Les Jones: Transient Ischmeic Attacks (TIA)

March 23, 2003

Science > Transient Ischmeic Attacks (TIA)

Aunt Shirley called Saturday night. Mom had a light stroke that morning. Shirley had taken her some food and washed the dishes for her.

Melissa and I went over immediately. We tried to persuade Mom to go to the emergency room, but she didn't want to go and be poked and prodded all night. Besides, she said, she had gone to the hospital before after having these light strokes, and they hadn't been able to tell her anything or do anything.

We asked her to come home with us, but she didn't want to leave her home. She pointed out that Tana (my sister) was with her, and could call 911, and that her house is closer to a hospital than ours, which is true. In the end I decided to spend the night at her house, which made her and Melissa feel better. I also had her take some aspirin, which can reduce heart damage caused by strokes or heart attacks.

She was much improved this morning, and could stand up easier, and her grip was much stronger. I made breakfast, got the paper, and walked the dog over at the college. When Eric (my brother) came over he and I washed the dishes. I came home after that.

Melissa was more worried than I was, because I had seen mom after these light strokes before, and this one was pretty mild. In particular, her speech was much less affected. Though most people are terrified of the word "stroke," there is such a thing as a light stroke (also known as a Transient Ischemic Attack, or TIA). Lots of people have them as they get older, or as the result of an injury. The same day mom had her light stroke, a friend of Melissa's had a stroke following a car accident the previous day.

Even a light stroke can be serious, though, and may be a warning sign of a bigger stroke or a heart attack. NINDS states that one-third of TIAs are preludes to larger strokes. TIAs should never be ignored, because they are always a sign that something is wrong.

In mom's case, her earlier strokes were a sign of high blood pressure, which is one of the major contributors to stroke. She's taking medicine for it now, but Melissa just found out on Wednesday that mom is only taking one of her blood pressure medications because the other one is so expensive. I'm going to start paying for it to make sure she takes it. The trick now is to use gift certificates, charge accounts at the drug store, or some other method to make sure the money gets spent on medication. Otherwise she could still decide that something else comes before the medicine.

I also bought her a bottle of 81 milligram (low-dose) aspirin tablets, which NINDS recommends for patients who are at risk of stroke. Low daily doses of aspirin are good for the heart, and new research suggests that aspirin can reduce the risk of colon polyps and various forms of cancer, including lung cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colo-rectal cancer. Melissa and I have both been taking aspirin, and are more glad every day that we do.

A few years ago mom had several small strokes after taking Metabolite, the over-the-counter diet medication that was all the rage for a while. Metabolite contains guarana, which is loaded with caffeine. People with high blood pressure should restrict their caffeine intake.

Here are some informational links that Melissa found:

Posted by lesjones

Comments

My mother and father were in the same position as yours with strokes and TIA's. It makes me want to cry when I read this post. If you continue this way, you will be caring for your mother in a wheelchair with a bag of oxygen one day or you will have to put her in a nursing home. Her body will be paralyzed yet her mind will be active. It's a terrible condition.
First, get her to an emergency room IMMEDIATELY when she has one of these. Don't ask her, just do it. Secondly, go to a different hospital. That is true negligence if they do nothing for her. Go to a hospital in the nicest, wealthiest part of town. Your mom will be treated properly. I found this out too late after both of my parents suffered irreparable brain damage. I now care for them in-home and it is horribly difficult. Their personalities are totally different. More like children. It's not a good thing.
As far as preventing this from happening and maintaining her current sanity and sharpness, she needs chelation. I think it is a sin that conventional doctors keep this a secret because just because it doesn't line their pockets with cash. Instead, they suggest surgery (usually corratid artery or open heart surgery) but even that is better than doing nothing.
It doesn't matter what your mother says, it is not her responsibility to call 911 when she is having a life-threatening stroke. You need to call, and you need to not say a word until the ambulance arrives. Had I done this 10 years ago, instead of listening to my father's excuses for not wanting to go, he might not be senile and bedridden today. Instead, he might be enjoying his senior years washing the car or working on geneology.
Join a caregiver support group. You will find answers. You will no longer have to guess at what is best or have to argue with siblings over it.
I pray that you are able to solve this one.
I took my parents for a "doctor's appt." for chelation. They wouldn't listen to me about this "hocus pocus" but they did listen to the doctor, and now their blood pressure is being lowered naturally without having their bodies carved up. Yes, I had to fib to them to get them to the right doctor, but it saved their lives and it saved me from having to watch them suffer even worse than they are now.
They are thankful.
95% blockage requires emergency surgery. But, 90% or less can be cured with chelation and it only takes months to erase a lifetime of bad dietary habits.
My parent's doctor is John Gonino. I hope there is one in your city as fantastic as he is.

Posted by: Debbie at April 10, 2007

My mother and father were in the same position as yours with strokes and TIA's. It makes me want to cry when I read this post. If you continue this way, you will be caring for your mother in a wheelchair with a bag of oxygen one day or you will have to put her in a nursing home. Her body will be paralyzed yet her mind will be active. It's a terrible condition.
First, get her to an emergency room IMMEDIATELY when she has a TIA or stroke. Don't ask her, just do it! Secondly, go to a different hospital. That is true negligence if they do nothing for her. Go to a hospital in the nicest, wealthiest part of town. I don't care how far away it is. Your mom will be treated properly. I found this out too late after both of my parents suffered irreparable brain damage. I now care for them in-home and it is horribly difficult. Their personalities are totally different. More like children. It's not a good thing. The stress on me is terrible and my health is suffering as a result. None of this was necessary. I want to curse the doctor who allowed this to happen to my parents and who never called me to tell me (I was listed as an emergency contact.) He did nothing but give them blood pressure medicine and aspirin.
As far as preventing this from happening and maintaining your mother's current sanity and sharpness, she needs Chelation. I think it is a sin that conventional doctors keep this a secret because just because it doesn't line their pockets with cash. Instead, they suggest surgery (usually corratid artery or open heart surgery) but even that is better than doing nothing.
It doesn't matter what your mother says, it is not her responsibility to call 911 when she is having a life-threatening stroke. You need to call, and you need to not say a word until the ambulance arrives. Had I done this 10 years ago, instead of listening to my father's excuses for not wanting to go, he might not be senile and bedridden today. Instead, he might be enjoying his senior years washing the car or working on geneology.
Join a caregiver support group. You will find answers. You will no longer have to guess at what is best or have to argue with siblings over it.
I pray that you are able to solve this one.
I took my parents for a "doctor's appt." for chelation. They wouldn't listen to me about this "hocus pocus" but they did listen to the doctor, and now their blood pressure is being lowered naturally without having their bodies carved up. Yes, I had to fib to them to get them to the right doctor, but it saved their lives and it saved me from having to watch them suffer even worse than they are now.
They are thankful.
95% blockage requires emergency surgery. But, 90% or less can be cured with chelation and it only takes months to erase a lifetime of bad dietary habits.
My parent's doctor is John Gonino. I hope there is one in your city as fantastic as he is.

Posted by: Debbie at April 10, 2007

You're exactly right. We've stopped asking mom if she wants to go to the hospital.

I don't like that hospital at all, but it's the one she likes. My wife and I won't go there.

Posted by: Les Jones at April 10, 2007