Recently,
I had some severe headaches. They were different from the headaches when I had
my strokes and seizures. These were a pounding ache on the left side and the
top of my head.
When
they started on a Sunday night, I thought “they will go away.” They did not. I
took several painkillers. My head kept aching.
Finally,
on Wednesday, I went to the hospital where I had a MRA and a MRI. The good
news, I have an intense sinus infection. I forgot that a headache could be
something else other than a “brain attack.”
However,
we discovered that had a brain incident. Or I did NOT have a brain
incident.
To
explain, here is what I know about my brain.
I have
a condition called “Fibromuscular dysplasia.” “FMD” is a progressive twisting
of the blood vessels throughout the body. It causes abnormal
growth within the wall of an artery. It
is rare: Fewer than 200,000 US cases per year.” It can't be cured,
but treatment may help like taking blood thinners.
In my
case, it seems that my left carotid artery maybe became elongated or kinked causing
my ischemic stroke.
Studies I have read that “Patients with FMD in the carotid arteries
typically present around 50 years of age.” I was 50 years old when my strokes happened.
My strokes, almost 4 years ago, have been devastating. 20% of my brain is dead. I have aphasia and
apraxia. I cannot read very well anymore. I cannot hand write. Math is “gone.”
But, I can read financials. My right peripheral vision is diminished, but I can
drive. I have no visible disabilities. Yet, I get exhausted when I concentrate.
Often times, I get headaches when I go to meetings.
 |
| Dunham MRI and MRA 11-18-15 |
Nevertheless, I am grateful that my recovery is heralded to be a “miracle.”
Many people forget that I had strokes. Sometimes, I forget it myself. My
carotid dissections (my strokes) are healing. A dissection does not mean that you always
have a stroke. In my case, that
happened.
Until that sinus infection. The MRI showed not just my January of 2012
strokes but an unanticipated brain incident that was undetected.
How can that be? The MRI shows TWO carotid dissections. My left side
carotid dissections that caused my shocking strokes almost four years ago. That left me with all of my brain deficits.
But now, the MRI shows that recently – May of 2014 to perhaps August of 2015 –
I had a right side carotid dissection. But that dissection did NOT cause a
stroke.
I would not even know about it at all other than the headaches. Would it be better that I would never know
about this brain incident? For me, I
always want to know.
Since the MRI two days ago, I have been scared and depressed. Certainly,
my Plavix has saved my life. What the next time? What if next brain attack is
so severe that Plavix will not stop a massive stroke? Will there be another “next time?” How to
prepare?
I want to see my son grow up. I
am petrified and angry. My body is not “mine” and has a life on its own. It
seems I am a bystander in my head. Just waiting.
On the other hand, the good news is I'm fine and did not have a stroke or a seizure. Blood thinners like Plavix are life savers. Literally for me.
During the MRI/MRA process, they piped in Pandora for me. I listened to Pink Floyd's "Brain Damage" from the "Darkside of the Moon."
Ironic.
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