Referred for TIA
Discussion
Hello! I went to my GP yesterday because of persistent and unaccountable tingling/hotness feeling across the left side of my face and hand. She confessed to being slightly baffled that I didn't experience the corroborating symptoms she might expect, but has nonetheless referred me as having had a possible TIA. She seemed as much keen to dismiss the possibility through tests, as she did concerned that I had actually had one - if that makes sense.
In the meantime I've got forms for a full set of fasting blood tests which I will get done tomorrow.
I've done a bit of reading up about her suggestion subsequently, and I wonder whether there is much possibility that she is correct. I don't doubt her motives and I'm gratified that she has initiated tests to eliminate even the slight possibility of TIA, but I also feel a little, I don't know, guilty - because I don't show any of the other symptoms and don't want to cause unnecessary work for people.
Can you have something like a TIA without even knowing at the time it occurs? The tingling symptoms I am experiencing are very clear and I have never experienced anything like them before about two weeks ago. I keep checking in the mirror because it feels like that side of my face should be bright red. It isn't.
Am I wasting everybody's time?
In the meantime I've got forms for a full set of fasting blood tests which I will get done tomorrow.
I've done a bit of reading up about her suggestion subsequently, and I wonder whether there is much possibility that she is correct. I don't doubt her motives and I'm gratified that she has initiated tests to eliminate even the slight possibility of TIA, but I also feel a little, I don't know, guilty - because I don't show any of the other symptoms and don't want to cause unnecessary work for people.
Can you have something like a TIA without even knowing at the time it occurs? The tingling symptoms I am experiencing are very clear and I have never experienced anything like them before about two weeks ago. I keep checking in the mirror because it feels like that side of my face should be bright red. It isn't.
Am I wasting everybody's time?
I'm not a doctor but just my view on this.
As I'm sure you've read, a TIA is just that...transient. If you're still getting symptoms then it's less likely, as I think they by definition resolve before 24hrs. You know about it at the time because something happens, your face droops, or your hand feels odd, or any number of random symptoms. You say you don't have 'any of the other symptoms'...but you have had one symptom which your GP seems to think could potentially be a TIA.
Definitely not wasting anybody's time because although a TIA itself is not usually harmful, treating the cause could help prevent more TIAs and even more importantly, a stroke. So don't feel you're wasting anyone's time, that's what the service is there for.
As I'm sure you've read, a TIA is just that...transient. If you're still getting symptoms then it's less likely, as I think they by definition resolve before 24hrs. You know about it at the time because something happens, your face droops, or your hand feels odd, or any number of random symptoms. You say you don't have 'any of the other symptoms'...but you have had one symptom which your GP seems to think could potentially be a TIA.
Definitely not wasting anybody's time because although a TIA itself is not usually harmful, treating the cause could help prevent more TIAs and even more importantly, a stroke. So don't feel you're wasting anyone's time, that's what the service is there for.
I had a big TIA in 2005. 2 days not being able to speak, 10 days in St Thomas's recovering / being investigated. On discharge 1 of the consultants said it could just have been a non auraic migraine...seems even the consultants at one of the best teaching hospitals in the world struggle with headache / migraine / TIA differentiation. I have had a number of funny periods over the following years...I have no idea what is going on and have so far survived. Don't stress about TIAs..they can happen in your sleep or at anytime apparently. Just seems to me the doctors have to cover every base..you'll probably get sent for an MRI if you are very unlucky ! You can live the cleanest / healthiest life in the world...but if it's in your genes / DNA then a TIA /stroke / aneurism is gonna get you at some stage ! Once you've been through it, you'll understand !
Bolebroke said:
I had a big TIA in 2005. 2 days not being able to speak, 10 days in St Thomas's recovering / being investigated. On discharge 1 of the consultants said it could just have been a non auraic migraine...seems even the consultants at one of the best teaching hospitals in the world struggle with headache / migraine / TIA differentiation. I have had a number of funny periods over the following years...I have no idea what is going on and have so far survived. Don't stress about TIAs..they can happen in your sleep or at anytime apparently. Just seems to me the doctors have to cover every base..you'll probably get sent for an MRI if you are very unlucky ! You can live the cleanest / healthiest life in the world...but if it's in your genes / DNA then a TIA /stroke / aneurism is gonna get you at some stage ! Once you've been through it, you'll understand !
Again, thanks. I'm not stressing, or even worrying really. I've just never been much concerned about health issues and always feel a bit of a charlatan if I actually go to the GP. That said, I'm in my forties and there's always the possibility that things aren't going to work as well as they used to.Why "unlucky" to have an MRI? Are they unpleasant?
Hopefully the bloods will eliminate everything and that will be the end of it (barring the actual tingling symptom, obviously!)
turbolucie said:
I'm not a doctor but just my view on this.
As I'm sure you've read, a TIA is just that...transient. If you're still getting symptoms then it's less likely, as I think they by definition resolve before 24hrs. You know about it at the time because something happens, your face droops, or your hand feels odd, or any number of random symptoms. You say you don't have 'any of the other symptoms'...but you have had one symptom which your GP seems to think could potentially be a TIA.
Definitely not wasting anybody's time because although a TIA itself is not usually harmful, treating the cause could help prevent more TIAs and even more importantly, a stroke. So don't feel you're wasting anyone's time, that's what the service is there for.
i'd agree with the above ... As I'm sure you've read, a TIA is just that...transient. If you're still getting symptoms then it's less likely, as I think they by definition resolve before 24hrs. You know about it at the time because something happens, your face droops, or your hand feels odd, or any number of random symptoms. You say you don't have 'any of the other symptoms'...but you have had one symptom which your GP seems to think could potentially be a TIA.
Definitely not wasting anybody's time because although a TIA itself is not usually harmful, treating the cause could help prevent more TIAs and even more importantly, a stroke. So don't feel you're wasting anyone's time, that's what the service is there for.
hapless said:
JumboBeef said:
Only tingling/hotness, or anything else?. If no, doesn't sound like a TIA to me. How long did it last for?
Ongoing. Started about two weeks ago, although degree of severity does vary.Oops: no other symptoms, just the tingling in face and hand.
Not sure what it is, maybe a nervous issue?
JumboBeef said:
hapless said:
JumboBeef said:
Only tingling/hotness, or anything else?. If no, doesn't sound like a TIA to me. How long did it last for?
Ongoing. Started about two weeks ago, although degree of severity does vary.Oops: no other symptoms, just the tingling in face and hand.
Not sure what it is, maybe a nervous issue?
- So, Mr Hapless, tell us what you told the GP
"Tingly symptoms"
- Sounds like a nerve issue to me, let's wait and see what the bloods tell us
"OK, sorry to waste your time"
- That's no problem, bye bye then
I imagine their intention is to eliminate the most serious possibilities before investigating the more minor explanations. Which is reassuring, but doesn't help me feel any less of a nuisance.
Thanks for all replies btw, everybody.
hapless said:
<snip>
I imagine their intention is to eliminate the most serious possibilities before investigating the more minor explanations. Which is reassuring, but doesn't help me feel any less of a nuisance.
Thanks for all replies btw, everybody.
with Chest pain / possible TIA/ CVA / other nerve related stuff this is the main issue.I imagine their intention is to eliminate the most serious possibilities before investigating the more minor explanations. Which is reassuring, but doesn't help me feel any less of a nuisance.
Thanks for all replies btw, everybody.
You need to get it checked out. In Feb this year on returning from the gym, I felt giddy, room started spinning, speech went slurred, could not think straight, along with strange sensation in all hands and feet. Checked my BP 210/110 RP 134, I rang 999, taken to a n e, were they suspected I had a bleed on the brain. I thought this is it….the end. Made worse that I was on the exact same ward that my farther passed away on back in 84.
I had a CT scan, clear…Kept in over night, felt better, it tuned out that I was massively dehydrated. Along with BPPV. Took about 3 months to get 80% right now 99% right.
I had a CT scan, clear…Kept in over night, felt better, it tuned out that I was massively dehydrated. Along with BPPV. Took about 3 months to get 80% right now 99% right.
Hello again! Well, I went and saw the consultant this morning, who was in no doubt whatsoever that it wasn't a TIA. He stuck pins into my face to check though. However, I now have to go for a MRI of my brain to see why my nerves are playing up AND the routine prechecks showed abnormality on my ECG, so I have to have an echocardiogram now too. Oops.
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