[Karen W. (OP)]

He said it was ok.. he was sending me home as I was close by but if I had to come back he said I could not drive myself this time..to call for help.. I assumed like IKo said I was ok this time.. he said if it were a more serious stroke it would have been different.. I think it is ok LO... Your making me nervous...STOP....Please..LOL I am sure it will be ok.. Robert showed up awhile ago and is actually cutting the grass.. He says .. He has let it go to long thats the only reason he came.. I don't believe him.... But I don't want to go there right now.. I am grateful he is here right now I don't care why!

[iko]

...
Why would he tell me I had a mini stroke if I am too young for that? It would be great as I thought only old people had strokes but was changing my mind after yesterday.. Do you think this is why he has ordered so many more tests.. The blood tests from yesterday were returned normal he said..He gave me all this paper work to read and Frankly stuff I don't understand..

Sorry Karen,

I did not explain it in the enthusiasm of my 'sharp' hypothesis!
Strokes from atherosclerosis are the most common, caused by tiny clots that come from 'plaques' in the arteries due to degeneration from age, high cholesterol and so on.
Strokes from infectious tiny clots are due to bacteria (from the skin, guts, throat) that managed to reach the circulating blood and clutch to heart valves.  This kind of infection is quite insidious, difficult to diagnose and it is commonly called 'subacute endocarditis': it can happen at any age, in the young like in the elderly.
You mentioned 'blood infection' some time ago, for that I thought of this possible alternative diagnosis as more consistent than in other cases with no 'infectious' history.
I hope I explained it properly now.
They will certainly tell you what happened!
Cheers,

ikod

[Karen W. (OP)]

Dear Karen,

let's have a very RELAXED chat for a change.
I remember you mentioned something like infection in the blood in a recent post of yours...
THIS could be the cause of what you had yesterday and I'm sure your doctors are working on that.
Some naughty 'fastidious' germs like to clutch at the inner layers of the heart and the valves (most of all), then detach from time to time, forming dangerous tiny-clots that are directly pumped to the brain...and create flow problems up there.
You are too young even for a mini-stroke (say thank you iko!) []
so that might be the tiny clot explanation.
Fingers crossed: infection snagged, full course of antibiotics and VoilĂ !
A new hyper-energetic KarenW back on stage!
Wouldn't it be a great thing?
You may have a nice surprise from the blood tests they made yesterday.
Up with our new antibiotic Era!
Cheers,

ikod

Why would he tell me I had a mini stroke if I am too young for that? It would be great as I thought only old people had strokes but was changing my mind after yesterday.. Do you think this is why he has ordered so many more tests.. The blood tests from yesterday were returned normal he said..He gave me all this paper work to read and Frankly stuff I don't understand..

It maybe be thought of an old person's problem, but there sure are a lot of young people who are having strokes...even more than mini ones...

Why in the world is this a changing statistic! Or is that due to drug use in those cases?? I don't do drugs so That rules me out.. I don't smoke or drink either so that isn't it! He suspected it was arteries but we won't know till later this week. he said, my cholestorol is great low actually, but he said he was still going to have them do the ultrasound on my neck to check the arteries. and another on the heart!

[Karen W. (OP)]

...
Why would he tell me I had a mini stroke if I am too young for that? It would be great as I thought only old people had strokes but was changing my mind after yesterday.. Do you think this is why he has ordered so many more tests.. The blood tests from yesterday were returned normal he said..He gave me all this paper work to read and Frankly stuff I don't understand..

Sorry Karen,

I did not explain it in the enthusiasm of my 'sharp' hypothesis!
Strokes from atherosclerosis are the most common, caused by tiny clots that come from 'plaques' in the arteries due to degeneration from age, high cholesterol and so on.
Strokes from infectious tiny clots are due to bacteria (from the skin, guts, throat) that managed to reach the circulating blood and clutch to heart valves.  This kind of infection is quite insidious, difficult to diagnose and it is commonly called 'subacute endocarditis': it can happen at any age, in the young like in the elderly.
You mentioned 'blood infection' some time ago, for that I thought of this possible alternative diagnosis as more consistent than in other cases with no 'infectious' history.
I hope I explained it properly now.
They will certainly tell you what happened!
Cheers,

ikod

Thank you Iko  (DR. House LOL) Just teasing.. I thought something was missing! LOL That is a good explanation! SO it doesn't have to be from choleterol which would account for why my cholestrol is great!..It could come from the old problem still. aye aye aye! Thanks Iko..
Is it common for two rounds of antibiotics to not catch it completely.. I was treated twice.. for that?

[iko]

Is it common for two rounds of antibiotics to not catch it completely.. I was treated twice.. for that!

Sometimes you need longer antibiotic treatment...it depends on the germs.
Endocarditis from Whipple's disease -for example- is very rare (good for Dr. House only  [] ) and requires a particular antibiotic (fortunately very well tolerated) for at least 1 year.
But now you have to relax, just remember that.
Echo scan of your heart will rule out endocarditis in a few minutes.
Take care

ikod

[Karen W. (OP)]

OK I am relaxing.. Just hard to relax....I am a nervous wreck.... Thanks Iko.. I am supposed to call Tuesday when everything is open.. to schedule the the thing.. I am trying not to take the pain killers as I hate all the medicine! I am taking the Aspirn which is helping my arm..some.. I am not thrilled with vicodine so only gonna use it if I have to!

[kdlynn]

karen my friend's sister had a full blown stroke when she was sixteen. she didn't do drugs. i think it just happens sometimes. i know that's not a good answer...

[kdlynn]

by the way she's twenty six now and very healthy

[Karen W. (OP)]

Thanks Kadie.. That is good to hear.. very good.

[Seany]

*Hugs Karen*

[Karen W. (OP)]

Thanks Seany, "Hugs back at you Young Man"

[Karen W. (OP)]

How does an echocardiogram, used to record the activity of the heart, actually work?

[iko]

Hi Karen,

No run of the mill:
echocardio is basically high tech, human-friendly,
no x-radiation, just ultrasound plus sophisticated
computer image analysis, to visualize the anatomy
of your heart in a surprisingly detailed fashion.
To check in 'real' time the pump and its valves.
You'll be fascinated by the shape and colours of
the 'virtual' image of your heart.
I saw my second son's images years ago but I was
not in the right mood to enjoy it.
You will.

ikod

http://www.aimsedu.com/ProgramsImages/echocardio.bmp

[Karen W. (OP)]

Thanks IKO I think as long as it's beating I will be in the right mood to enjoy it! Thank you so much Once again..

[iko]

Thanks IKO I think as long as it's beating I will be in the right mood to enjoy it! Thank you so much Once again..

You don't have to thank me
YOU did the right thing and your docs are fixing your mysterious disease!
How are you doing with your RELAX therapy plus various drugs?
Did you mention to your 'investigators' your lack of sleep as a major problem?
Do you manage to sleep a bit more?

ikod

[Karen W. (OP)]

I slept better last night, 6 hours, but me think it was the vicodin for my arm.. I did tell the rn who asked the questions I have trouble sleeping.. but it never came up again..

Relaxing is a hard thing to do.. in my body, but, I am doing the best I can.. I went and sat in the sun for a bit, then realized I forgot sunscreen some of my medicine is not good in the sun.

Some of the medicine is very strong, don't like the way the pain killer feels although I like that it killed off my arm pain for awhile.. it has sure been hurting  lot!..It is better today, much better the pain is way less and I only took the aspirin today with my other meds!

Thanks Iko

[Karen W. (OP)]

Tests will begin tomorrow ! Sorry I forgot to say that..

[moonfire]

Please take care

[Karen W. (OP)]

I will and I am.. Thanks LO! Everyone else too!

[Karen W. (OP)]

Is it common for two rounds of antibiotics to not catch it completely.. I was treated twice.. for that!

Sometimes you need longer antibiotic treatment...it depends on the germs.
Endocarditis from Whipple's disease -for example- is very rare (good for Dr. House only  [] ) and requires a particular antibiotic (fortunately very well tolerated) for at least 1 year.
But now you have to relax, just remember that.
Echo scan of your heart will rule out endocarditis in a few minutes.
Take care

ikod

Iko what does it mean when your white blood count is very high compared to your red? There was something wrong with my blood count! she is not saying much just that it was elevated I think she said the white count! so we did another blood panel..

And by the way I misread the papers the doctor gave me  he had set up echo cardiogram and the ultra sound of neck..Carotid arteries??..Spelling sorry! I don't have to have another cat scan YAYYYYY! or ex-ray..DOUBLE YAYYYY LOL I was reading the wrong part of my paper.. LOL! I was so confused.. I had to have new blood panels  Tuesday will be the other two tests and she thinks I may have sleep apnea..! LOL Wouldn't you know it if you were woken up by not being able to breath for goodness sakes.. Anyway she wants to do tests to find out!

She said no work right now and we will see on after the tests on Tuesday.. It may be a couple days waiting to hear about that!

I keep having that funky Fluttering going up my spine and into my shoulders and neck head area.. I told her and she said the tests will help determine the problems! So we just have to wait.. She is having me fitted for some kind of pressure stockings and is making me put my feet higher then my heart.. for reducing the swelling..She said try this before she puts me on the lassix.. But she wants that to happen a lot, the feet being up! How can I do that and get my work done especially if I am on my back with my feet up! That gives me a headache to lie flat on my back! ..LOL Oh dear I am complaining...I shouldn't complain at least I am here and able to complain!  I am not a good patient..LOL