1. < Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases

Possible vascular Dementia

Posted by lilacs1978 @lilacs1978, Jul 9, 2018

Hello, my name is Jenessa and I recently turned 40. On Feb. 1st 2017 I had a stroke. That was scary enough, at that time I was 38 and in relatively good health. Non smoker. Long story short I had a clot that caused a stroke. I am on blood pressure meds ( never had high bp before), cholesterol medication, baby aspirin and now a migraine med. Around five weeks ago I was sitting in my car and my head felt as if (pardon my comparison) someone had held a vibrator to my head and turned it on for 20 seconds. This had happened a year prior to my stroke and I just thought it was a strange moment. Since then my daily life is migraines, off balance, extreme tiredness, forgetfulness and sometime I just blank off into space. I feel like I am looking at life through a dream state. I have had a ct scan and an MRI in the last four weeks non of which found another stroke nor further damage from what I already have in my brain from my first stroke. It has been a year and 4 months since my first stroke and now I feel as if I am living a totally new life. I repeat myself and often feel out of it. I am seeing my neurologist next Monday for a follow up, I have been logging my blood pressure (which on medication seems to still average 130/95, sometimes higher sometimes a tad lower) I log when I forget things, when I am told I am repeating myself and when I am very drained. I am worried that this turn of events is leading to vascular dementia even at my young age. The daily events are adding up and concerning enough. Anyone have any feedback I would appreciate it. Thank you~

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 17, 2018
In reply to @mlmcg "My first question is "Are you still driving?" The next one is "Will someone take you..." + (show)
@mlmcg

My first question is "Are you still driving?" The next one is "Will someone take you to your appointment?" Having a good support system/team can be one of the best things we can have. Yes, you have every right to be scared, strokes are not something I would want my worst enemy to have, well......maybe. I had two strokes the first one in November of 2014, the second in December of 2014. When I was discharged from the hospital in January of 2015 the doctors didn't know if I needed Hospice or Palliative Care. I spent two months in rehab came home to live by myself and I'm still living by myself.

Have you noticed your blood pressure higher in the early morning? I understand that is normal. When you take your BP do you sit for about 5 minutes, take it, wait a minute or two, take it again, then do it a third time. Look at the 3 readings, throw out the high and low, keeping the one in the middle. This gives a more accurate reading. My highest BP was when I was having a migraine, so I wouldn't suggest taking your BP when you are having a migraine.

Keep as accurate records as you can. If someone is with you have them add to your records. If you feel comfortable having someone with you when you see the doctor you may want them to be with you. If you do not want someone with you, you may want to ask your doctor for a copy of your record. I'm always given a copy of my record when I leave.

I have never had some of the symptoms you have shared and I hope that your doctor can wave that magic wand and make everything better. If you feel your questions are not answered see if you can have a second opinion. Good luck.

mlmcg

Jump to this post

Thanks, @contentandwell, I was actually thinking about the water-walking as a way to exercise for the blood pressure problems not actually the migraines. It is interesting to know that floating on your back did offer you some relief though.

@kathyec and @sandytoes have also mentioned migraines. Perhaps they will join in this conversation as well.

Teresa

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jul 17, 2018
In reply to @mlmcg "My first question is "Are you still driving?" The next one is "Will someone take you..." + (show)
@mlmcg

My first question is "Are you still driving?" The next one is "Will someone take you to your appointment?" Having a good support system/team can be one of the best things we can have. Yes, you have every right to be scared, strokes are not something I would want my worst enemy to have, well......maybe. I had two strokes the first one in November of 2014, the second in December of 2014. When I was discharged from the hospital in January of 2015 the doctors didn't know if I needed Hospice or Palliative Care. I spent two months in rehab came home to live by myself and I'm still living by myself.

Have you noticed your blood pressure higher in the early morning? I understand that is normal. When you take your BP do you sit for about 5 minutes, take it, wait a minute or two, take it again, then do it a third time. Look at the 3 readings, throw out the high and low, keeping the one in the middle. This gives a more accurate reading. My highest BP was when I was having a migraine, so I wouldn't suggest taking your BP when you are having a migraine.

Keep as accurate records as you can. If someone is with you have them add to your records. If you feel comfortable having someone with you when you see the doctor you may want them to be with you. If you do not want someone with you, you may want to ask your doctor for a copy of your record. I'm always given a copy of my record when I leave.

I have never had some of the symptoms you have shared and I hope that your doctor can wave that magic wand and make everything better. If you feel your questions are not answered see if you can have a second opinion. Good luck.

mlmcg

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 BP problems are something I have not had, yet. I’m sort of border now though.
When I had cirrhosis I felt positively smug because my BP was great, and then I found out after transplant that cirrhosis tends to make your BP lower.
JK

REPLY
mlmcg | @mlmcg | Jul 17, 2018

Finding out that what you thought was dementia but migraines could help relieve the pressure you were under, thinking you were loosing your mind, but not the pain of a migraine. Migraines can run in the family, my mother had them. I began having what I knew were not regular headaches so I had them checked out and I was having migraines, not the miserable kind, I call them baby migraines. I found heat helped me. They would start around my right eye and work their way to the back of my head and that was it. When I went to the migraine clinic I found Bengay really helped by putting it on my forehead, today I might wake up with the back of head/neck hurting. I turn the heating pad on low then after a few minutes I turn the pad off wait until it is cool and then it is time to get up. No pain.

Not many people have an OR RN as their best friend, you are very fortunate. Then having a compassionate male in your life means someone is watching over you. Relax.....relax.....and relax. The more you can relax and take your meds on schedule every day the better the chance of your BP can be under control.....low.....and lower.

I have found music is the best way to relax. If there are words I'll want to sing along or listen to the words. Quiet, soothing music, I do not know, in a darken room, in a comfortable chair works for me every time. I may fall asleep or just relax and not worry about anything. It may take a day or two before you really know if the new meds work. Continue to keep track of your BP. If you can take your BP before you relax for an hour, then take it again. Standing or sitting may make a difference. Good luck!

mlmcg

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