TIA symptoms?

[catwoman]

I saw my cardiologist today -- on my 5th anniversary of my MVR, by the way -- for a regular echo and checkup.

I had a wierd situation that arose the last weekend in April. I was at a cat show and became tired, but not overly, and had problems concentrating on the job I was doing.
The tiredness moved into fatigue, which I had for about 3 weeks, along with a lot of yawning (lost count at 30 yawns in less than an hour).

I assumed it was hemolytic anemia, since I do have a little perivalvular regurgitation, diagnosed with a TEE last summer.

My cardio today said he thinks I had a TIA. (I used to take a baby aspirin daily, but dropped it because of bruising.) However, I don't think so. A TEE wouldn't cause fatigue -- not merely tiredness, but fatigue like I had pre-op & post-op -- lasting nearly 3 weeks.

The echo showed no changes from one on 7/27/07.

I have to have blood cultures, wear a Holter monitor (never had one before) and have a carotid scan. Next cardio visit will be in October.

Cardio said I can go back to my normal activities (walking, biking, etc.).

Any thoughts? I really, really don't think I have had a TIA.

 

[Nancy]

Joe probably had about 15 TIAs. He had various symptoms. I will list some of them.

Stabbing pain in his head in conjunction with confusion.
Speaking "garbage" and not knowing what he had said
Called me to help rewind the garden hose because he forgot how to do it, coupled with general confusion.
Loss of vision in one eye, happened several times
Brief moments of uncoordinated movements
Dizziness

As you can see, the symptoms were quite varied. He did see a neurologist for a while, and this doctor explained that the symptoms were dependent on where the small particles were passing in the brain. He could even tell by the symptoms which areas were affected.

Another doctor told us that the particles could be made up of many things, small clots, cholesterol plaques, calcium deposits that broke off.

BTW, he recovered from all of these in a brief period of time, probably less than two hours, but remained tired for a couple of days afterward.

These happened with anticoagulation in the correct range, with it in a high range and also a low range. So I have to think that in Joe's case, they weren't all clots.

 

[catwoman]

Nancy:

The only problems I had were not remembering to properly mark all of my paperwork -- and I was being rushed by another person in the job I was doing and had a lot of writing down observations -- and just that I was tired. No dizziness, no confusion, no slurring of speech, no visual problems, etc., etc.

That's why I don't buy the TIA diagnosis. Anyway, it's nearly 2 months after this happened, so it'd be hard to use TIA as a diagnosis with the few problems I had.

My main problem was utter fatigue. Very reminiscent of what I went through pre-op and post-op.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Nancy:

The only problems I had were not remembering to properly mark all of my paperwork -- and I was being rushed by another person in the job I was doing and had a lot of writing down observations -- and just that I was tired. No dizziness, no confusion, no slurring of speech, no visual problems, etc., etc.

That's why I don't buy the TIA diagnosis. Anyway, it's nearly 2 months after this happened, so it'd be hard to use TIA as a diagnosis with the few problems I had.

My main problem was utter fatigue. Very reminiscent of what I went through pre-op and post-op.

I'm inclined to agree with you Marsha.
It sounds like your Cardio didn't really 'hear' you.

You may want to pass your observations by your PCP and/or another Cardiologist.

'AL C'

 

[Karlynn]

I'm inclined to agree with you Marsha.
It sounds like your Cardio didn't really 'hear' you.

You may want to pass your observations by your PCP and/or another Cardiologist.

'AL C'

I'll echo Al's comments. Are you on any other meds besides warfarin?

 

[geebee]

Marsha,

I have never had fatigue with TIAs. Pain, numbness, loss of coordination but never fatigue or yawning.

I have had yawning and fatigue with CHF and A-Fib.

 

[aussigal]

Just thought I'd throw this into the mix to give you something else to think about.

I had excessive yawning post-op...much like you describe, many many times in an hour, and was frequently fatigued...I recall the "vagus nerve" having something to do with it...have you any spinal or neck issues or headaches ...

A drop in your BP can also cause your mentioned symptoms ...your BP is also related to the Vagus nerve....maybe its time for your BP medication to be reviewed.

 

[catwoman]

I'm not on any BP meds. Have only taken BP meds once, for 1 month post-op (SOP for OHS patients). Then I was taken off.
My BP at the cardiologist's office was 110/70.

I had excessive yawning pre-op and some post-op. I had to continually apologize for yawning while speaking to friends. The yawning was from not enough oxygen. My friends noted afterwards that I was often pale or gray pre-op.

A few friends have asked recently if I was feeling well, and when I'd say that I was a little tired, they commented that I was pale.

I never have headaches.
I hit my head on the driver's side window in a car accident -- over 35 years ago. I don't believe that would suddenly cause problems now.

 

[Nancy]

Fatigue and paleness can indicate anemia, which can cause low oxygenation which might trigger yawning. Have you had any bloodwork done?