So, there's not necessarily any correlation between epilepsy and a TIA?
Many thanks, Millie.
Dave
Sweet Music is here! The sequel to The Attaché.
Read about it here, including an excerpt: http://www.authordavidbond.com/newest.php
"Like" David at his Facebook author page: <http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Bond/161496407291957> David Bond
From: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com [mailto:epilepsy@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Millie Myers
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 9:39 AM
To: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [epilepsy] Dave
Dave,
Sorry, I did read that but it slipped my mind. I'm gong to copy and paste it from Google.
If it is more than you want -- just skip it.
Millie
Transient ischemic attack
Mini stroke; TIA; Little stroke
Last reviewed: May 21, 2012.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is when blood flow to a part of the brain stops for a brief period of time. A person will have stroke-like symptoms for up to 24 hours, but in most cases for 1 - 2 hours.
A TIA is felt to be a warning sign that a true stroke may happen in the future if something is not done to prevent it.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
A TIA is different than a stroke. After a TIA, the blockage breaks up quickly and dissolves. Unlike a stroke, a TIA does not cause brain tissue to die.
The loss of blood flow to an area of the brain can be caused by:
a.. A blood clot in an artery of the brain
b.. A blood clot that travels to the brain from somewhere else in the body (for example, from the heart)
c.. An injury to blood vessels
d.. Narrowing of a blood vessel in the brain or leading to the brain
High blood pressure is the number one risk for TIAs and stroke. The other major risk factors are:
a.. Atrial fibrillation
b.. Diabetes
c.. Family history of stroke
d.. High cholesterol
e.. Increasing age, especially after age 55
f.. Race (African Americans are more likely to die from stroke)
People who have heart disease or poor blood flow in their legs caused by narrowed arteries are also more likely to have a TIA or stroke.
See also: Stroke risk factors
Symptoms
Symptoms begin suddenly, last only a short time (from a few minutes to 1 - 2 hours), and go away completely. They may occur again at a later time.
The symptoms of TIA are the same as the symptoms of a stroke, and include sudden:
a.. Abnormal feeling of movement (vertigo) or dizziness
b.. Change in alertness (sleepiness, less responsive, unconscious, or in a coma)
c.. Changes in feeling, including touch, pain, temperature, pressure, hearing, and taste
d.. Confusion or loss of memory
e.. Difficulty swallowing
f.. Difficulty writing or reading
g.. Drooping of the face
h.. Inability to recognize objects or people
i.. Lack of control over the bladder or bowels
j.. Lack of coordination and balance, clumsiness, or trouble walking
k.. Loss of vision in one or both eyes
l.. Numbness or tingling on one side of the body
m.. Personality, mood, or emotional changes
n.. Trouble saying or understanding words
o.. Weakness on one side of the body
Signs and tests
Almost always, the symptoms and signs of a TIA will have gone away by the time you get to the hospital. A TIA diagnosis may be made based on your medical history alone.
The health care provider will do a complete physical exam to check for heart and blood vessel problems, as well as for problems with nerves and muscles.
Your blood pressure may be high. The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and arteries. An abnormal sound called a bruit may be heard when listening to the carotid artery in the neck or other artery. A bruit is caused by irregular blood flow.
Tests will be done to rule out a stroke or other disorders that may cause the symptoms.
a.. You will almost always have a head CT scan or brain MRI. A stroke will show changes on these tests, but TIAs will not.
b.. You will have an angiogram, CT angiogram, or MR angiogram to see which blood vessel is blocked or bleeding.
c.. You may have an echocardiogram if your doctor thinks you may have a blood clot from the heart.
d.. Carotid duplex (ultrasound) can show if the carotid arteries in your neck have narrowed.
e.. You may have an EKG and heart rhythm monitoring tests to check for an irregular heartbeat.
Your doctor may do other tests to check high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other causes of, and risk factors for TIAs or stroke.
Treatment
The goal is to prevent a stroke.
If you have had a TIA within the last 48 hours, you will likely be admitted to the hospital so that doctors can search for the cause and observe you.
High blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and blood disorders should be treated as needed.
You may receive blood thinners, such as aspirin, to reduce blood clotting. Other options include dipyridamole, clopidogrel, Aggrenox or heparin, Coumadin, or similar medicines. You may be treated for a long period of time.
Some people who have clogged neck arteries may need surgery (carotid endarterectomy). If you have irregular heartbeats (atrial fibrillation), you will be treated to avoid future complications.
Expectations (prognosis)
TIAs do not cause lasting damage to the brain.
However, TIAs are a warning sign that you may have a true stroke in the coming days or months. More than 10% of people who have a TIA will have a stroke within 3 months. Half of these strokes happen during the 48 hours after a TIA. The stroke may occur that same day or at a later time. Some people have only a single episode, and some have more than one episode.
You can reduce your chances of a future stroke by following-up with your health care provider to manage your risk factors.
Calling your health care provider
A TIA is a medical emergency. Call 911 or another local emergency number right away. Do not ignore symptoms just because they go away. They may be a warning of a future stroke.
Prevention
See also: Stroke risk factors and prevention
References
1.. Furie KL, Kasner SE, Adams RJ, Albers GW, Bush RL, Fagan SC, et al. Guidelines for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2011;42:227-276.
2.. Goldstein LB, Bushnell CD, Adams RJ, Appel LJ, Braun LT, Chaturvedi S, et al. Guidelines for the primary prevention of stroke: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2011;42:517-584.
3.. Easton JD, Saver JL, Albers GW, Alberts MJ, Chaturvedi S, Feldmann E, et al. Definition and evaluation of transient ischemic attack: a scientific statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke Council; Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; and the Interdisciplinary Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease. Stroke. 2009 Jun;40(6):2276-93.
Review Date: 5/21/2012.
Reviewed by: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and Department of Anatomy at UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, In
----- Original Message -----
From: David Bond
To: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 8:47 AM
Subject: RE: [epilepsy] Dave
Don't know if you caught it, but I'm blind. I of course can search, but not typically with tool bars or add-ons.
If you don't mind, a very brief explanation would suffice. At the moment, I'm creating my main story line components, and want to be updated on all things epileptic.
Thanks.
Dave
Sweet Music is here! The sequel to The Attaché.
Read about it here, including an excerpt: http://www.authordavidbond.com/newest.php
"Like" David at his Facebook author page: <http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Bond/161496407291957> David Bond
From: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:epilepsy@yahoogroups.com <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of Millie Myers
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 8:39 AM
To: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [epilepsy] Dave
Dave,
A TIA is considered a small stroke. Put TIA in the Google Bar
and more of an explanation is given. Yahoo may have it also --
but I always use the Google bar for my dictionary.
If you don't have a Google bar-- write me and I will give a better
explanation.
Millie
----- Original Message -----
From: David Bond
To: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 7:49 AM
Subject: RE: [epilepsy] Dave and Liz
Millie, and all:
You mentioned, "TIA." I don't know what this is. Thanks for some explanation.
Dave
Sweet Music is here! The sequel to The Attaché.
Read about it here, including an excerpt: http://www.authordavidbond.com/newest.php
"Like" David at his Facebook author page: <http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Bond/161496407291957> David Bond
From: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:epilepsy@yahoogroups.com <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of Millie Myers
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:49 AM
To: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [epilepsy] Dave and Liz
You are correct when you say that a lot of us don't know what causes our szs.
I've had EP for over 50 years and was pregnant with my second daughter
when I had my first sz; -- had my second sz when I was carrying my 3rd daughter.
The Dr. thought that PG and I didn't go well together. so I had my tubes tied--
thinking that would take care of the szs. My children are all 2 years apart. So
When my 3rd daughter was about 2 years old== I had another sz. That took me
30 miles away to the closest EEG at that time. That test told me that I had EP
and that I would be on drugs for the rest of my life. I then had 3 daughters, 2, 4,
and 6.
I had szs every year or more. I'm sorry I did not keep track of them and what
meds I was on. One time I was put in the hospital and the Dr. thought I had a TIA
but I couldn't see any difference between having a sz and having a TIA. I didn't
realize that were so much alike.
I've decided not to worry about what is causing it. I have it -- so I take my meds,
joined this group and learned a lot. A lot of you have EP so much worse than I do.
And because our szs are so different and the meds affect us differently -- I really
can't compare them. But I think we can learn from each other.
Good luck with your books. I'd like to read them.
Millie
----- Original Message -----
From: Liz Welker
To: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 6:09 PM
Subject: Re: [epilepsy] Author with questions
Hey, Dave!
I am an "author in training," LOL, and have also written a novel (manuscript) that includes two characters who have epilepsy.
You could approach it from almost any angle you want to. My cousin's hubby was 38 yo when he suddenly had a GM sz on a plane going across the country to visit his family. It was determined that scarring on his brain due to repeated concussions from college football was the culprit. He is now about 50 and under good control. I had my first sz as an infant (6 mo) due to forceps trauma during birth. Things such as infections and strokes can also trigger epilepsy, and about half don't have a known cause.
Hope I helped! Please ask anything.
Liz :)
________________________________
From: David Bond <dab007@comcast.net <mailto:dab007%40comcast.net> <mailto:dab007%40comcast.net> <mailto:dab007%40comcast.net> >
To: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:epilepsy%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 5:55 PM
Subject: [epilepsy] Author with questions
Hello, group!
I've been on this list for years, but I think this is the first time I've
posted. FYI, I was diagnosed with epilepsy back in the 90s after suffering
gran mal seizures for a number of years. I was on Lamictol (spelling??) for
several years, but back around 2000, switched to Keppra (spelling, again??).
Since this switch, I have been 100% seizure free, including not a single
aura.
I write Christian fiction, and my next project is the 3rd in a trilogy,.
Each of these books, while falling into the romance genre, involves a
medical sub-plot. The first is about a man who loses his eyesight, the
second about a woman who develops type 1 diabetes, and this final one, is
about a man who gets epilepsy. It so happens, I am blind, diabetic, and
epileptic.
I'd love a few comments about how my fictitious character gets epilepsy. I
can answer many questions from first-hand experience, but one question I
can't address involves how my character actually became epileptic. What I'd
like to do is incorporate my own experience into my character's experience.
I don't believe it was ever "officially" recorded, but I attribute my case
to suffering head injuries over the course of several years. I only remember
suffering a concussion once, after one of numerous automobile accidents, but
I believe either these crashes were due to a seizure, or due to lapsing into
a diabetic state of unconsciousness. I'll probably never know for sure.
Here's what I need to know: Is it possible for my fictitious character to be
diagnosed as an epileptic in less than a year, following several head
injuries? He has had a few gran mal seizures, and he experiences auras. If
it matters, he lives in Iraq, and the diagnosis of epilepsy will bring him
back to the states for proper medical treatment.
My experience covered a much longer time span. I want to maintain accuracy,
and if someone could suffer several incidents of head trauma and wind up
with the diagnosis of epilepsy in a year's time, this would work best. If
it's not possible, I'll adjust my story line so he's had numerous accidents
over a span of years.
Many thanks to anyone wishing to help with this project!
Dave
Sweet Music is here! The sequel to The Attaché.
Read about it here, including an excerpt:
http://www.authordavidbond.com/newest.php
"Like" David at his Facebook author page: David Bond
<http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Bond/161496407291957>
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