PA & STROKE

[Frances55]

Could anyone tell me if there is a link between PA and Stroke... I was diagnosed last July and doing really well at the moment.. But I ended up at E&A on Thursday night with a suspected mini stroke... I'm on 300mg of asprin until Tuesday when I'll go to the stroke clinic... I'm scared out of my mind at the moment.. Any advice would be much appreciated ☺

[Gambit62 Administrator]

B12 deficiency can cause problems with levels of various chemicals that can lead to cardio-vascular problems, including MMA, homocysteine and, in some people, cholesterol.

If you are being adequately treated for PA though these should now be under control

[Frances55 in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks Gambit62... Well I've been si every other day, and now down to every 3rd day since last July,and I'm taking a multi vitamin daily.. But just recently I've been suffering Migraine with aura.. And now a suspected stroke.. I'm just trying to eliminate things that might have caused it... And I suppose worrying about it doesn't help 😔... Thanks again for your help ☺

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Frances55]

migraine in some people can also lead to stroke like symptoms - that usually reverse in the way that the results of an actual stroke don't.

Sorry to hear about the migraines though - mine tend to involve violent gut spasms that go on 24-48 hours and confine me to bed.

[Frances55 in reply to Gambit62]

Oh dear the gut spasm syndrome 😔.. I get short burst of it occasionally...but not to the extent you have it... Sorry to hear that 😔... What I don't understand though is I've never suffered a headache let alone Migraine in my life until I was diagnosed... At the moment I've had this Migraine now for 5 days... I'm now absolutely exhausted with it... Thanks again Gambit62 ☺

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Frances55]

nobody is really sure what exactly causes migraines and there are likely to be a number of different causes. Mine are hormonally related - post menopause but still have hormones oscillating around in the background - my gran, my mother also had migraines that got worse around the menopause and then just went. one of my mother's sisters now has migraines post menopause not having suffered before - some people have migraines caused by specifical smells - for others it's triggered by particular types of lighting.

Sometimes my migraines are silent, sometimes its the headache, and sometimes its the headache and nausea. feeling weak seems to be par for the course as does not being able to think straight. At one point I had more days with migraine in the month than without - getting off lightly compared to that now.

Have you spoken to GP at all about medication?

There is also a forum on HU around migraine sponsored by the National Migraine Centre - may be you would benefit from a referral to them.

healthunlocked.com/migraine...

[Frances55 in reply to Gambit62]

I'm 62 and on estrogen only HRT since I had a hysterectomy last year, but I'll certainly have a look at the link you sent me ☺.. I don't know what I'd do without the people on this forum.. before your reply earlier I was feeling scared, worried and really down, and even if they tell me on Tuesday that I've had a stroke... Your kind reply has given me a lift... THANK YOU!!!!!!! ☺

[deniseinmilden in reply to Frances55]

Migraines are terrible, aren't they?

I'm 45. As I got older I started to develop them linked to my hormone levels. I was on the combined pill to try to manage impossible period pain that used to make me sick and when I stopped for my pill free days I would get a killer migraine that would last for 3+weeks. It would finally go for a few days and then I'd come to the end of a packet of pills and bang, I'd feel like someone had tried to knock my head off, with hideous nausea and a "run over" feeling again.

One time it started with a "pop" from a very specific part of my head, which I can still feel years later, and I too ended up in hospital with a suspected stroke.

For me it wasn't, it was just my body couldn't cope with the oestrogen from my body and the pills.

Thankfully I was put on a progesterone only pill which I take every day and it resolved all the problems.

It may be worth asking them about an option that includes progesterone.

[Frances55 in reply to deniseinmilden]

Thank you for your kind reply ☺... I'm on oestrogen only because I have no womb, I used to be on a combo before my hysterectomy, they told me that the progesterone is to stop the lining of the womb thickening....so I don't think they'll put me back on it since I don't have one.... I so glad you got it sorted 😊... Migraine is miserable..... All the best ☺

[deniseinmilden in reply to Frances55]

Thank you.

Worth asking about it though...

[Clairey25]

I have PA and was being treated but my symptoms didn’t really improve then I started getting migraines and woke up one morning with total paralysis down my right side and no vision in my right eye. Went to A&E and they thought it was a stroke but couldn’t find a clot on scans. Further tests showed it was Antiphospholipid Syndrome which is another autoimmune condition strongly linked with Thyroid disorders and other autoimmune conditions.

It is a blood clotting disorder which causes migraines, TIAs (mini strokes), strokes and pulmonary embolisms. It is one of the most common causes of strokes in people under the age of 50, sorry not sure how old you are, but is not very well known by most doctors. If I was you I would ask for a test for this as it will not show up in usual bloods and is a serious condition if not treated. Fortunately, Aspirin is the first line treatment but may not be enough. I started on this but then needed Heparin and Warfarin following further clots in my body a few weeks later. Good news was that migraines and other symptoms reduced massively as soon as I started on Anticoagulation. If you do have it go to the Hughes syndrome website (alternative name for it) and there is a list of specialists for it. It is really important that you see a specialist in APS as it is so complex to treat.

This may not be the answer but I battled for months with terrible neurological symptoms until a wonderful doctor tested me for this. I hope you feel better soon. Best of luck.

[Frances55 in reply to Clairey25]

Oh my!!!!!!! You poor thing... I certainly will have a chat with the stroke clinic when I see them next week... I'm hoping for the best case scenario ☺ ( Migraine related)... It's the waiting game I think that's making me feel worse.. I'm good at getting on with things once I know.... I'm going to write down everything you've text and take it with me.... I hope you're well on the mend... Anything to do with the brain scares the life out of me... All the best for the future ☺.. And thanks again much appreciated ☺

[Frances55 in reply to Frances55]

Oh I'm 62 😊......

[Julz5]

Very interesting. I have pa and also had hysterectomy 2 years ago. I’m on oestrogen only and in the last few months had 3 “silent” migraine with aura. Doctor is not concerned. They all happened on very hot days (summer here) and I may been dehydrated as I figrget to drink water. Seems to have settle down now. Was scary at the time.

[Frances55 in reply to Julz5]

Hi julz5... Yeah I had my hysterectomy Nov 2015...but only started oestrogen only patches 11 months ago because the night sweats were really bad....since starting I've also had Migraine with and without auras... It's again something I'll look into.. I'm glad to hear your on the mend ☺... Thanks again for your kind reply...

[tflynnhk]

A stroke is a blood clot that reaches the brain and stops or reduces blood flow. This causes brain cells to die. More related to diet and lifestyle than PA. That said, my diet and lifestyle are affected by my PA.

Aspirin is used to thin the blood which reduces the chance of clotting.

A recent MRI indicated I'd had a mini-stroke in the part of the brain that controls balance. I have no memory of it. Explains why I started to feel 'unsafe' walking down stairs and need to hold the handrail.

[Frances55 in reply to tflynnhk]

Thanks for your reply ☺... I'll know more about what happened in a few days when I visit the stroke clinic... I've heard a lot of things now regarding it, and getting a bit confused 😕... I suppose everyone is different and reasons vary... Best case scenario is it's a one off 😊.... Thanks again for your kind reply ☺

[terrybraden]

Hi Frances55

Sorry, I've been incommunicado for the last little while.

I have had migraine too. But I never had a migraine until 2 years ago. My doc had me try Relpax, Zomig, and a beta-blocker (Propranolol), not at the same time though. I had been examined for a stroke, (a CT scan, and MRI) because of left sided weakness.

We found out that it was a combination of things; my environment and my hormones. We moved out of our house because it was unhealthy, (moldy), and I went off the HRT and started doing things to balance my hormones which included, no yeast, no sugar, no gluten, no dairy, and supplementing with B12, Folic Acid, Iron, and Vegan D3.

I used a product from Australia which is a wild yam cream which helps your body produce it own progesterone, which in turn balances your estrogen, testosterone, and adrenal hormones. (I am post menopausal).

I try to stay away as much as possible from meds., but will use the bare minimum.

My husband suffered with migraines until he identified what his triggers were. If you'd like I can talk to you about it in another post if you're interested.

Anyway, I hope that I have been a help. I don't know all of your situation, but I know what it's like to feel scared. Hope your appointment goes well. Please let me know.

[Frances55 in reply to terrybraden]

Hi terrybraden... Thanks for your kind reply ☺.... I was put on oestrogen only patches last year due to the fact I had a hysterectomy... But maybe I need the combination?.... I need to wait until I've been to the stroke clinic before I can work on a strategy... I never take any type of medication unless it's vital.. I do consider myself a fairly healthy person ☺... PA has knocked me side ways with all manners of things surfacing.. But all in all I'm feeling a lot better since I was diagnosed last July 😊... I'll let you know how I get on ☺... All the best for the future....

[GGourmet]

I can only speak for myself, when I say that when referring my condition for travel insurance, it was the cause of deficiency that loaded premiums or otherwise. As I have non specific deficiency, I am on standard terms so no loaded premium. This indicates to me that there will becauses of significant underwriting concern.