Well - I don’t have insurance and not much income. So - I am sure I am already looking at $10,000 or more from the Dec 10th deal - I was in the hospital for almost three days - then back to the ER the following Friday. I had all kinds of test the first time.

- I’ve been on an aspirin a day (325) since July 98.
- The damage that did show up on the MRI - may or may not have been from Dec 10th - it could have been from way back in 1998.
- None of the testing including all of the blood work shows anything.
- My cholesterol is actually not bad at all - they did put me on some kind of statin but the actually numbers are under 200 I don’t remember exactly but the HDL was a bit low at 39.

I have taken 1/2 of a metapropal (sp) since 1998 - they ask me to increase that to 1/2 am (25) and 1/2 pm (25) as my BP was just a tad high in the hospital - not much.

At first they put me on Plavix but removed that - I guess because they knew how expensive it is.

I called them last Friday (when I had the 2nd one) and ........... they would not let me talk to anyone or even leave a message. One of my step daughters called them and sparked a call and the standard “get to ER” was all I got - and I went. But since there was no remaining symptoms ..... it was all just dismissed as another TIA.

My first follow up is to be on Dec 28th - I can only hope they are organized this time and I get that echo - not that anyone thinks that will show anything but - they seem to think that is the only test left.

NO - the people are not stroke specialist. Since I don’t have insurance and much money - I went to a hospital that I hope I can get some kind of financial break from from ......... that is still unknown. That hospital is somehow tied to the county.

I am starting to feel like a person that cried wolf ................

There is no one in my life except for my two step daughters. One has just finished her BA in nursing and working in intensive care at a local hospital - the other one has two little girls - both daughters are married. The are both concerned about me but ..... man they have a life of their own and I really would like to leave them alone but ........

I realize I should seek out specialist - esp since all the logical testing is not showing anything as a cause. But really I just can’t do it financially.

I will try to find the stoke form -- thanks guys.

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LizaJane - I don’t consider it PN related but ......... wishful thinking caused me to ask here.

“Have you had a carotid angiogram?” - I am not sure - they did a separate test when the MRI (head) was done - on my neck I forgot what that was called something like mai or something but it was for the carotid arteries and nothing wrong was found. WAIT - yes I think I had that also - it reminded me of a sonogram (sp) where the gal slowly rubbed something around on my neck BUT ...... the MRI (the neck part) was said to be by far better testing. Like the CT was fine (I had that also) but not as good as the MRI.

Kmeb - I would love to be able to afford 911 trips ..... so far even getting to the hospital faster would not have helped a thing and would have put another $5,000 on top. It is sad to hear about your family member - having these things and no one knowing why is very scary. It seems I have had three of them in the last 10 days. All the stuff I read says a major stroke is on the way. I am afraid I am going to be going the same route - “sorry we have no idea” (just like my PN).

I smoke so that will give them something to blame it on - since their testing can’t find anything. I have cut to under 10 a day (from about 22) but I realize that is not really helping much.