Kim's Posts

A month after surgery, I had a thunderclap headache. 4mos post-surgery I started having neurologic events. I was walking with a friend and then lost partial motor control in my right leg and then felt the right side of my face go numb. My docs sent me to the ER and a CT was done. First they thought I had MS so I was referred to a neurologist who said I may have had a stroke in my medulla oblongata. I was then referred to a vascular neurologist who thought that maybe what I had experienced was migrainous in nature. I started taking 400mg of riboflavin daily and it has helped. I still get ocular migraines but not as frequently. I haven't had another event with my leg but the right side of my face will occasionally get numb... A TIA is a gift, tho very scary, bcz it's a warning sign that a stroke may be around the corner. U can get the help u need b4 there's an irreversible problem...

Sorry to hear that you have had a TIA. I had a suspected TIA four months after my AVR. I had a partial loss of vision in my left eye for a few minutes. I reported this to my cardiologist and was referred to the stroke clinic. I was unable to have an MRI due to my pacemaker so had a CAT scan which didn't reveal anything conclusive. I was treated as if it was a TIA and prescribed Clopidogral (blood thinner) and a statin, and not allowed to drive for a month. All very frustrating when I was making a good recovery. My surgery was a year ago this month and I can finally say I feel normal again! So what I am trying to say is, yes it's a setback and disappointing but hopefully you will be perfectly ok after it. All the best

I understand the INR frustrations! My body took about 4 months to adjust, and I still go haywire every once in a while. Don't try to alter your diet - just eat like you normally do. It's funny how doctors are so different. I had a 6-month follow up echo, then one a year after surgery. After that, my cardiologist said he only needed to see me every two years for an echo. That made me nervous going so long between, but I figure he doesn't want me to die any more than I do, so we're all good.

Fantastic news Kim! And I smiled when I read what your surgeon said about people calling him if they had any questions. You're doctor is in your "court." I had "well meaning" friends tell me that they thought I was "ready" for cardiac rehab; that I "looked good so it's hard to believe you still haven't recovered" and "gosh! so&so had heart surgery and they recovered so must faster." Not helpful, lol ... The list goes on and it just makes me chuckle. I've even said to someone that I didn't realize they had their medical degree! Not a friend, obviously. ;-) I think people mean well when they have suggestions but it's not about them. Those close to us, are anxious that we get "back to normal ASAP" ... scary for others watching us go through surgery/recovery.