Originally Posted by gershonb

Hi everyone

I posted my history of concussions in another thread. Hockey, in welcoming me to the forum, urged me to get a Neuropsych evaluation ASAP. Well, I got referred for this, but in a weird way. I had an MRI of my pituitary, because the levels were going haywire. Turns out the pituitary is intact, with no tumors. My hormone levels are still haywire. What was weird was that the MRI revealed that I have only one artery that carries blood to the brain, on the left. On the right, where the other one is supposed to be, there is--nothing. My first thought was that I should have read through that entire parts list before exiting the spacecraft. The endocrinologist referred me STAT to a neurologist (only way I can explain getting a neuro appointment the next week) for referral for a full neuropsych workup. Evidently, the left one is a little bigger to take up the slack, but there probably have been some cylinders misfiring all along. Weirdest thing I've heard of in about three days.

Has anyone out there ever heard of having only one carotid artery? Anybody got a spare one, Right side, 1952 model?

thanks

gershonb

Originally Posted by bombaybadboy79

Wow I was diagnosed with this after months of severe headaches and a cat scan...Problem I have now is that I suffer from very high blood pressure at 32 years old and with the headaches now back I wonder what damage is being caused by only having the one carotid and what the future holds? Does anyone else suffer from any additional problems?

Thanks

Originally Posted by bombaybadboy79

Wow I was diagnosed with this after months of severe headaches and a cat scan...Problem I have now is that I suffer from very high blood pressure at 32 years old and with the headaches now back I wonder what damage is being caused by only having the one carotid and what the future holds? Does anyone else suffer from any additional problems?

Thanks

Originally Posted by dgman

Hi bombay, I sorta have been wondering myself what the future holds. I get headaches sometimes too, but I have no poblems with blood pressure though. I have had problems with blackouts, dizziness, and strange vision problems. Being 15, Im curious to know though if you had problems as young as me with your missing artery and whether or not my problems are unique, or if others have suffered from blackouts and dizziness as a result of this. Im relieved to find that there lots of people seem to be living average lives with this, Im just trying to find more information on this. So far the doctors have been of no help :\

Originally Posted by bombaybadboy79

Hi Dgman
I did suffer from blackouts when I was young and this nearly killed me as I passed out onto a large ceramic bowl which shattered in my back so you will need to be carefull if you are suffering from these, my high bp did not start until my mid 20's and at around 28 the doctors wanted to put me on tablets I managed not to have them for another year or so but I am on many different tablets now, This may not be the same for you or for others but I believe if they put the whole population together for which in the UK I am 0.000013 who has this condition however that ratio works out I could imagine that many would suffer from high BP and enlarged veins at the back of your head that try to compensate for the missing artery, continue to push your doctors to support you and all the best for the future, (I had to go private to get anything done for myself so this may be something your parents may want to consider)