[Rebecca (OP)]

Good day all!  I recently went to the ER with another TIA (this is the 4th), slurred speech and EXTREME weakness, tired, nausea.  This one really scared my husband.  They hooked me up to BP machine and it wavered between 95/57 and 95/45.  They told me it was up to me if I wanted to be admitted - it was my decision.  I said no, not realizing those BP readings were low.  My speech got better by the next morning but I'm still SO tired.  Muscles feel like they're wasting away. 

Can I get your thoughts on the low blood pressure ?  Should I be concerned? 

[bezoar]

Abnormally low blood pressure can make you tired alright, and can even make you faint.  What do they intend to do for your brain and its circulation?

[Rokitansky]

It would be usefull to know more of begining of your desease. How and when it started? What are your dietary habits? What other diseases do you have ( or had ).....

It`s preaty low. Normal BP is concerned to be 100-140/60-90

[Rebecca (OP)]

Bezoar - thank you for replying

A neurologist put me on Aggrenox which is supposed to thin my blood.  It gives me terrible pressure headaches, which he said was unusual, but he wanted me to try it again (I had stopped taking it the first time he gave it to me because of the headaches).  So, I'm taking it again and I still get headaches.  

He's never told me what's caused the 4 TIA's I've had so far.  I did have an MRA of the brain which said arteries were impinging on the medulla oblongata (which I posted and you responded to as well).  He said that wasn't a big deal.  So why am I on medicine???  

I still don't know what's causing the TIA's or the low BP.

I think I'll get a 2nd opinion.  

quote:Originally posted by bezoar

Abnormally low blood pressure can make you tired alright, and can even make you faint.  What do they intend to do for your brain and its circulation?

[Rebecca (OP)]

Rokitansky -

Thank you for replying.  You also replied to my posting re: MRA results - arteries impinging on brainstem.  I've had 4 TIA's since February of this year.  Other than these recent problems, I have had no other medical problems in my life.  I'm 40 years old, stay busy, or used to : )  I've never been diagnosed with any condition and really have been very healthy, with exception of a few colds here and there.  

I've had these "spasms" or quick jolts of pain in the back of my head, always in the same spot on the right side for the past 2 years.  No diagnosis yet.  The TIA's started in February of this year.  Symptoms have included:  nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, loss of immediate recall memory, slurred speech, mixing up my words, getting peoples names messed up, tunnel vision twice, and lately EXTREME muscle fatigue.  My arms got wore out this morning just blow drying my hair!!!

I've been to see this neurologist twice now and he's already telling me it's stress and depression, although he also wrote down TIA on my diagnosis and gave me Aggrenox to thin my blood.  

I don't have a whole lot of experience with medical issues, but I've learned to do my own research.  I think I'll get a 2nd opinion.

What are your thoughts?  THank you

quote:Originally posted by Rokitansky

It would be usefull to know more of begining of your desease. How and when it started? What are your dietary habits? What other diseases do you have ( or had ).....

It`s preaty low. Normal BP is concerned to be 100-140/60-90

[chris]

95/45, whilst it sounds low, may not be that abnormal for you. Indeed my mother has this blood pressure, and in general women usually have lower blood pressure than males, and frequently lower than the 'normal' 120/80. What would be more informative would be baseline measures of blood pressure in order to determine whether this was a genuine hypotensive episode, or merely a red herring.

But it is worth noting that the medulla contains regulatory centres concerned with blood pressure control and pressure on the medulla can cause hypotension. This could therefore be a manifestation of the arterial impingement that you have seen on MRA.

Chris

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx

[Rokitansky]

Unfortunatly I don`t have any good Idea []

But, concerning this Aggrenox, to thin your blood. Do you have an increased hematocrit or something... What are your blood analyses ? Are thay good ?

[bezoar]

If they put you on a blood thinner, seems that maybe the problem is occluded circulation.  How are your carotids?  Or maybe, they're just trying it to see if it helps.  I would definitely go for the second opinion, and not quit until I get an answer that makes good sense.

[Donnah]

Rebecca, I realize this sounds too simplistic to be true, but have you tried going for regular (at least weekly) massage therapy and (percussion) chiropractic adjustment? My life quality depends largley on these therapies.

[Karen W.]

I know this is an old thread but I wondered if she was put on any aspirin or if she found out anymore...

They put me on a 81 mil. aspirin a day and 4000 mg of omega 3.. which helps keep the blood thin so it deals with the clotting that could potentially cause a more severe full on stroke unless the clots are dealt with in this way!

My blood pressure has run consistently much lower then that for months.. This month has been good no more passing out... seems one of the meds was making my pressure drop to low!