My hospital visit today regarding the TIAs !

[Braveheart]

Hello again dear friends,

Just thought I'd let you know how today went with the Professor of Neurology at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. Sadly, it went badly. I'm STILL no further forward with this ordeal! I can't tell you how angry and upset I am this evening. I don't think I have cursed as much as I have this afternoon. I'm sorry, I'm a in a really bad mood about it all.

I was with the Professor (who is a leading Stroke/TIA specialist) for approximately 1 hr. He took a full medical history, looked through past notes and then gave me a thorough examination, including listening to my heart and taking my blood-pressure. Finally he examined all my MRI x-rays of my brain and neck vessels from a year ago. He then tells me, he too thinks the 'grey like' curtain that affects my left eye is migraine. He feels my dizzy episodes may be heart related (possibly a brief and sudden drop in blood pressure).

So, now he's bouncing me back to the cardiologist. They are all bouncing me to and fro and I'm sick of it, I really am. I know these are NOT migraine and I'm fed up with people not finding the answers. The weirdest thing is my last Neurologist said I had leisions on the brain scan that indicated old TIAs. This doctor says my neuro scans are entirely normal with no leisons. What and who am I suppose to believe????

Look, I'm sorry for moaning so much. I'm just totally at my wits end here. I've told my Mom I can't go on fighting for answers with this, I'm tired. My Mom said I should call my friend in Houston and see if there is anyone good in Houston I can see for a 3rd opinion whilst I'm there at the end of this month.

Well, that's my day friends.

Hope you all had a better one.

Take care and God Bless,

Jonathan

p.s. I would like to talk with Bob Gleason via email, but I do not have his email address. If you are there Bob, I would very much like to know how you are doing.

My email is: [email protected]

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Jonathan

There are many great cardiologists and surgeons in the Houston area. Lisa and Dick can recommend the best for you. If you would like to email anyone that posts here proceed to the members profile section, locate the member then and click on the link.

Truly wishing you the best.
Take care and check out this link. Highly regarded.
http://www.tmc.edu/thi/

 

[Bob Gleason]

Hi Jonathan

Hi Jonathan

Sorry to hear of your frustrations.......We both seem to be bouncing around from test to test........dr to dr.

I still have the TIA-like symptoms. Last week I had a TEE which discovered that I had a communication between ventricles and it indicated PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale)

http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic2494.htm

he initially told me that this could be the cause of the symptoms I am having, but then he added......possible cause but not probable cause.

His report has been forwarded to my cardio but I have not "heard" his interpretation..........

Our quest continues.

 

[Bob Gleason]

Jonathan: my email address

Jonathan: my email address

My email address is [email protected]

 

[mainframe]

Hi Jonathon,

I also suffer from what sounds like the same thing. It's like a blind has been pulled down over my left eye, but there are small areas within the blind that I can see through. Sure seems odd. It's been described to me as an "Occular Migraine.". In my case, it only seems to last for a couple of minutes, and only happens every few weeks. I've never really been to bothered by it, a curiousity more than anything.

I've never thought about the condition as being heart related. My aortic value seems to be down to .65 and I'm planning surgery in about 6 months, it will interesting to see if the occular migraines get better, worse or stay the same.

Chris.

 

[Mara]

Jonathan-
I think your mom is right. You should see a doctor while you are in Houston! You can't be too sure about those NHS guys.
My husband, David, is from Glasgow and his aunt is having a terrible time with consultants up there. They bounce her around all over and can't get her heart problem fixed. She has a rhythm problem and keeps ending up in hospital for electric shock conversion...this has been going on for 2 years! But, she "doesn't want to make trouble and th e doctors know best." Baloney! Get that thing fixed.

Your troubles, and her's, do not inspire my confidence in the NHS should David and I ever move back to the UK!

Good Luck Jonathan!

-Mara

 

[Braveheart]

Thanks for the support

Thanks for the support

Hi Friends

Just wanted to say a big "thank you" for your replies. It's nice to know that others care and understand. Sometimes I feel very alone with all that's happening to me.

Bob, I'm so sorry you're having a rough time. I do sincerely hope they can get you sorted out real soon. I shall email you soon. Thanks.

Mara, in reply to your message - interestingly all my treatment has been done in the private sector here in the UK. I have extremely good company medical insurance that has paid for everything. Yesterday's consultation in the private section of the hospital cost £200. But, I'm still no further forward. Being able too pay for treatment doesn't always get you anywhere I'm afraid! Well, that's my experience anyhow.

Thanks for the advise anyhow and I'm still thinking it over about seeing someone in Houston. I haven't got a whole lot of money, but if there was some way I could get to the bottom of this I'd find the money.

Take care friends,

Jonathan

 

[hensylee]

Dear Jonathan - my heart goes out for your suffering - you too, Bob. It is so frustrating waiting to hear about the things they can't find.

I have a cousin in Houston who is a nurse and worked a long time in the heart section of Methodist Hospital and I think that's where Dr DeBakey was (the world famous heart surgeon) so you know they are good. There is another hospital that is also good; I will have to ask her and post to you. You can search them out on the internet, make your appointments before you arrive and perhaps get some answers. Since you have good insurance, they can also check that out before you get here (in the good ole USA, that's the first question they ask). I wish you well and will get back to you with the other hospital name. God bless

 

[Bill Hall]

Jonathon - Good luck with your continued problem and keep us posted. I just started a new job down in Va and will be looking for a new cardiologist in Jan. I am also getting dizzy and will ask the new guy. My old cardiologist in NJ told me the problem was not heart related. My wife seems to think it is diabetes. I will check both.

 

[hensylee]

Johathan - the other hospital in Houston is St Luke's. My cousin tells me Dr Cooley at that hospital is as good as Dr DeBakey was. She doesn't know any of the drs at Methodist Hosp anymore as she retired several yrs ago. Good luck in your searching. God bless.