I've been keeping what's going on with me kind of a secret until I have/had more answers, but with my newest referral to a neurologist, I'm a bit more worried.
What started out as just uncomfortable, but not really painful, headaches turned into a 3 day event that would start to affect my speech and vision in my left eye. The "headache" is always in the same place. I gave in and went to the doctor who referred me for an MRI. I did a non-contrast and then a contrast. The results came back as not being a tumor or aneurism, but did come back with some abnormal tissue in my front left lobe. They aren't sure what the tissue is, or what's causing it to react the way it does, so I'm being sent to a neuroligist.
I'm thankful to know it's not cancer or bleeding, but regardless it's still a bit scary because it's going on week 3 of testing and it keeps coming and going randomly. There's nothing in particular that triggers it, and no amount of tylenol/OTC pain meds take it away.
So, if I could get some T&Ps while I wait on my approval from Tricare to visit a neurologist and to get an appointment, I'd really appreciate it. ![]()
ETA: For those of you on my fb, please don't mention anything about it on there. Mr. Sookie and I have been keeping it quiet so people don't start freaking out, and I also don't want anyone being worried about me or trying to baby me while we figure out the cause. Thanks dolls!
Re: Can I get some T&Ps?
I changed my name
Goodness, that's really scary. I'll be thinking of you. I hope you're able to get into the neurologist, asap.
I wanted to share with you that I had something very similar happen and it turned out to be a TIA (mini stroke) from my birth control pills. I had a hard time verbalizing my thoughts, my arm went numb and my one eye had vision problems. Following my TIA, I had a horrid headache (stabbing pain in my right eye) that wouldn't go away no matter what I tried. The neurologist prescribed me Celebrex and it has worked awesomely. Eventually the headaches stopped being continuous and now only get them about 2 or so times a month. I also had ringing/heart beat/pulsating in my ears for about 6 months. That too, has gone away.
Anyways, I just wanted to share with you my experience and similar problems and my outcome.
TTC#1 since 12/2010- 12/2011 Hyperthyroid with Grave's
DX 10/2012 Unexplained IF
IUI #2- 4/25/13- BFP 5/9/13- CP
IUI#4- 9/3/13- BFP 9/17/13- Due Date 05/27/14
First ultrasound 10/8/13- 7weeks 130bpm
I'm so sorry hun. Lots of prayers. ::hugs::
I have some questions if you don't mind me asking. You can PM me the answers if you want and are willing to answer.
My PCM mentioned that I might need to come off of estrogen (birth control) depending on the cause. How did they decide it was your bc causing it, and are you able to be back on it now? Also, did that show up on an MRI or how do they figure it out? My arm gets tingly sometimes (not full-out numb), but I don't have the ear issues, so I'm not sure if that could be the case, but if it is I'd really like to hear more about your experiences.
CVS had just changed their generic of OrthoTriCyclene to TriNessa and I was on my 2nd month of TriNessa when I had the TIA. The PCM I had at the time was awful and told me to keep taking the BCP (H was deployed so it didn't really matter if I was to stop) and my OBGYN said to stop taking it immediately.
I had MRI's done and with and then without the contrast. I had a sleep study done to see if I has a seizure and not a TIA. They waited about 6-8 weeks and did another brain scan so they could compare the images to see if anything had resolved bc it would show up and give them a clear cut "oh, we see where you had brain damage". But, it ended up being the same with no differences.
I then saw a cardiologist to get a look at my heart (they go down your throat) to check for a hole in my heart. I do have one and that's where the blood clot passed from one side of my heart to the other side. It's too small to worry about patching it, which is good.
No, I can no longer take hormonal birth control pills. I had the Paraguard IUD placed but at almost 1 year or just over (I can't recall) I began having a lot of dizzy spells and had another down your throat scope but to look for ulcers to see where I was losign blood from. I chose to get the IUD removed and all dizzy spells went away and I'm relieved to have normal flow now. Paraguard flow is amazingly heavy, IMO.
Also, the hearing wasn't an immediate effect of the TIA. It appeared about 3-4 months after I had it. Its such a mess and long road of doctor appointments and trying to get it all figured out. My neurologist feels certain that my blood clot was from the TriNessa. Thankfully I didn't have any permanent damage. As time has gone on I've not had the ear ringing/pulsing and my headaches are now manageable but now only with the Celebrex. Nothing OTC will even begin to touch the pain. It was unbearable when I had it. Like, I couldn't function and then the pulse in my ear made it to where I couldn't hear people completely. I was a big mess. :-/
Thanks A. I'll definitely bring this up to my PCM too and during my neuro appointment to see what they think.
Oh, I forgot those 2 doctors. I went to the eye doctor for my painful headaches and nothing was wrong. And, also had a hearing test and I had minimized hearing bc of the pulsing noise but nothing they could do for me. I also saw an ENT doctor.
Anyhoo, best of luck when you get into your next appointment!
Have a visual fields done, an extended if necessary. They will probably want to dilate you and I would have a "red cap test" done. The red cap test is really basic but super helpful.