What a scary experience, Tex.
I probably should mention that my mother went to the hospital after having a stroke, but the hospital didn't find any evidence that she'd had one. All her tests were normal. They diagnosed her with Alzheimer's. She suddenly had memory problems, but she didn't get progressively worse, as Alzheimer's patients do. Years later, another doctor said she definitely had had a stroke years earlier; they could see it in her cartoid artery to the brain. That was the first time any medical person confirmed what I had always suspected.
You do seem to fit the description of having vitamin D3 overdose. I think there is some disageement amongst the medical professionals about whether there is such as thing as a vitamin D3 overdose. You may recall that the osteoporosis doctor that I saw earlier in the year told me that you can't get an overdose, yet you found information on Mayo's site describing the symptoms.
I hope you can get to the bottom of what happened to you and that you'll recover quickly.
Gloria
Polly, And All - What About The Risk Of Vitamin D3 Overdose?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Gayle,
Wow! Thanks! I never even thought about migraines, but you're right, of course, they can indeed cause symptoms that mimic a TIA. I've got a lot of research to do.
Gloria,
Thanks for sharing that information. That's what bothers me about this whole situation - the symptoms can be ambiguous, and doctors can overlook markers. Every case is different.
I have a friend who was 60 miles from home, on a hunting trip, when he had a stroke. He was the last one to leave camp, to return home, and just before he got ready to leave, he started having the stroke. This was before the advent of cell phones, so he was alone. After a while, as the paralysis got worse, he decided he would have to try to get home, (or die there), so he crawled to his vehicle, pulled himself up into it, and drove home, even though he was partially blacking out now and then. When he finally got to the hospital, he told them that he was having a stroke, but they insisted that he was too young to be having a stoke. He lay there for two days without treatment, before a sympathetic doctor advised that he be transferred to another hospital, (the same one where I went to the ER, yesterday). After they examined him, they advised him that he had had a "complete" stroke, IOW, it was too late to reverse the paralysis.
He had arrived at the first hospital within the "critical" two hour time limit, and if they had just listened to him, and treated him for a stroke, his left arm and leg wouldn't be paralyzed, today.
Thanks, both of you.
Tex
Wow! Thanks! I never even thought about migraines, but you're right, of course, they can indeed cause symptoms that mimic a TIA. I've got a lot of research to do.
Gloria,
Thanks for sharing that information. That's what bothers me about this whole situation - the symptoms can be ambiguous, and doctors can overlook markers. Every case is different.
I have a friend who was 60 miles from home, on a hunting trip, when he had a stroke. He was the last one to leave camp, to return home, and just before he got ready to leave, he started having the stroke. This was before the advent of cell phones, so he was alone. After a while, as the paralysis got worse, he decided he would have to try to get home, (or die there), so he crawled to his vehicle, pulled himself up into it, and drove home, even though he was partially blacking out now and then. When he finally got to the hospital, he told them that he was having a stroke, but they insisted that he was too young to be having a stoke. He lay there for two days without treatment, before a sympathetic doctor advised that he be transferred to another hospital, (the same one where I went to the ER, yesterday). After they examined him, they advised him that he had had a "complete" stroke, IOW, it was too late to reverse the paralysis.
He had arrived at the first hospital within the "critical" two hour time limit, and if they had just listened to him, and treated him for a stroke, his left arm and leg wouldn't be paralyzed, today.Thanks, both of you.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Tex, I've been thinking about you all day and hope you are getting some answers. I read your post last night and was going to reply when we got a big thunderstorm and knocked the power out for several hours. I'm working at school today and just wanted to check in and let you know you're loved and worried about. You have great instincts and seem to know what path to pursue when things happen. Hope to see some good news posted soon. Take care, JoAnn
Hi JoAnn, Skippy, and Everyone,
Well, we reviewed the records from my ER visit, and discussed my symptoms, etc., but I didn't get any "solid" opinion from my doc either. He has a lot of experience with TIAs, because he practices in a retirement community, but he felt the same way as the ER doc - he doesn't believe that it was a TIA, (since there was no paralysis, or vision problems, at any time), but he can't totally rule it out, either, so his advice was to take a quarter-aspirin, (81mg), daily, just in case, and if it happens again, we'll have to do some more serious testing, (beginning with me wearing one of those heart monitors for 24 hours or so). It will take almost a week to get the results of the vitamin D test, because that has to be sent out to another lab.
When I was driving to the appointment, my hand started feeling as if it were "waking up", and sure enough, it is now almost back to normal, (less than 36 hours after it began). The facial numbness is still there, though, but I'm hoping that it will also be gone soon. It's kind of risky eating like this, because if I chew food on the right side of my mouth, I can taste nothing - I can't even detect heat or cold. On the other side, though, taste, and heat/cold sensations are normal, so I have to remember to at least "test" food there, to keep from scalding my mouth with hot food, and not even realizing it. LOL. My left nostril is normal, and my right one is numb - really a weird feeling.
Thanks for your good wishes,
Tex
Well, we reviewed the records from my ER visit, and discussed my symptoms, etc., but I didn't get any "solid" opinion from my doc either. He has a lot of experience with TIAs, because he practices in a retirement community, but he felt the same way as the ER doc - he doesn't believe that it was a TIA, (since there was no paralysis, or vision problems, at any time), but he can't totally rule it out, either, so his advice was to take a quarter-aspirin, (81mg), daily, just in case, and if it happens again, we'll have to do some more serious testing, (beginning with me wearing one of those heart monitors for 24 hours or so). It will take almost a week to get the results of the vitamin D test, because that has to be sent out to another lab.
When I was driving to the appointment, my hand started feeling as if it were "waking up", and sure enough, it is now almost back to normal, (less than 36 hours after it began). The facial numbness is still there, though, but I'm hoping that it will also be gone soon. It's kind of risky eating like this, because if I chew food on the right side of my mouth, I can taste nothing - I can't even detect heat or cold. On the other side, though, taste, and heat/cold sensations are normal, so I have to remember to at least "test" food there, to keep from scalding my mouth with hot food, and not even realizing it. LOL. My left nostril is normal, and my right one is numb - really a weird feeling.
Thanks for your good wishes,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Wayne,
Did you mean to say he didn't think it was a stroke or was that what you meant to say?
Glad to hear it's finally resolving. Hopefully, the nose was quick to get back to normal after you posted. Don't waste any time getting back there if the symptoms return, ok.
Can you take it easy there for a while? Maybe you should anyway.
Yours, Luce
Did you mean to say he didn't think it was a stroke or was that what you meant to say?
Glad to hear it's finally resolving. Hopefully, the nose was quick to get back to normal after you posted. Don't waste any time getting back there if the symptoms return, ok.
Can you take it easy there for a while? Maybe you should anyway.
Yours, Luce
Luce,
He doesn't feel that it was an embolism-connected event, but even so, one can never be sure, thus the recommendation for taking a blood thinner from here on out, (just in case his instinct is wrong).
I've been taking it easy, up until now, because I haven't been feeling all that great, but I'm beginning to feel a bit better now, so I'll probably go back to work tomorrow. That was another reason why he thinks something else caused the symptoms, because I should have been feeling normal, within a few hours, or a day at the most, if it was a TIA - I'm still feeling way below par. When I told him that I didn't get much sleep that night, he said that could even have caused the symptoms, (though that seems a little far-fetched to me, but I have to admit that I've never researched that possibility).
What puzzles me, is the fact that neither of these doctors has paid any attention to my BP excursions. I have a copy of the ER records, and I see that my BP was 187/109, pulse 104, when they started monitoring my vital signs - this was after I had been there for maybe 10 minutes, and I was calm. 26 minutes later, it was still 165/95, pulse 94. An hour and 5 minutes after that, it was still 157/86, pulse 76, and it hadn't changed much, several hours later, when I was relaxing at home.
This morning it was still 149/85, pulse 71, at 9:36, and by 1:25 this afternoon, (just before I drove to the appointment), it had finally settled down a bit to 132/78, pulse 65. When I got to the doctor's office, my readings were right back up there, again, (over 180). I checked it when I got home, (after I had settled down for a while), and it was still 164/94, pulse 60. What's with all these high readings - there has to be a clue in there somewhere?
Unfortunately, I had so many questions, that I forgot to ask the doctor about that.
I guess I'm weird, because I can see humor in the strangest places. When the ER doctor and nurse were interviewing me, they asked me to describe my symptoms, of course, and apparently I said that my left arm was numb. I had told the nurse at the registration desk the same thing, while pointing at my right arm, so she said, "you mean your right arm?", and I said, "yes, sorry about that". (I seem to do that rather frequently, but I have no idea why I do that). Anyway, the ER doc and nurse were looking at that info when they asked me, so they both turned around and said, "I thought it was your right arm", and so I had to admit that they were right. LOL. Anyway, to get to the point, I wondered why the nurse had inserted the IV into my right hand, (on the "bad" arm). Sure enough, the "Nursing Procedure" records show, (incorrectly), that she inserted the IV into my left hand.
I find that to be very funny - obviously I'm not the only one who gets left and right mixed up, sometimes. LOL.
When I was discharged from the ER, I asked the doc, (before I read the instructions on the discharge papers, which stated that I should take it easy for a day or so), if I should take it easy when I got home. He said, no, I could do whatever I wanted. So I specifically asked him if it was OK to do physical labor, and again, he said to do whatever I wanted to do. Maybe he thought that I was a hypochondriac, since I had trouble keeping my story straight about which arm was numb.
Wayne
He doesn't feel that it was an embolism-connected event, but even so, one can never be sure, thus the recommendation for taking a blood thinner from here on out, (just in case his instinct is wrong).
I've been taking it easy, up until now, because I haven't been feeling all that great, but I'm beginning to feel a bit better now, so I'll probably go back to work tomorrow. That was another reason why he thinks something else caused the symptoms, because I should have been feeling normal, within a few hours, or a day at the most, if it was a TIA - I'm still feeling way below par. When I told him that I didn't get much sleep that night, he said that could even have caused the symptoms, (though that seems a little far-fetched to me, but I have to admit that I've never researched that possibility).
What puzzles me, is the fact that neither of these doctors has paid any attention to my BP excursions. I have a copy of the ER records, and I see that my BP was 187/109, pulse 104, when they started monitoring my vital signs - this was after I had been there for maybe 10 minutes, and I was calm. 26 minutes later, it was still 165/95, pulse 94. An hour and 5 minutes after that, it was still 157/86, pulse 76, and it hadn't changed much, several hours later, when I was relaxing at home.
This morning it was still 149/85, pulse 71, at 9:36, and by 1:25 this afternoon, (just before I drove to the appointment), it had finally settled down a bit to 132/78, pulse 65. When I got to the doctor's office, my readings were right back up there, again, (over 180). I checked it when I got home, (after I had settled down for a while), and it was still 164/94, pulse 60. What's with all these high readings - there has to be a clue in there somewhere?
Unfortunately, I had so many questions, that I forgot to ask the doctor about that.
I guess I'm weird, because I can see humor in the strangest places. When the ER doctor and nurse were interviewing me, they asked me to describe my symptoms, of course, and apparently I said that my left arm was numb. I had told the nurse at the registration desk the same thing, while pointing at my right arm, so she said, "you mean your right arm?", and I said, "yes, sorry about that". (I seem to do that rather frequently, but I have no idea why I do that). Anyway, the ER doc and nurse were looking at that info when they asked me, so they both turned around and said, "I thought it was your right arm", and so I had to admit that they were right. LOL. Anyway, to get to the point, I wondered why the nurse had inserted the IV into my right hand, (on the "bad" arm). Sure enough, the "Nursing Procedure" records show, (incorrectly), that she inserted the IV into my left hand.
I find that to be very funny - obviously I'm not the only one who gets left and right mixed up, sometimes. LOL.When I was discharged from the ER, I asked the doc, (before I read the instructions on the discharge papers, which stated that I should take it easy for a day or so), if I should take it easy when I got home. He said, no, I could do whatever I wanted. So I specifically asked him if it was OK to do physical labor, and again, he said to do whatever I wanted to do. Maybe he thought that I was a hypochondriac, since I had trouble keeping my story straight about which arm was numb.
Wayne
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Oh! My!!!
Sorry that I haven't been checking in and just caught your post Tex...
Now, the worry wort part of me is coming out!!!
I'm sure hoping that your BP goes back to norm & your numbness subsides by morning.
I thought that I was a tough nut to crack!
((((HUGS))))
Dee~~
Sorry that I haven't been checking in and just caught your post Tex...
Now, the worry wort part of me is coming out!!!
I'm sure hoping that your BP goes back to norm & your numbness subsides by morning.
I thought that I was a tough nut to crack!
((((HUGS))))
Dee~~
"What the heart gives away is never gone ... It is kept in the hearts of others."
Dee,
Not to worry. I'm feeling a lot better, as time goes by. I have a hunch that there won't be much numbness left by morning, and there's a good chance that it will be completely gone by then.
Love,
Tex
Not to worry. I'm feeling a lot better, as time goes by. I have a hunch that there won't be much numbness left by morning, and there's a good chance that it will be completely gone by then.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex, I surely hope your intuition was on the money and that you are feeling quite "normal" this morning.
Actually, I'm not surprised at your blood pressure readings once you realized that something was going on......... even though you dealt with it very calmly (outwardly) and appropriately something like that can still send your blood pressure through the roof.
When I fell and split my lip, I picked myself up, cleaned up some of the blood, applied ice and drove myself to the ER and appeared quite calm and contained to everyone but my blood pressure was 190 something over 109 or close to it and I take 10 mg of lisinopril every evening. The ER doc never even mentioned my BP. I kept waiting for him to say something about it (or at least take it again) but he never did. It was still quite high when I got home and the next day. Then I left for the trip and forgot all about it.
When I went in to get the stitches out the nurse said it was high again (bottom number in the 90's). Apparently, my GP figured it was high because I was nervous about getting the stitches removed because he never mentioned it either.
Anyway, I'm not trying to draw attention to myself here, just wanted you to know that I think it can be a pretty common occurance for our BP to jump up and even stay up for a while when something "tramatic" happens to us.
That doesn't mean that you shouldn't keep track of it and certainly persue the issue if it continues. You do have a BP monitor at home, I hope. Also, I hope you use it more than I use mine.
Praying you will be symptom free ASAP.
Love, Shirley
Actually, I'm not surprised at your blood pressure readings once you realized that something was going on......... even though you dealt with it very calmly (outwardly) and appropriately something like that can still send your blood pressure through the roof.
When I fell and split my lip, I picked myself up, cleaned up some of the blood, applied ice and drove myself to the ER and appeared quite calm and contained to everyone but my blood pressure was 190 something over 109 or close to it and I take 10 mg of lisinopril every evening. The ER doc never even mentioned my BP. I kept waiting for him to say something about it (or at least take it again) but he never did. It was still quite high when I got home and the next day. Then I left for the trip and forgot all about it.
When I went in to get the stitches out the nurse said it was high again (bottom number in the 90's). Apparently, my GP figured it was high because I was nervous about getting the stitches removed because he never mentioned it either.
Anyway, I'm not trying to draw attention to myself here, just wanted you to know that I think it can be a pretty common occurance for our BP to jump up and even stay up for a while when something "tramatic" happens to us.
That doesn't mean that you shouldn't keep track of it and certainly persue the issue if it continues. You do have a BP monitor at home, I hope. Also, I hope you use it more than I use mine.
Praying you will be symptom free ASAP.
Love, Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
TEX!
Look what happens when I go out of town! LOL! Seriously, though, how are you feeling today?
I am hoping much better, dear friend.
Here is my take on this: You should certainly get the vitamin D blood test to see what your level is. However, my guess is that vitamin D is not the culprit. The symptoms are compatible, of course, but there is one major difference. Your symptoms were one-sided (right) which points more to something like a TIA. A vitamin D overdose would equally affect all parts of the body - at least there would not be a predilection for one side, IMHO. Did you mention to the doc that eye problem you had some weeks ago? It might be related but maybe not. Are you having headaches? I think some atypical migraines can have "sidedness".
I don't want to pry into your health history, but here are my thoughts. At our age cardiovascular problems are most likely diagnoses. Please make sure that all is well with that system. Meaning blood work for cholesterol (HDL and LDL), triglycerides, etc. If your cholesterol/LDL are high, you may want to consider a statin drug, which can have remarkably positive effects! Of course, I truly have no idea about your health history/genetics, etc., but would be happy to discuss further anytime.
Also, I'm sure you (our researcher extraordinaire) have been surfing the net endlessly for info. Please try to keep it all in perspective. IOW, don't allow yourself to get "medical studentitis", where you think you have every horrible thing you read about. That alone will keep your blood pressure (BP) sky high. And EVERYONE'S BP is sky-high in the E.R. EVERYONE!
Lots of love
and a 
Polly
P.S. I agree it's good idea to continue with the aspirin as long as you have symptoms. If I had my druthers, I'd recommend that you pursue further testing now while you still have symptoms. Or at least have a consultation with a specialist - is that planned?
Look what happens when I go out of town! LOL! Seriously, though, how are you feeling today?
I am hoping much better, dear friend.
Here is my take on this: You should certainly get the vitamin D blood test to see what your level is. However, my guess is that vitamin D is not the culprit. The symptoms are compatible, of course, but there is one major difference. Your symptoms were one-sided (right) which points more to something like a TIA. A vitamin D overdose would equally affect all parts of the body - at least there would not be a predilection for one side, IMHO. Did you mention to the doc that eye problem you had some weeks ago? It might be related but maybe not. Are you having headaches? I think some atypical migraines can have "sidedness".
I don't want to pry into your health history, but here are my thoughts. At our age cardiovascular problems are most likely diagnoses. Please make sure that all is well with that system. Meaning blood work for cholesterol (HDL and LDL), triglycerides, etc. If your cholesterol/LDL are high, you may want to consider a statin drug, which can have remarkably positive effects! Of course, I truly have no idea about your health history/genetics, etc., but would be happy to discuss further anytime.
Also, I'm sure you (our researcher extraordinaire) have been surfing the net endlessly for info. Please try to keep it all in perspective. IOW, don't allow yourself to get "medical studentitis", where you think you have every horrible thing you read about. That alone will keep your blood pressure (BP) sky high. And EVERYONE'S BP is sky-high in the E.R. EVERYONE!
Lots of love
and a Polly
P.S. I agree it's good idea to continue with the aspirin as long as you have symptoms. If I had my druthers, I'd recommend that you pursue further testing now while you still have symptoms. Or at least have a consultation with a specialist - is that planned?
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Good morning Tex,
Trust (truly hoping) things are better today.
Re your BP an P spike during your “event” yesterday:
Do remember those Catecholamines!!
Once these “stress” hormones are dumped into the system causing elevated BP, P (and often quite an irregular P) it often takes a good while for the body’s natural processes to eliminate them, and for those cardio-vascular signs to return to normal levels.
This also could account for increased urine output that you wondered about. Those ‘cats’ can, and sometimes do, suppress the anti-diuretic hormone, hence often producing this diuretic effect.
I did not see in your original post yesterday that a CT had been done during this ER admission? Did I miss something? That is pretty much SOP when looking at a possible stroke (embolization) event as it is always necessary to rule out a bleed before progressing with “clot-busting” therapy. Maybe, for some reason, the ER doc really didn’t think TIA from the outset? Or is this a small hospital without CT equipment?
During, prior to, or after this event, – did you notice anything resembling the ophthalmic auras you have been having the past few months?
Re: the right/left saga. Sounds as though Nobody’s Right hand knows what their Left hand is doing – and visa versa - down there in central Texas.
Must be the heat! LOL!!
Cheers,
Gayle
Trust (truly hoping) things are better today.
Re your BP an P spike during your “event” yesterday:
Do remember those Catecholamines!! Once these “stress” hormones are dumped into the system causing elevated BP, P (and often quite an irregular P) it often takes a good while for the body’s natural processes to eliminate them, and for those cardio-vascular signs to return to normal levels.
This also could account for increased urine output that you wondered about. Those ‘cats’ can, and sometimes do, suppress the anti-diuretic hormone, hence often producing this diuretic effect.
I did not see in your original post yesterday that a CT had been done during this ER admission? Did I miss something? That is pretty much SOP when looking at a possible stroke (embolization) event as it is always necessary to rule out a bleed before progressing with “clot-busting” therapy. Maybe, for some reason, the ER doc really didn’t think TIA from the outset? Or is this a small hospital without CT equipment?
During, prior to, or after this event, – did you notice anything resembling the ophthalmic auras you have been having the past few months?
Re: the right/left saga. Sounds as though Nobody’s Right hand knows what their Left hand is doing – and visa versa - down there in central Texas.
Must be the heat! LOL!! Cheers,
Gayle
Hi Polly and Shirley,
Thanks for the reassurance on BP readings in the ER. The ER readings didn't concern me as much as the reading in my doctor's office, yesterday, but as you say, I suppose that goes along with it. It seems to be a lot better this morning. An hour or so ago, it was BP 138/75, HR 79.
I've sorta reached the same conclusion, (that the vitamin D is probably not a contributor to this problem). I've stopped taking them, until I get my test results, (just in case), but my doctor also doubted that they could be an issue, (kudos to him, for that). When I ordered the test, the doctor had already gone to another patient, so I had to guess at it, when the nurse asked me which one I wanted. The lab offered a test for "Vitamin D 25", and a test for "Vitamin D 125". I picked the first one, hoping that they meant 25(OH)D, by that designation. It will take 5 or 6 days to get the results, since the sample had to be relayed to an outside lab.
Polly, the lack of a headache is part of the puzzle. The ER doctor and nurse kept asking me if I had a headache, so I assume that I should have had one. Are they always/usually part of a TIA? I read somewhere that migraines become less severe with age. The migraines that I had 8 or 9 years ago were "rough as a cob", but remember that in the last few months, I've had migraines without the headache, (only the aura), so that's certainly a possibility. Of course, during a TIA, a migraine presents without an aura, but I didn't have a headache, so that doesn't really apply to me. The ER doc also noted, (about the carotids), "no bruits", so that's a good sigh, (frankly, it was a pleasant surprise). (Actually he misspelled it as "buits", but I assume that he meant "bruits".
I forgot to mention the eye issue to my doc. I really believe that the loss of vision acuity was due to the ciprodex that the ear doc gave me, because it appeared the second day of use, and disappeared about a day after discontinuing the use of the drug. I wonder about the dexamethasone in that med, though. It's 4 to 5 times as strong as prednisone. I only used it for two days, and stopped taking it on Friday, a week ago, (9 days before "the event"). However, I had also been occasionally using another corticosteroid, (a topical creme - Triamcinolone acetonide, 0.1%), for a rash. This stuff is about 8 times as potent as prednisone, (of course the dose is not considered to be a risk, since it's topically applied, but I wonder about that, especially in light of the BP excursions). I had been using it occasionally, (not every day), for several weeks, (once or twice a day), and I believe that I used it more heavily for several days leading up to "the event", to the best of my memory. I had noticed that I seemed to be slightly light-headed, sometimes, the next day after using the creme, but it didn't seem to be a major problem at the time, and I didn't see why a creme should cause that. Maybe I'm just unusually sensitive to corticosteroids - prior to the last few weeks, it's been a long, long time since I've used any, as far as I am aware. I didn't ask my doc about that, either, because I only thought of it last night.
My triglycerides always check out in the middle of the normal range, and while my cholesterol isn't exactly great, (borderline), it's not really out of sight, either. My LDL is high, and HDL is near the bottom of the normal range.
I did note that in the ER, my glucose checked at 110, which kind of surprised me, since it's normally lower, (I hadn't eaten anything in at least 10 or 11 hours). Yep, my doc has mentioned statins, but he hasn't been pushy, (at least so far), and he didn't mention it yesterday.
Yep, when you search the internet, you can find that virtually any symptoms can apply to virtually any issue. The problem is, zebras do exist, so we do have to look out for them, once in a while. I'm still undecided, but I'm not really willing to rule out anything, at this point. My doc did offer all the testing, specialists, etc., and left that decision up to me. He does believe, though, that since nothing could be found out of order, that it wasn't a TIA. Of course, he mentioned that if it happens again, the next step will be "mandatory testing", etc. I asked him if the next one could be "the big one", and he assured me that it wouldn't be, so I'm gonna count on that, and keep looking for clues, I reckon.
I was really tired this morning, when I got up, but I feel pretty good, now. The symptoms haven't changed much. The arm is very close to normal, and the facial numbness is probably somewhat better, but still noticeable. At least my BP is going down, finally - still having slight balance problems, though, which makes me wonder about the corticosteroids. I'll bet the ones I used are probably persistent, but I haven't looked that up.
Thanks for your thoughts, and insight,
Love,
Tex
Thanks for the reassurance on BP readings in the ER. The ER readings didn't concern me as much as the reading in my doctor's office, yesterday, but as you say, I suppose that goes along with it. It seems to be a lot better this morning. An hour or so ago, it was BP 138/75, HR 79.
I've sorta reached the same conclusion, (that the vitamin D is probably not a contributor to this problem). I've stopped taking them, until I get my test results, (just in case), but my doctor also doubted that they could be an issue, (kudos to him, for that). When I ordered the test, the doctor had already gone to another patient, so I had to guess at it, when the nurse asked me which one I wanted. The lab offered a test for "Vitamin D 25", and a test for "Vitamin D 125". I picked the first one, hoping that they meant 25(OH)D, by that designation. It will take 5 or 6 days to get the results, since the sample had to be relayed to an outside lab.
Polly, the lack of a headache is part of the puzzle. The ER doctor and nurse kept asking me if I had a headache, so I assume that I should have had one. Are they always/usually part of a TIA? I read somewhere that migraines become less severe with age. The migraines that I had 8 or 9 years ago were "rough as a cob", but remember that in the last few months, I've had migraines without the headache, (only the aura), so that's certainly a possibility. Of course, during a TIA, a migraine presents without an aura, but I didn't have a headache, so that doesn't really apply to me. The ER doc also noted, (about the carotids), "no bruits", so that's a good sigh, (frankly, it was a pleasant surprise). (Actually he misspelled it as "buits", but I assume that he meant "bruits".
I forgot to mention the eye issue to my doc. I really believe that the loss of vision acuity was due to the ciprodex that the ear doc gave me, because it appeared the second day of use, and disappeared about a day after discontinuing the use of the drug. I wonder about the dexamethasone in that med, though. It's 4 to 5 times as strong as prednisone. I only used it for two days, and stopped taking it on Friday, a week ago, (9 days before "the event"). However, I had also been occasionally using another corticosteroid, (a topical creme - Triamcinolone acetonide, 0.1%), for a rash. This stuff is about 8 times as potent as prednisone, (of course the dose is not considered to be a risk, since it's topically applied, but I wonder about that, especially in light of the BP excursions). I had been using it occasionally, (not every day), for several weeks, (once or twice a day), and I believe that I used it more heavily for several days leading up to "the event", to the best of my memory. I had noticed that I seemed to be slightly light-headed, sometimes, the next day after using the creme, but it didn't seem to be a major problem at the time, and I didn't see why a creme should cause that. Maybe I'm just unusually sensitive to corticosteroids - prior to the last few weeks, it's been a long, long time since I've used any, as far as I am aware. I didn't ask my doc about that, either, because I only thought of it last night.
My triglycerides always check out in the middle of the normal range, and while my cholesterol isn't exactly great, (borderline), it's not really out of sight, either. My LDL is high, and HDL is near the bottom of the normal range.
I did note that in the ER, my glucose checked at 110, which kind of surprised me, since it's normally lower, (I hadn't eaten anything in at least 10 or 11 hours). Yep, my doc has mentioned statins, but he hasn't been pushy, (at least so far), and he didn't mention it yesterday.Yep, when you search the internet, you can find that virtually any symptoms can apply to virtually any issue.
The problem is, zebras do exist, so we do have to look out for them, once in a while. I'm still undecided, but I'm not really willing to rule out anything, at this point. My doc did offer all the testing, specialists, etc., and left that decision up to me. He does believe, though, that since nothing could be found out of order, that it wasn't a TIA. Of course, he mentioned that if it happens again, the next step will be "mandatory testing", etc. I asked him if the next one could be "the big one", and he assured me that it wouldn't be, so I'm gonna count on that, and keep looking for clues, I reckon.I was really tired this morning, when I got up, but I feel pretty good, now. The symptoms haven't changed much. The arm is very close to normal, and the facial numbness is probably somewhat better, but still noticeable. At least my BP is going down, finally - still having slight balance problems, though, which makes me wonder about the corticosteroids. I'll bet the ones I used are probably persistent, but I haven't looked that up.
Thanks for your thoughts, and insight,
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Gayle,
To be honest, I probably was somewhat familiar with "catecholamines" at one time, but I've not seen the term in so long, that I've forgotten virtually everything that I might have ever known about it. What you are saying, makes perfect sense, though, so I'm sure that probably explains what happened.
No, this is the biggest hospital in the area, with satellites in many cities in Texas, and they have plenty of CT machines. They even used one on me back in 2000, when they were trying to figure out why I had uncontrollable diarrhea, (the GI doc was sure that I had a tumor). I'm pretty sure that the reason the doc didn't order any scans, is because I didn't have any sign of a headache, (and intracranial bleeding should cause a headache), and a CT scan is not of much value in a TIA/stroke situation, if intracranial bleeding is not a significant possibility. They didn't give me any “clot-busting” therapy, (I had already taken a couple of full-strength aspirins, before I left home). I noticed on the report that the nurse had initially planned to give me vicodin, but canceled it later, (since I had no pain).
I didn't notice any auras just before, or during the event, though I had an abbreviated episode the next morning, (yesterday). It didn't last long, though, and wasn't very dramatic. I did notice that as I was driving to the ER, my eyes didn't seem to be photosensitive, so there wasn't one going on at the time, (besides, they typically only last about 20 to 30 minutes). I had a hard time completely waking up that morning, but that wasn't surprising, since I got to sleep about 3 am. I suppose it's possible that if an acephalgic migraine occurred, it might have occurred before I woke up.
Thanks for the insight and information,
Tex
To be honest, I probably was somewhat familiar with "catecholamines" at one time, but I've not seen the term in so long, that I've forgotten virtually everything that I might have ever known about it.
What you are saying, makes perfect sense, though, so I'm sure that probably explains what happened.No, this is the biggest hospital in the area, with satellites in many cities in Texas, and they have plenty of CT machines. They even used one on me back in 2000, when they were trying to figure out why I had uncontrollable diarrhea, (the GI doc was sure that I had a tumor). I'm pretty sure that the reason the doc didn't order any scans, is because I didn't have any sign of a headache, (and intracranial bleeding should cause a headache), and a CT scan is not of much value in a TIA/stroke situation, if intracranial bleeding is not a significant possibility. They didn't give me any “clot-busting” therapy, (I had already taken a couple of full-strength aspirins, before I left home). I noticed on the report that the nurse had initially planned to give me vicodin, but canceled it later, (since I had no pain).
I didn't notice any auras just before, or during the event, though I had an abbreviated episode the next morning, (yesterday). It didn't last long, though, and wasn't very dramatic. I did notice that as I was driving to the ER, my eyes didn't seem to be photosensitive, so there wasn't one going on at the time, (besides, they typically only last about 20 to 30 minutes). I had a hard time completely waking up that morning, but that wasn't surprising, since I got to sleep about 3 am. I suppose it's possible that if an acephalgic migraine occurred, it might have occurred before I woke up.
Thanks for the insight and information,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Wayne,
Regardless of the cause, you need to work on getting the LDL down while getting the HDL up. I'm with Polly in terms of the specialist work-up. I hope you've already made an appointment. You may have to change some of your eating habits -- sure hope you like tuna fish!! Ha!
Hope you don't mind the "piling on," but sometimes ya just have to get tough with people! Grrrr!
Yours, Luce
Regardless of the cause, you need to work on getting the LDL down while getting the HDL up. I'm with Polly in terms of the specialist work-up. I hope you've already made an appointment. You may have to change some of your eating habits -- sure hope you like tuna fish!! Ha!
Hope you don't mind the "piling on," but sometimes ya just have to get tough with people! Grrrr!
Yours, Luce