TIA symptoms but ALL tests come back negative for anything

@calanbrown
About 2 yrs ago, I had some odd problem...I was getting ready for bed and all of a sudden I couldn't catch my breath and got dizzy. I told my husband and he called 911. The EMT's started and IV and rushed me sirens and all to the hospital to the ER. Everyone thought I was having a TIA with my high blood pressure, light headed, and difficulty breathing. They ran tests, kept me overnight in the hospital. Saw the cardiologist for tests, and saw a neurologist the day after the event occured. Her conclusion with normal tests, she asked me about migraine headaches. When told her yes, she said I had a migraine attack. They can supposedly resemble heart attacks. I still don't know what to believe as it seems too strange. I have done some reading and this can occur.

My doctor informed me that TIA’s often don’t show up on CT scans. Mine did show up several years later when being evaluated for a possible stroke (CT SCAN).

In reviewing this history with a neurologist, I remembered that I had had a head injury, was taken to a terrible emergency room where I did not have the wherewithal to demand a CT scan of my brain and was essentially abandoned in a hallway until “found” by a senior MD. I allowed myself to be discharged without a needed CT scan and didn’t think to seek help from relatives.

I am being evaluated for a TIA right now. I had two or three episodes where the words on the page made absolutely no sense to me. I could see them but I couldn't understand them. Also, when I was trying to speak I couldn't get the words. I had no idea what it was and it passed quickly so I ignored it until I recently saw a neurologist for something else and we went over my history. I just had an EEG and now I am going to have two tests to check the blood flow to my brain. He put me on a baby aspirin until the tests are completed but I haven't had an episode in several months so I hope it turns out to be nothing. Not sure if anyone has had the same type of symptoms?

Hi @neisie13 - glad you are having this testing done. Always good to get answers.

That sounds disconcerting to see the words on a page and have them make no sense. So glad to hear you've not had an episode in several months.

Tagging a few members on Mayo Clinic Connect who have mentioned definite or possible transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) in themselves or others, or are knowledgeable about the field of stroke, and can share whether they have had symptoms like you had with the words on a page or trying to speak but being unable to get the words. Please meet, if you've not already, @dks @californiazebra @scottrl @lorrie48.

While waiting for these members to respond, thought you might be interested in reading Mayo Clinic's information on TIA:

- Transient ischemic attack (TIA) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/transient-ischemic-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20355679

When will you be doing the tests to check the blood flow to your brain, neisie13? How did the EEG go for you?

@neisie13 Hi. @lisalucier tagged me so I thought I'd chip in.

I have a YouTube channel about my stroke recovery, "From Recovery to Discovery"; I have an episode dedicated to possible warning signs:

You are wise to get this checked out!

@lisalucier Thank you so much for connecting with me and so quickly. I will definitely contact those that you tagged and will read the link that you sent about TIAs. I am having two MRAs at in April, the head and the neck, and I will meet with the neurologist at the beginning of May to go over all the results. He seems very thorough and even ordered a number of blood tests that I had never had. The worst part of the EEG was avoiding caffeine all day. I had a miserable headache even though I only drink tea, and when I got to the test the technician told me that I could have had caffeine in the morning since my test wasn't until the late afternoon. Oh well, at least I know if was accurate. It took longer for the tech to attach the electrodes than the entire test itself, but I was nervous that I would move or do something to mess up the results. Hopefully since I haven't heard back from the neurologist, nothing alarming was found. Anyway, thank you again and I'll report back when I get my final results. I am very curious and of course worried!

@scottrl Thank you for responding and I will watch the YouTube video that you provided. I'm anxious to get all these tests out of the way and find out what is going on.

@neisie13 Thank you. Feel free to check out some of the other videos as well.

The channel isn't about strokes, but associated issues -- isolation, changing relationships, worry, emotional pressure, coping, and even a fair amount of humor.

You can handle this.

@scottrl Okay I will definitely check out the other videos!

@neisie13 Thank you! Please leave any comments you might have.

My viewers are always grateful for more perspectives, since everyone's experience is unique.