade. You have a warm and delightful smile, and I'm sure your family is anxiously awaiting its return.

Best wishes,

 

[weekycat]

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.

Hi Christina,

I was on Coumadin and baby aspirin immediatley after my repair too. I was on the Coumadin for 8 weeks, and the aspirin for 3 mos. I believe.

I believe that I had a TIA experience too. Coincidently, it happened exactly one year to the day, from my surgery.

My experience was this: I had been feeling a little dizzy all morning, and I was going to drive to another town about 25 miles away. As I was getting ready to leave, my brain seemed really foggy. It was like I was trying really hard to remember something, ( don't recall what now), but then...all of a sudden I was trying to think if (whatever I was trying to remember) had been real, or a dream. I know...it's really hard to explain, but I hope you get it.

Anyway, I took off driving, but I kept feeling like I wasn't all "there" if you know what I mean, almost like I was drugged or something. I also kept feeling like I was going to faint or something, which scared me. I didn't want to keep driving, so I pulled over, and called my husband to come and get me. He said he was busy doing something, (I think they were pouring cement that day) and it would be a little while... I may have fallen asleep waiting for him, but I'm not even sure. When he came to pick me up, the left side of my face and my left arm felt tingly. I was holding onto his arm with my left hand and he said if felt cold, and it was paler than my right.

I know...I should have gone right then and there to the ER...but by the time we got back to town, I felt better...and I guess I didn't want to try to explain what had happened, since I really wasn't sure myself.

I did eventually tell my GP about it, and he thought it sounded like a panic attac I've never had one of those in my life, that I know of.

Apparently, it's very hard to diagnose a TIA, unless you go into the ER while you're still having symptoms. If it happens to me again...I will call 911.

 

[Christina L]

One More Thing

One More Thing

and then I will shut up.

I called the Cleveland Clinic (where I had my mitral valve repair done) and spoke with a cardiology nurse about the episode I had last Friday.

She said it really did not sound exactly like a TIA, but it could have been.

She said more it sounded as if I almost passed out. She asked if I was diabetic or had seizure problems in my family - nada to both.

She also said that the "shade pulling down over the eye effect" that people describe with a TIA means that it literally looks like a shade is being pulled down with light left at the top or bottom - I did not have that - my vision went totally black and I went "inside myself."

When I think about it, the room shaking and the thump could have been me "coming to" and hitting my arm on the keyboard or such. It was definitely not a falling asleep episode I am certain - as I was not majorly sleepy!! There have been MANY times when I have almost fallen asleep at work and I know what that feels like!! Hee.

Anyway, FYI - this nurse said the next time it happens to go STRAIGHT to the nearest emergency room (do not pass "go") and get a battery of tests. She said this is not something to fool with and seemed kind of surprised that my cardiologist was letting things ride.

I was right inside a hospital when the episode happened and did not want to go to the ER (I went to lunch instead ) because I was afraid they would admit me. Wayne made me call the cardiologist on call that night when I got home from work. I knew instinctively that this was "dumb" of me (to not go to the ER), but I did it anyway.

She also said that the heart-lung bypass machine shouldn't be causing problems this far out from surgery, but she said (as did my cardio) that all sorts of strange symptoms happen to people post heart surgery and this could have been one of them and hopefully won't happen again. I second that!!

Christina L.

 

[Lulabelle1]

pump head / TIA's/ asprin

pump head / TIA's/ asprin

Hi.
Sorry about your experiences....but , join the crowd. There are many many cases of vision disturbances, facial & teeth numbness, grey curtain over the eye, thought & cognitive fuzziness that I've read here on this site. I also have "episodes" though slightly different than yours, but some symptoms exactly the same. Reading the different heart sites on the web, this seems to be a common problem before and after surgery. For some reason the cardio's seem to brush this off....but people continue to have these weird and scarey spells. I have noticed mine get worse if my INR is too low (blood too thick). Maybe asprin is just exactly what you need, but only your doctor can & should advise you. Stay away from the coumadin if possible....after all it is rat poison derivative, the blood draws suck, your monthly time will be horrible, and you may be one of the ones who walks around looking beat-up from bumps causing bruises. Cutting yourself is also alittle scarey. No over indulgence in dark green veggies either , as foods rich in vitamin K "thicken" the blood. I am not fond of taking coumadin, but with the mechanical valve it is a must....I also had 81 mg of asprin added to my meds by the cardio, for extra precaution if the spells are in fact very tiny TIA's.
The pump-head syndrome is very real. The after effects lessen....but some of mine have stayed with me (I was on the pump for nearly 72 hours). I can no longer do any type of math "in my head"....no matter how simple, it has effected my driving skills...I'm just not with it. I get mad easier & am mouthier than before, and I also have some cognitive problems that appeared after surgery. But I guess it's better than the alternitive
Just take care of yourself, and if something wierd comes up like another one of those episodes....go to the ER, and get checked out for your own sake.
You are the ultimate "over-seer" of your own health.
By the way, have you ever had sleep starts? The blackness then loud noise sound just like one.
Take care. Lula

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Christina L wrote:

"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. "

Christina -

PLEASE advise ALL of your Doctors EXACTLY what medications you are taking and their dosages. They need to know this when treating you and / or adding new medications. Also be sure to have a complete and accurate list on file with Medic Alert if you are a member.

Did you receive the PM's I sent on another subject?

'AL'

 

[Christina L]

Al,

You are right. I should tell my doctor that I am taking two baby aspirin. I guess I am being "bad" as I feel I didn't get any answers from him regarding this latest symptomatic episode.

Yes, I did get your PMs. Thanks for the information. It was very interesting. There again, my cardio doesn't seem to think my PACs are of concern whereas the nurse in Cleveland seemed to question that also.

Lulu,

I had never heard of a sleep start - but think I have had them - the jerking at least right before falling asleep. I really do not think I fell asleep last Saturday precipitating those symptoms, BUT who knows. I would want to think that is all it was, but it was much more weird than that and like I said, I was not inordinately sleepy that morning to begin with.

Mark,

I am left handed and several years ago a gal (who was also left handed) brought an article to work regarding the theory that people who are left handed were brain damaged during the birthing process. We had a good laugh about that one, BUT now I am beginning to wonder!! Are you left handed?

I am feeling better regarding the episode last Saturday, but only if I keep myself very busy. When I start to think about things and the thought that it could happen again....Wayne and I are going on a road trip this weekend and he will be doing ALL the driving - just to be on the safe side.

Christina L.