Cardiac involvement in neuro symptoms - Heart Disorders Message Board

Gojoe · 02-15-2006, 07:25 PM

I am posting this in the heart forum as my ticker has been the main problem for years, but something else has come up that may be related and I would like some advice. I take meds for HBP and to regulate my heart beat and have an enlarged left ventricle. One day last week, I momentarily lost vision in one eye at the same time I was having a run of PVC's. The vision returned within a few minutes (less than 5). My cardiologist had me do echos of my heart and carotids (both negative) and a recent thallium stress test was normal. My BP seems fine. He increased a heart med and is having me take an aspirin rather than coumadin. Does this seem like a good approach? I have no other symptoms. Should I insist on coumadin, although I would like to avoid it if possible.

For years I thought my main risk was a heart attack! Sounds like I have something else to think about.

enie · 02-15-2006, 09:54 PM

I don’t know if this will help, but here goes…..
I take plavix and aspirin together and it helps my circulation quit a bit. It doesn't give me the side effects like the blood thinners did, but for me it works just as good. The Doctor has told me that as long as it is working for me, that for now, they are able to postpone my next heart procedure (more Stents).
I was diagnosed with three heart diseases, I’ve had a BypassX5, chronic Dresslers, Stents, plus I have had a pacemaker for four years (which stopped my black outs).
What happened to your eyes has not happened to me in the exact same way. With me it was just very short blind spells or black out spells, and hard heart thumps. They found that my heart was stopping 8 and 9 seconds at a time and quickly gave me a pacemaker.
I think two of my sons might have had the eye symptoms you describe though. Theirs came with dizziness, heart flutter, and sometimes falling.
My youngest son, 27, has had a short version of your symptoms for many years. The Doctor told him that his temporary blindness and falling was his blood pressure dropping too low too fast when he stands up fast. He has to stand up slowly and stand still for a minute befor he starts walking. He also has migraines that make him temporarily have partial sight, but not blind. It takes his sight several minutes befor it returns.
My other son, 35, just recently had that problem and they diagnosed him with diabetes and high blood pressure. Symptoms stopped when he got his sugar and BP under control with diet.
They both have Marfan, so I worry a lot, but no sign of aorta problems, thank God.
enie

travkrisjas · 02-25-2006, 05:19 PM

My husband had a fainting spell about a year ago. They ordered a whole bunch of tests, including a tilt table test. He fainted during it and his heart stopped until they laid the table down flat again. They diagnosed him as having Neurocardiogenic Syncope. Which basically means that he passes out because his brain is convinced that he is having a sudden loss in blood. He's not, but that's what it thinks. They said that it is a miscommunication between your brain and your heart. His blood pressure is abnormally low and his pulse stays around 45 (also very low). They wanted to put a pacemaker in, but says they'll wait for a couple more years, since he was only 22 at the time and he wasn't really sure if he wanted to have it done. He's doing better now, he's learned to realize the first symptom and then takes it easy, or just sits back down.