Newest Update on Mini-Stroke??? Ear Infection??? Latest info again...again

Well so far still no definative explaination, or diagnosis. The best answer so far is not a brain tumor, we'd have seen that. Not MS, we don't even consider that in your age group. Not a stroke, probably two TIA's ie mini strokes. But why are some of the symptoms still here almost a year later? Well, we don't know...
Most recentl had a cerebral Angiogram, everything good but for 50-70% blockage in the left rear artery to the brain. Yes, I'm told that MIGHT cause the numbness on the right side of my face and other symptoms. I'm also told that either the blood pressure or colesterol meds don't remember which, can cause the balance issues as a side effect. Then had a CT Perfusion scan, apparently even with the blockage blood flow to the brain is normal I'm told. Going to see the Neurosurgeon Dr. Deshaies again in Dec, to discuss options, I figure he'll recommend a stent, but at this point, the numbness receding, I'm inclined to let my body heal itself.  Had a colonoscopy and no problems, got yelled at by the Drs for never having had one, with a family history. Seeing another Dr. in a couple days, to see about repairing the hernia, it's like an old friend, been with me since around 72 or 73 and still reduceable.

Still diabetic I guess, that apparently never goes away. I am surprised by how it seems to have grown in this country compared to 50 years ago or so. My blood sugar is down in the low to mid 100's now and the 3 month blood test was under 7 (6.5-7 is right per the Dr.) both times. Blood pressure has corrected itself and colesterol was good, except good colesterol was low, need to get that up some. Saw Dr. Young in Hamilton, no news is good news. Saw the new Cardiologist in Hamiliton, Dr Carlson, he said the hole in my heart may not be a hole but a flap that didn't close completely, apparently as babies we all have the wall between the two chambers as two flaps that allow the mothers blood to circulate, after we're born the flap grows closed, except in possibly as many as 30% of adults the flaps never closed completely. Dr Carlson said he's not convinced this is my problem, that he feels that I should hold off dealing with it unless I have another "episode"...
So at this point I still don't know for sure what caused the mini strokes, if that's what they were, and may never know. But I am much more aware of what's going on in my body, I keep an eye on blood pressure and blood sugar, I'll continue taking the aspirin and my herbs. I have to say I hadn't seen a Dr in nearly 30 yrs until this happened and should have, if I'd known before what I know now, who knows it may never have happened. I've always maintained my cars taking them in at the slightest problem, now I know to do that for this vehicle too, my body that is. The other benefit is that it's made it easier to relate to the veterans I see, and deliver their scooters to.

Copied from my other blog written 1/16/10 Mini-Stroke??? or Inner Ear Infection???

In an effort to bring the blog back to Earth, more real, a friend mentioned I was getting too esoteric, I posted about how hard it is to sell Jags, in upstate NY.
Now I'll tell you about the first serious blip in my health, other than broken ankles, since I was a kid. It happened on the afternoon of December 11, 2009, and I don't mind saying...it scared me. It's easy to talk if you've never been ill, and even now I'm not 100% sure, but it was enough to scare me.
I was feeling fine, and was cooking some bacon to make a bacon sandwich. Always been one of my favorites, a pound of bacon, two slices of bread and Frenches Mustard. Anyway, the light was out in the hood over the stove. So while the bacon was cooking, I bent over and looked up under the hood, taking the screws out so I could get to the light bulb. Suddenly I felt dizzy, so I straightened up. The dizziness went away. I got a new bulb, and again bent over and looked up, changing the bulb and replacing the cover and screws. Suddenly I was dizzy again. This time so bad I almost fell, I sat down and it went away after a few minutes, when I stood it came back, so bad if I didn't hang on to something I'd have been on the floor. I finished cooking the bacon, put it on a plate, cleaned the frying pan, then took the bacon and went in my room and laid down, taking a nap. When I woke it had subsided. But now when I stood and walked I veared to the right, and if I turned my head too fast the dizziness returned. I worked the following day, driving was no problem, it only bothered me when I got out of the van and walked or stood. A couple days later I was going to work again, so in a bout of self medication, I took 10 Tylinol, 8 Centrum Vitamin tablets, a couple of allergy pills, and 4 or 5 Echinacea pills. Which I WON'T DO AGAIN. The next day I noticed that the right side of my head, starting at the nape of my neck, passing over down my face through my nose, and stopping at my chin was numb. The right side of my mouth felt like I'd had a Novocain shot. Also I could only swallow food with difficulty, if I took too big a bite, it would block my throat, choking me. Fortunately I was able to cough up the food each time. Over the last couple of weeks this has not gone away, but has susided to a mild numbness, the skin only is numb. I've learned to take small bites and chew. Everything works, there's no droopyness in the eye or mouth just numb skin. I have wondered if this was something else, perhaps a pinched nerve, from sleeping on my side, head, not neck supported. As it stands at this point, I'm fine except for balance issues if I move suddenly, numb facial skin, and overall weakness/lack of stamina. I was convinced I had an inner ear infection (although it showed up suddenly), others have me two thirds convinced it was a tsa or mini-stroke. Also for some time I've had poor circulation in both lower legs, and laying on my back under a car working on it would make me dizzy and nautious, but it went away as soon as I sat up. Everybody thinks I'm an idiot for not going to the hospital, or a Dr. but I'm convinced that they couldn't tell me any more than I already know, take an aspirin daily, and they'd charge thousands of dollars running tests to tell me that. Maybe I am an idiot, I guess we'll see.

Lee Murray