PLEASE HELP I'M 20 AND HAVE LOTS OF STROKES - Stroke Message Board

LisaWh · 12-21-2000, 12:08 AM

I'm 20 years old and I have been having STROKES since I was 15. I have been on so many drugs and had so many tests and my Dr. can't tell me what is wrong wih me. I am now happily married with one child, and my husband needs help understanding that these strokes are lifelong for me and that I can't change that. During my last Big stroke (in August 2000)I lost a lot of my memory, and my Dr. saw a new large area of brain damage. From this large stoke I can't remember some things and my husband is always making fun of it, and sometimes gets mad because I can't remember what he might have said last week. I don't know what is causing my strokes or what to do about it. Things are really tuff around here financially because I can't work. And I am always having to take the blame for that because I can't go out there and work. I am stuck in a tuff spot with my medical problems dating back 5 years, and not knowing what is causing this. I have done so much and some times I feel like just giving up. Maybe someone can give me some feedback or support as to what I might be able to do.

cheliqua · 12-21-2000, 03:05 PM

I'm curious... did they ever test you for any blood clotting disorders such as Factor V Leiden, lupus coag, etc.?

LisaWh · 12-21-2000, 09:29 PM

Cheliqua, my Dr. has done so many test and as far as he knows I have no blood clotting disordes. I was on various blood thinners for about 2 1/2 years and they didn't seem to change anything. I am taking a medicine now called 'plavix'(for heart attacks and strokes) and that doesn't even seem to work. I don't know, I have been on almost every single drug out there for this problem and none of them seem to help. Do you have some info. that I might need to know about?

cheliqua · 12-22-2000, 07:31 PM

I am on coumadin. And so far, it has worked for me, and I'll be on it for life. I have heard of another drug called Ticlid. Any thoughts on that one? I hate to hear that they cannot find the source. Keep plugging on! One day they'll find it!!

Moon · 12-23-2000, 01:28 AM

I am sorry to hear of your situation. My mother had a mini stroke and she lost all short term memory for a while. It was extremly difficult for her to deal with it. And very difficult for the poeple around her to deal with it too. I hope your spouse has learned that making the situation more stressful for you will not be of any help.

I hesitate to suggest anything. But you may want to look into the use of Niacin, (vitamin B3) in larger doses around 1000mg a day. This is used by people that have high cholesterol as a means of reducing the cholesterol in the blood and in a way behaving like some type of crud buster for the blood. Also, eating walnuts (one hand full a day) might be something you might want to check out. I understand that walnuts contain an acid that will help dissolve the particles that accumulate on the inside of the blood vessels.

The niacin will make you flush, you will feel tingly and hot after you take 500mg in the morning and 500mg in the night. This will be less noticeable if an aspirin is taken about 30 minutes before taking niacin. (you should be careful with aspirin and the niacin if you are on any type of blood thinning medication)

Please don't consider this as any medical advice, and consult your doctor before making any changes in your medical strategy.

Good luck