[MoiMoi]

I am hoping someone can help me. I have had several TIA like episodes although my doctor is sure they are TIA's. The hospital dismissed them because of my bp and because of how long they lasted. Now everything I have read contradicts what I was told by the hospital. My bp was 140 something over 90 something (it was a while ago) and the symptoms resolved with 24hrs. From what I have read the stroke zone begins at 140/90 and a TIA can last anywhere from a few minutes to hours, but resolves in 24.

Does anyone know for sure?

Thanks.

[en bloc]

Originally Posted by MoiMoi

I am hoping someone can help me. I have had several TIA like episodes although my doctor is sure they are TIA's. The hospital dismissed them because of my bp and because of how long they lasted. Now everything I have read contradicts what I was told by the hospital. My bp was 140 something over 90 something (it was a while ago) and the symptoms resolved with 24hrs. From what I have read the stroke zone begins at 140/90 and a TIA can last anywhere from a few minutes to hours, but resolves in 24.

Does anyone know for sure?

Thanks.

I can't believe the hospital dismissed them based upon a BP level. There are other causes of stroke or TIA then high BP. I have neurally mediated hypotension (Low BP) and have had 3 strokes and many TIA's. Mine are from other clotting factors, including APS (antiphospholipid syndrome).

It would be best if you got to the hospital while it's happening so a CT or MRI can be done to confirm the diagnosis. There are also numerous blood tests that can check some clotting factors for signs of a hypercoagulable state...that would be present even when the event was not occurring.

Since your doctor believes it was TIA, then hopefully he'll run some labs and find the actual source.

[mrsD]

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

I can under your concern and confusion.

Your blood pressure is not high, even under those stressful
conditions at the hospital!

I agree with en bloc's advice.

There are many issues that can lead to a TIA.
If you are young and female, hormones will do it. Birth control or hormone replacement therapy.
Also autoimmune diseases change the coagulation of the blood,
and may lead to a clot. Lupus is one, but others less common exist like en bloc describes. All of these triggers, are for clots.
They make up the majority of strokes. Excessive platelet counts could also thicken the blood. Some cardiac rhythm problems can induce a stroke.. atrial fibrillation is one cause. This is where the atrium part of the heart stops beating and the blood sits there for a time, and then clots, so when the beat returns it can send a clot off to the body. This typically has dizziness or fainting as a symptom.

But there are hemorrhagic strokes too, where a blood vessel bursts. These may be triggered by increases of blood pressure.
Aneursyms are present from birth and may rupture anytime,
and not always need a high blood pressure to do so.
Our blood pressures change with activity levels, and may go as high as 200 when exerting ourselves. The body normally adjusts to this, and it is only for short periods of time.

You'll need to see your regular doctor, for some further testing and evaluation.

[MoiMoi]

Thanks for the replies.

I did go when I had the symptoms but like I said it was dismissed because of my bp. I was literrally in with the doctor for 5 minutes, they did no scans, blood tests or anything. I also had to wait 2 hours in the waiting room to see a doctor. The next 2 times I was put in the waiting room for 3 1/2 hrs and 5hrs again with no scans or blood tests. I had to put a complaint in and on the 3rd time they did an ekg and took my blood sugar levels along with my bp and that was it and that was 5hrs after arriving there and by that time my symptoms had gone, my bp had dropped and I had bradycardia. There is no neuro here so I am only seeing junior doctors, there are no other hospitals either.

If it happens again I think I am stuffed. I even had to argue with a paramedic that I needed to go...because my bp was normal, they were quite rude.

Funny you should say that you have neurally mediated hypotension en bloc, as that is what I have but for some reason when these were happening my bp went up. I never have bp like that normally, very odd.

[mrsD]

I think you should be seen by a regular (non-emergency)
doctor and have a complete checkup and blood work done.

He can order further tests for you. Don't wait for another spell.

Write it all down, in a journal format, and log when it happened, how long, what symptoms, etc.

[en bloc]

What exactly were your symptoms that you believe are possibly TIA's.

Did you ever contact (and see) your regular doctor in between these episodes? You say he agrees they are TIA's, yet he never ordered any tests himself? Am I understanding this correctly?

Most ER's have very defined stroke protocols so I find this very odd. I would make an appt with your doctor and get this addressed ASAP.

MrsD had a great idea for the journal.

[MoiMoi]

Unfortunately that is this hospital for you, other people with life threatening conditions have been given the same treatment - shoved in the waiting room for hours, fobbed off and forced to come back several other times. One person almost died because of their negligence. My doctor isn't that good either, but did order a ct after the hospital didn't but it didn't show anything as TIA's don't show up. I am booked into see a neuro (4hrs drive away) but it's a long waiting list and I will get further testing then. My doctor said my case is complicated and out of their depth. I also have a neuro disease.

The symptoms were partial loss of vision, numbness and a severe headache (first time).

[en bloc]

Glad to hear you're going to the neuro. There is a condition called amaurosis fugax that involves sudden but temporary partial or full loss of vision. It's due to blood clots...like an eye stroke.

Where was the numbness? Do these events last long?

Hopefully your neuro will order some labs for clotting factors as well as other tests. Continue to document any more occurrences. This information will be helpful to the doctor.

Good luck and keep us posted on the outcome.

[MoiMoi]

They seem to last between 30 minutes to several hours. The numbness is in my face and arms and it's both eyes affected plus I feel sick with them. Yeah I hope it gets properly investigated as well by the neuro, they are pretty scary events. I just hope it doesn't happen again before I do see the neuro otherwise I won't get any help if it does.

And thanks.

[en bloc]

Well, I can tell you that these events are likely NOT strokes, TIA's or amaurosis fugax. They don't occur on both sides or both eyes...only one side or the other. It would only effect the opposite side that the clot is on...and the odds of two clots (one on each side) causing an ischemic attack at the exact same time is next to impossible. I hope this puts your mind at ease...at least a little. There is still something very wrong and I'm sure scary, so seeing the neuro is a must.

If headaches are occurring at the same time, maybe they are cluster migraines. No matter what it is, the neuro is the best place to start for what you're describing.