I am not a doctor. I have absolutely no medcial background.

Can anybody out there explain why I have mini strokes? Apparently, these have shown up on the several MRI's I've had. The headaches becomes unbareable at times.

Are the mini strokes at all connected with my depth perception problems?

Hi, Mary. Mini-strokes (also called transient ischemic attacks, TIAs) are due to underlying cardiovascular disease:

http://stroke.about.com/od/whatisatia/a/TIAs.htm

They may be contributing to your problems. It sounds as if you might have "mixed dementia", that is, a combination of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's. Mixed dementia is fairly common.

Hasn't yout doctor discussed this with you. They should. Many people have them and they can be dseroidsu. Watch your Blood Pressure. You should have explanations in people language. It is your right. Pat

Mary,

I have followed the research on mini-strokes/TIA's (Transient Ischemic Attacks). I think I have them tied to inflammation in my neck that slows the vertebral arteries' blood flow.

I have been on aspirin therapy for 25 years. I take enteric aspirin. I have found it to work without any stomach upset.

Have you ever heard of beauty parlor strokes?

They are caused by the neck movements, extension, and resting the neck in the notch in the hair shampoo sink. This can dislodge plaques in the vertebral arteries and lead to a stroke.

Smoking, excessive alcohol, and birth control pills can all be contributing factors. Also, high cholesterol can be a factor as plaques come loose and hit the brain.

Question is, can the AD plaques cause those mini-strokes?

Either way, I am very careful when I get my hair cut. I do not rest my neck on the sink, even if they have the foam cushions. I know I have neck issues.

It is worth reading up. Mini-strokes are followed by full strokes in 20% of the population. Medical care within three hours in needed, even if the symptoms have subsided.

My TIA's are more widely spread and related to slow blood flow to a large area. It sounds like yours are focal and blood clot oriented, resulting in death to brain tissue in a very small area. Yours could be precursors to full strokes. Your doc should be explaining your risks.

Mark & All

Thanks for the information. I have two vertebraes in my neck that are completely collapsed. I was involved in a car accident as a teen. Diagnosed as the curviture or neck: opposite of normal.

For over three years I have been on cholesterol and triglyceride meds. My last blood work showed normal range or excellent. This started at 2nd year of diagnosis and has continued. I quit smoking 1-year ago. I haven't had a "drink" in a LONG time.

Interesting that I could have two different types of dimentia. My grandfather had mini strokes & Alzheimer's also, but I'm not sure why the mini strokes(?).

I return to my doctor next week and I will ask about this.

Tomorrow I will be attending Memory Walk and will "speak" also. Wish me Luck

Thank you all for the information.
M

Mary,

"Luck!"

quote:

Tomorrow I will be attending Memory Walk and will "speak" also. Wish me Luck

Mary, when you speak, tell them what you want them to know, I'm sure that you'll knock 'em for a loop!

My spine is moderately arthritic, I know about things curving the wrong way, grinding down, spine material oozing out, lots of fun stuff! If by "fun" you mean an endless parade of pain. My worst spot lately is that joint where the spine fits into the pelvis, how about you?

quote:

Originally posted by Advocation/Mary:
I am not a doctor. I have absolutely no medcial background.

Can anybody out there explain why I have mini strokes? Apparently, these have shown up on the several MRI's I've had. The headaches becomes unbareable at times.

Are the mini strokes at all connected with my depth perception problems?

Mary, It was hard for me to answer your question because I don't know your medical history. I can't tell you specifically why you have ministrokes. JAB, Pat and Mark have told you the most common causes of ministrokes, such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and smoking. Ministrokes are also associated with diabetes and with autoimmune disorders, such as lupus.

Ministrokes are not usually associated with headache, but with weakness, paralysis, blindness, or sensory sensations. I did some checking and found that migraines are thought to simulate ministrokes because they decrease the oxygen level in the brain and cause damage. I don't know if the brain damage caused by migraine can be differentiated from the brain damage caused by ministroke on MRI. There are other imaging studies such as PET scan and SPECT scan which can measure blood flow in the brain.

You mention that you are on treatment for elevated cholesterol. Fortunately, the Alzheimer's plaques in the brain are not the same as cholesterol plaques. How is your blood pressure? Do you have diabetes? Have you had a HbA1C test? Have you been told you have metabolic syndrome?

What is the cause of your headaches? Are they migraines? Ask the doctor if migraines are the cause of your ministrokes.

Vascular causes of dementia are common. It's impossible to say how much dementia is due to vascular causes versus the pathology of Alzheimer's disease in the same person. Did your doctor diagnose you as having both vascular and Alzheimer's dementia?

There are a lot of unanswered questions. I'm glad you have an appt next week. Do you keep your own copies of your medical reports?

Good luck at the Memory Walk.

Iris L.

Hi Everyone

Alan, my spinal pain radiates from the 5 & 6 vertebraes of the neck to my left shoulder. In addition, I had rotater cuff repair(s) twice within an 8 mth interval. To date, this has been painful, more so in cold weather conditions. My right hip feels weak. I assume this is due to the difficulties of walking?

Iris I do not have high blood pressure, never have. No, I wasn't told that I have vascular dementia in addition to Alzheimer's. What is metabolic syndrome? I've never heard this before your posting. All levels of my blood reports have been reported at normal ranges...

As you know, I had Memory Walk yesterday. It was raining all day and the temperature went from 54-50 degrees! I was the last on in. I was havng problems walking due to my gait. Last night and today, I am down with extreme headaches and am nauscious...

Thanks for the input. I will ask the my doctor re: Pet scan for blood flow levels. We'll see.
M

Mary,

Has anybody looked at your neck/should from a TOS (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) perspective. I have a chronic TOS problem and it took finding the right Physical Therapist to do some myofacial release and other modalities before I got any relief.

My TOS would manifest in a variety of ways. It effected my left arm and hand. Cause spasms in the neck, back, and shoulder. Sometimes, it would interfere with digestion, resulting in bloating and acid reflux.

The spasms would pull my shoulder out of position. I can easily make it flare up by sleeping on my left side. I have to be very careful to not do that.

A chiropractor posed the question. Then, I saw a physiatrist and he agreed and ordered x-rays. The cervical anatomy showed evidence so he referred me to a life saving PT.

The key imaging symptom is 'false ribs' or 'cervical ribs.' These are short incomplete rib like structures that associate with C-7 and rarely C-6, and C-5 where there are no true ribs. They can become inflamed by injury and age. One out of 500 people have them. The treatment is for the inflammation and spasm cause by the nerve root inflammation.

Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervical_rib

I believe this inflammation may be impacting my vertebral artery too, causing TIA like symptoms.

Mary, Sorry about your headache after the Memory Walk. The point I was trying to make is that apparently it has been discovered that migraines cause the same type of brain damage from low oxygen levels as do ministrokes. Ask your doctor if your headaches are migraines, and if they are causing your cognitive problems.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that indicate a person is at risk for serious heart or vascular disease. These conditions are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and belly fat. If you don't have these conditions, don't worry about it.

Try to get copies of your medical records from the doctor for your own files.

Iris L.

Speaking of headaches, that's a problem I share. Really bad ones started around the time my dementia was showing. My neurologist, appreciative that I didn't want addictive painkillers, has me taking B2 and magnesium. That's something to ask your doctor about. I'm not sure if doses vary person to person, but I take every day B2 400mg, and magnesium 300mg.

My head still hurts, but a lot less than before the pills.

Mary,

Thinking of you!

Hi Everyone

I have a lot of questions for my doctor tomorrow. Hopefully, I will get some answers.

Memory Walk. I told the entire crowd that I 14 mths ago I was diagnosed at the age of 49, with EOAD. The expressions on these people were somewhat of "shock"?

I explained that obviously, Alzheimer's does not discriminate. It can take anyone. I explained the "walls" I have personally hit. Oh you know, getting the diagnosis, feeling like a guinea pig in finding the "right" medicine and "correct" dosages!

I explained the time frame(in some cases) of what a stricken individual goes thru to receive social security benefits. Let alone, the time of 24/25 mths to receive Medicare.

I also,unashamedly (I swallowed my pride) told them that I had to go to the Dept of Health & Human Services to get a "Medical Card" to help me pay for medical attention and prescriptions.

I told them that our medical profession needed more information. Starting from the primary care doctor and up the line to specialized physicians.

Finally, I asked all of them to write their legislature and congress members to "stop this disease" I explained that every 70 Seconds someone in the US is diagnosed. At my age, I should be planning the second half of my life. Enjoying my children and my grandchildren. Instead, I plan for my demise...

All I know is I hope this made some kind of impact. We were able to raise over $100,000 thru Memory Walk.

These are just a few reasons why I try to advocate for all of us
M

Mary,

You did great!!

Thanks for all you do!

P.S. I have been suffering with migraines since I was 6 years old!

Yo Mary, great speech!! Bravo!!

Now, if only you got to keep the $100,000 . . .

Mary, You did great in promoting awareness of EOAD!

Never be ashamed of needing assistance. We all need some kind of help.

Good luck at your appt.

Iris L.