Missed diagnosis

[Vespa1]

Recently had a stay in hospital where it was said migraine type headaches were the cause of my husbands definite increased left side weakness and increased spasticity and fatigued. It was the physio that picked that up not the doctors. His blood pressure was fine and INR at 3 which is his normal target range. They say Scans revealed no new lesions that were evident on the brain but I know something more than a migraine happened and so do the physios. Can anyone throw any suggestions on to what might of caused this. He has APS and has had 3 previous strokes. Can a migraine do this with lasting damage? I feel like I’m battling alone to say I disagree with your years of medical training.

[Vespa1]

Thank you so much for your reply, I certainly will now persist to get him seen again . The concern is why did it happen if blood pressure and INR was at the range suggested and I do t think they knew either but obviously not prepared to i investigate but I won't stop especially after your replay. Sorry to hear you have also had a stroke but pleased you are on top of the things.

[MaryF Administrator]

Hi, if that were myself in your position, I would be keeping a very close eye and going straight back at the slightest hint of anything like that. I would also be ringing up or emailing his main Hughes Syndrome/APS specialist. It was suggested that one of my children had a Hemiplegic Migraine, but this was then dismissed after the funny turns, were witnessed in a school and hospital setting. I hope you get to the bottom of it. MaryF

[Vespa1 in reply to MaryF]

Can I ask what the outcome was of you child after it was seen by other's?As I know what I saw and what the after effects are. I feel currently only the physio 's are with .me on this but they are in a difficult position and I do t want to push away what support we have. So thanks for sharing.

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Vespa1]

Lots of observation, two Aspirins a day plus Plaquenil. MaryF

[Vespa1 in reply to MaryF]

Thank you I will keep a close eye. He has warfarin and has taken that for 11yrs now and had a major stroke when INR was 1.4 and the last episode he was 3.0. We have been turned down for self monitoring. X

[GinaD]

Your husband's story resonates with me: I had migraines which slowly morphed into what I called "panic attacks." When my panic attacks were observed by another, who noted the one side paralysis, and slurred speech, she correctly identified this as signs of a stroke and off I went to the ER. But the symptoms resolved before I made it to the ER triage. This happened 3 times within 2 weeks. It took a committed doctor, who knew I wasn't "making it up to get attention" to refer me for a CT scan a week or so later. The scan showed dozens, DOZENS!, of leisions. (Scary!) In fact, this CT prescribing doctor (neurologist) walked in with the scan, and before telling me the results, asked me to walk toe to heel across the room with my eyes closed. (Which I did just fine.) Then,( noting I had majored in English lit,) he asked me to recite the famous soliloquy from Hamlet --- which I did. THEN, he said "Good! Very good! Then sighed and showed me my scan and said he would arrange for me to see a hematologist as he was pretty sure I had a coagulation disorder.

After my APS diagnosis I was put on warfarin, and a follow up CT scan a year later showed only 1 leision left -- in my visual cortex.

So, hang in there and ask for follow ups. I hope the treatment sun rises for you and your husband soon.

[Vespa1 in reply to GinaD]

Thank you