Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD): Want to connect

Posted by lpyne @lpyne, May 17, 2024

I have had 2 neck CT scans and both found MFD- my neurologist states it’s nothing to worry about. In the mean time I have suffered from chronic dizziness, headaches, anxiety symptoms, ringing ears. I have seen a cardiologist, neuro vascular specialist and had a wide variety of tests that all seem normal- except the neck CT. No MFD in renal artery. Curious if I should ignore it like my doctor is telling me or if I should seek a second opinion?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

@chanda79

I have FMD also. The anxiety is real. I had 3 strokes at 45. Please keep requesting an FMD support group. Mayo has not been supportive yet…

Jump to this post

Mayo clinic has a group for those of us with FMD that I joined last year.

REPLY
@queenkeb

Hi, I’m QueenKEB
I believe my Doctor diagnosed me with FMD by way of CTA.
But she haven’t really heard of it!
So she is putting me on a statin and referring me to Vascular.
I am scared and symptoms are swooshing in ear and pain in neck laterally. Lots of aucilar migraines with blurred vision.
Does this sound like something anyone has had?

Jump to this post

My FMD was discovered a year ago in the emergency room where I went because of 2 severe rotational vertigo attacks when it was spinning so fast that I couldn't walk and just vomited for 8-12 hours. A CT angiogram showed it in my neck vessels but also in the cerebral artery, no further examination of other vessels was done.
My symptoms after that are a howling tinnitus, slightly unsteady when I walk, numbness in the face, headache pressure over the forehead, eye pain, poor memory which I also had after my TIA in 2023. Now I'm going to have my liver and abdominal aorta examined.
None of my doctors I've had have known anything about it but my last one read about it on the computer anyway. FMD is a rare disease and in my country there is no FMD group so I'm grateful I get to be here.

REPLY
@dmwheaton

So sorry you are experiencing this & you are a nurse, so far more knowledgeable (medically) than most.

After reading your post, I am more scared than ever.

Jump to this post

Keep in mind that even though we have the same disease, we are affected differently by it! I am 67, had a herniated disc and vertebral compressions since I was 8 years old, now 67, I have always lived a very active life anyway!
Don't assume that the disease will worsen quickly, often it goes slowly. I work full time as a nurse with an hour's commute one way. These sayings are good,;
♡ Dream of tomorrow. Remember yesterday. Live today!
♡ Don't forget to Live,
the day that passed
Will not come again.

REPLY
@caroline58

I think we all feel abandoned, alone with our FMD and far too poor follow-up by doctors and with X-rays. Hugs!!

Jump to this post

Yes, I believe so too❤️

REPLY
@lisalucier

I wanted to check in with some of you to see how things are going.

@ellerchim - how are you doing? How are things with your eyesight?

@queenkeb - You'd mentioned having swooshing in your ear and pain in your neck laterally, plus migraines and blurred vision. How are your symptoms?

@caroline58 - how is the vertigo lately?

Jump to this post

Thanks for the question!
My vertigo has been unchanged for a year, if I close my eyes I can't walk, always slightly unsteady, always looking at the ground, still walking fast but prepared to stop.
I have changed doctors for the 3rd time in 2 years that I feel safe with, the only time in a year that someone has examined me and taken blood tests other than in the emergency room. I am waiting for an abdominal ultrasound for suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm and have a liver inflammation.

REPLY
@caroline58

Mayo clinic has a group for those of us with FMD that I joined last year.

Jump to this post

How do we join? I asked neurology about an FMD group and they didn’t have any info.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.