Thursday, May 27, 2010
Waiting On The Doctor
I am waiting to see the Doctor for my followup visit after having a TIA. This is my first visit and after filling out all the paperwork I understand why we need reform in the medical field. With computers and the ability to interact I can't seem to understand why they just can't reach out and get all the records from all the other places that I had to fill out the information. On well I guess some would say they are happy "big brother" is not holding all that information out there. As I wait I have noticed that I have become one of the 'older ones' in the waiting room. I am quickly becoming a senior. While I am sure this will be just the beginning, I was hoping to hold this day off. Now I understand how my mother felt as she waited. I also have gained a more keen incite about aging from a "much older man" who was also waiting to be seen. This experience might just be much better than what the Doctor will be able to tell me. Well more about that later. It sucks getting old and it doesn't get any better.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
TIA
Transient ischemic attack
Overview
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is an episode in which a person has stroke -like symptoms for less than 24 hours, usually less than 1-2 hours.
A TIA is often considered a warning sign that a true stroke may happen in the future if something is not done to prevent it.
Symptoms
Symptoms begin suddenly, last only a short time (from a few minutes to 24 hours), and disappear completely. They may occur again at a later time. Symptoms usually occur on the same side of the body if more than one body part is involved.
A TIA is different than a small stroke. However, the symptoms of TIA are the same as a stroke and include the sudden development of:
Muscle weakness of the face, arm, or leg (usually only on one side of the body)
Numbness or tingling on one side of the body
Trouble speaking or understanding others who are speaking
Problems with eyesight (double vision, loss of all or part of vision)
Changes in sensation, involving touch, pain, temperature, pressure, hearing, and taste
Change in alertness (sleepiness, less responsive, unconscious, or coma)
Personality, mood, or emotional changes
Confusion or loss of memory
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty writing or reading
Lack of coordination and balance, clumsiness, or trouble walking
Abnormal sensation of movement (vertigo) or dizziness
Lack of control over the bladder or bowels
Inability to recognize or identify sensory stimuli (agnosia)
Treatment
The goal is to prevent a stroke from occurring.
If you have had a TIA within the last 48 hours, you will likely be admitted to the hospital so that doctors can determine the cause and treatment.
Underlying disorders such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and blood disorders, should be treated appropriately.
Blood thinners, such as aspirin, may be prescribed to reduce blood clotting. Others include dipyridamole, clopidogrel, Aggrenox or heparin, Coumadin, or other similar medications. Treatment may be continued for an indefinite time period.
Surgery (carotid endarterectomy) may be appropriate for some people who have clogged neck arteries.
Smoking should be stopped.
Your health care provider may recommend a low-fat and low-salt diet. Other dietary changes may be recommended.
Causes
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is caused by temporary disturbance of blood supply to an area of the brain, which results in a sudden, brief decrease in brain function. (A decrease in brain function is called a neurologic deficit.)
A TIA is different than a small stroke. The symptoms of TIAs do not last as long as a stroke and do not show changes on CT or MRI scans. (Small strokes do show changes on such tests.)
The temporary loss of blood flow to the brain can be caused by:
Blood clot within an artery of the brain
Blood clot that travels to the brain from somewhere else in the body (for example, the heart)
Injury to blood vessels
Narrowing of a blood vessel in the brain or leading to the brain
For instance, the temporary disruption in blood flow could be due to a blood clot that occurs and then dissolves.
Less common causes of TIA include:
An irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation
Certain blood disorders, including polycythemia, sickle cell anemia, and syndromes where the blood is very thick
Conditions that cause blood vessels problems such as fibromuscular dysplasia, systemic lupus erythematosus, and syphilis
Inflammation of the arteries such as arteritis, polyarteritis, and granulomatous angiitis
Spasm of the small arteries in the brain
Atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries") is a condition where fatty deposits occur on the inner lining of the arteries. This condition dramatically increases the risk for both TIAs and stroke. Approximately 80-90% of people who have a stroke due to atherosclerosis had a TIA episode before.
Other risks for TIA include high blood pressure, heart disease, migraine headaches, smoking, diabetes, and increasing age.
Tests & diagnosis
TIAs do not show changes on CT or MRI scans. (Small strokes do show changes on such tests.)Because symptoms and signs may have completely disappeared by the time one gets to the hospital, a diagnosis of a TIA may be made on a person's medical history alone.
A physical examination should include a neurological exam, which may be abnormal during an episode but normal after the episode has passed.
Blood pressure may be high. The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and arteries. An abnormal sound called a bruit may be heard when listening to the carotid artery in the neck or other artery. A bruit is caused by irregular blood flow. In some cases, low blood pressure may be seen before symptoms of a TIA occur.
Tests will be done to rule out a stroke or other disorders that may cause the symptoms.
Head CT scan or brain MRI is almost always done.
An echocardiogram may be done if your doctor thinks you may have a blood clot from the heart.
Carotid duplex (ultrasound) can show if the carotid arteries in your neck have narrowed. Cerebral arteriogram reveals which blood vessels is blocked or bleeding.
EKG and heart rhythm monitoring may be done to check for irregular heart beats.
Additional tests and procedures may include:
Blood clotting tests, including PT, to rule out a blood disorder
Blood chemistry
Complete blood count (CBC)
ECG
ESR (Sedimentation rate)
Serum lipids
Tests for syphilis
Your doctor may use these tests to check high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and peripheral vascular disease.
Prognosis
By definition, an episode of TIA is brief and recovery is complete. It may recur later that same day or at a later time. Some people have only a single episode, some have recurrent episodes, and some will have a stroke. A TIA needs to be treated as aggressively as a stroke. Risk for future stroke depends on the cause of TIA and management of risk factors.
Prevention
Prevention of TIA includes controlling the risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and other associated disorders. Smoking should be stopped. See: Stroke risk factors and prevention
Complications
Complications of TIA include:
Death of brain cells due to too little blood flow to the brain
Injury that occurs from falls
Stroke
Overview
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is an episode in which a person has stroke -like symptoms for less than 24 hours, usually less than 1-2 hours.
A TIA is often considered a warning sign that a true stroke may happen in the future if something is not done to prevent it.
Symptoms
Symptoms begin suddenly, last only a short time (from a few minutes to 24 hours), and disappear completely. They may occur again at a later time. Symptoms usually occur on the same side of the body if more than one body part is involved.
A TIA is different than a small stroke. However, the symptoms of TIA are the same as a stroke and include the sudden development of:
Muscle weakness of the face, arm, or leg (usually only on one side of the body)
Numbness or tingling on one side of the body
Trouble speaking or understanding others who are speaking
Problems with eyesight (double vision, loss of all or part of vision)
Changes in sensation, involving touch, pain, temperature, pressure, hearing, and taste
Change in alertness (sleepiness, less responsive, unconscious, or coma)
Personality, mood, or emotional changes
Confusion or loss of memory
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty writing or reading
Lack of coordination and balance, clumsiness, or trouble walking
Abnormal sensation of movement (vertigo) or dizziness
Lack of control over the bladder or bowels
Inability to recognize or identify sensory stimuli (agnosia)
Treatment
The goal is to prevent a stroke from occurring.
If you have had a TIA within the last 48 hours, you will likely be admitted to the hospital so that doctors can determine the cause and treatment.
Underlying disorders such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and blood disorders, should be treated appropriately.
Blood thinners, such as aspirin, may be prescribed to reduce blood clotting. Others include dipyridamole, clopidogrel, Aggrenox or heparin, Coumadin, or other similar medications. Treatment may be continued for an indefinite time period.
Surgery (carotid endarterectomy) may be appropriate for some people who have clogged neck arteries.
Smoking should be stopped.
Your health care provider may recommend a low-fat and low-salt diet. Other dietary changes may be recommended.
Causes
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is caused by temporary disturbance of blood supply to an area of the brain, which results in a sudden, brief decrease in brain function. (A decrease in brain function is called a neurologic deficit.)
A TIA is different than a small stroke. The symptoms of TIAs do not last as long as a stroke and do not show changes on CT or MRI scans. (Small strokes do show changes on such tests.)
The temporary loss of blood flow to the brain can be caused by:
Blood clot within an artery of the brain
Blood clot that travels to the brain from somewhere else in the body (for example, the heart)
Injury to blood vessels
Narrowing of a blood vessel in the brain or leading to the brain
For instance, the temporary disruption in blood flow could be due to a blood clot that occurs and then dissolves.
Less common causes of TIA include:
An irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation
Certain blood disorders, including polycythemia, sickle cell anemia, and syndromes where the blood is very thick
Conditions that cause blood vessels problems such as fibromuscular dysplasia, systemic lupus erythematosus, and syphilis
Inflammation of the arteries such as arteritis, polyarteritis, and granulomatous angiitis
Spasm of the small arteries in the brain
Atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries") is a condition where fatty deposits occur on the inner lining of the arteries. This condition dramatically increases the risk for both TIAs and stroke. Approximately 80-90% of people who have a stroke due to atherosclerosis had a TIA episode before.
Other risks for TIA include high blood pressure, heart disease, migraine headaches, smoking, diabetes, and increasing age.
Tests & diagnosis
TIAs do not show changes on CT or MRI scans. (Small strokes do show changes on such tests.)Because symptoms and signs may have completely disappeared by the time one gets to the hospital, a diagnosis of a TIA may be made on a person's medical history alone.
A physical examination should include a neurological exam, which may be abnormal during an episode but normal after the episode has passed.
Blood pressure may be high. The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and arteries. An abnormal sound called a bruit may be heard when listening to the carotid artery in the neck or other artery. A bruit is caused by irregular blood flow. In some cases, low blood pressure may be seen before symptoms of a TIA occur.
Tests will be done to rule out a stroke or other disorders that may cause the symptoms.
Head CT scan or brain MRI is almost always done.
An echocardiogram may be done if your doctor thinks you may have a blood clot from the heart.
Carotid duplex (ultrasound) can show if the carotid arteries in your neck have narrowed. Cerebral arteriogram reveals which blood vessels is blocked or bleeding.
EKG and heart rhythm monitoring may be done to check for irregular heart beats.
Additional tests and procedures may include:
Blood clotting tests, including PT, to rule out a blood disorder
Blood chemistry
Complete blood count (CBC)
ECG
ESR (Sedimentation rate)
Serum lipids
Tests for syphilis
Your doctor may use these tests to check high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and peripheral vascular disease.
Prognosis
By definition, an episode of TIA is brief and recovery is complete. It may recur later that same day or at a later time. Some people have only a single episode, some have recurrent episodes, and some will have a stroke. A TIA needs to be treated as aggressively as a stroke. Risk for future stroke depends on the cause of TIA and management of risk factors.
Prevention
Prevention of TIA includes controlling the risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and other associated disorders. Smoking should be stopped. See: Stroke risk factors and prevention
Complications
Complications of TIA include:
Death of brain cells due to too little blood flow to the brain
Injury that occurs from falls
Stroke
TIA
Ok so you think only old people have strokes. Well last week at age 58 I had a TIA. For most of you who don't know about them it usually signals a major stroke might be coming soon.
Monday, May 10, 2010
First Mother's Day Without Mom
Yesterday I experience my first mother's day without my mom. It seemed strange not to see her. I know that she is in a much better place but it still hurts. They say the heart never forgets but not seeing her made me so sad. I guess this is just a part of life. All I can say is this: Love them while they are alive and your memories will remain alive.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Death Never Gets Easy
Friday we buried our mother after 89 wonderful years on this earth. We moved from being just children and become adults. While we have been practicing adults for some time now, something had changed. No longer were we caring for our mother but my sister and I began caring fro each other. As a son with three grown children of my own, the picture has changed. Death has somehow once again visited and left us wanting. At this time only God can comfort.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Parents Get Old. That is a fact
Ok, I know the title seems strange but the truth is that our Parents who took care of us when we were little are now in our care. We will never understand it all no matter how hard we try. Age happens and along with it comes all the pain and your body doesn't work the same way. As children we find it hard to see them go from being our caregivers to being cared for. This is the First Lesson: Our Parents Will Get Old.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
