Could I have had a TIA

[SunshineGirl00]

Hi -
A few weeks ago, I was sitting at my desk at work. No real stress, pretty calm. All of a sudden, my vision started to disappear from the top left corner diagonally down. It was like a shadow was walking into my peripheral vision, or a curtain was coming down, just bizzarre, so I turned to see what it was. There was nothing there and my vision came back. It didn't last but maybe 5 seconds, but it was definitely weird. My blood pressure is usually fine, but sometimes spikes up to 180/90 for short periods, usually when I'm stressed. My cardiologist mentioned that those spikes weren't good and could lead to a stroke. My question is, since this episode was so brief, could it have been a TIA?
Thanks.

[StrokePT]

not being a doctor, i can't say for sure... but it doesn't sound like a TIA... TIAs usually have full-on stroke-like symptoms (numbness/paraplegia in half the body) that last longer than 5 seconds (usually at least long enough to warrant a hospital trip) but less than a day... then again, the definition of TIA is pretty loose and this may fall into it...
either way, these are warning signs and you should follow up with your doctor at some point-- let him or her know your symptoms and be sure you keep your BP controlled and your other risk factors DOWN...

good luck!

[SunshineGirl00]

Thanks. I was hoping it was unlikely since it was of such a short duration. I will mention it to my doctor, however, the next time I go. I try to take care of myself, weight is good, cholesterol could be probably be better (but the ratio is good), I exercise nearly everyday now. I'm just having a little difficulty with minimizing stress (and those bp spikes). Thanks again for your advice.

[strokesurvivor]

Dear Sunshine Girl100,

I read your post with interest. I hope I can help you – I am a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) survivor, May 2007. It sounds as if you may have suffered a warning prior to a TIA. I had no warning signs at all, I believe my TIA happened whilst I slept! The only sign I had a problem manifested itself over a period of 3 weeks. I lost my balace and started talking like a drunk person – then it got much worse until I consulted my British Doctor who confirmed I had suffered a TIA. A TIA if untreated like mine runs for about 10 hours, now I don’t want to frighten you, but everyone should be aware of what happens to you brain during a stroke.

Every minute (60 seconds) you lose:
1.9 million neurons;
14 billion synapses;
7.5 miles of myelinated fibres.
Source: Jeffrey L. Saver M.D., professor of neurology University of California and director of the UCLA Stroke Centre]

So, over the 10 hours of my TIA, I must have lost around:
1.2 billion neurons;
8.3 trillion synapses;
4,470 miles of myelinated fibres.

That's a lot of bits of my BRAIN!

So, my advice to you is keep in close contact with your Doctor, but if you suffer a similar episode, forget your primary health care – call the EMERGENCY Services immediately or ask your colleague(s) to do this for you if they see you in difficulties. Don’t procrastinate, you will lose 1.9 million brain cells every minute. Don’t try and ‘tough it out’, please, you owe it to yourself to get emergency help.

Please take care of youself and go for a walk/holiday/kick the cat whenever you feel stress – it’s a killer.

I hope I haven’t frightened you just prompted you to take care!

[SunshineGirl00]

Strokesurvivor -
Thanks for your reply. I go from scared to blowing it off as nothing. 5 seconds isn't much... perhaps it could have been nothing but a little dizziness or something. I don't know. I phoned my GP's office and left a message, my return call came from the physician's assistant who told me that perhaps is indicates a detached retina and that should it happen again, I should see an opthamologist. I don't know if she mentioned it to the MD or not. I certainly don't want to lose portions of my brain. I started taking aspirin along with my cartia. If it was a TIA, that really cannot be determined at this point anyway. I watch what I eat, try to exercise everyday, and take my meds. What else can I do?