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chronic microvascular ischemia

Posted by melissa711 @melissa711, 4 days ago

62f - over six months of numbness and tingling in left arm, hand, left side of face and scalp, brain chaos, fatigue, finally had an MRI last week. Neurologist has not called - saw this on the patient portal - Moderate burden of T2/FLAIR hyperintensities in the subcortical and periventricular white matter, nonspecific but
most commonly seen in the setting of chronic microvascular ischemia.

So after googling this I am assuming since they haven’t called they have chalked this up to my age and high blood pressure and cholesterol. It appears not much can be done besides keeping these things in check.

Are these symptoms inline with this diagnosis? Am I just supposed to suck it up ? Any advice, commiseration is very welcome - I am extremely anxious and I know that doesn’t help matters!

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keithl56 | @keithl56 | 4 days ago

Symptoms can vary and are related to the specific areas of the brain that the ischemia is affecting. Look up the areas where the hyperintensities are located and see if their function corresponds to your symptoms. Also, it is possible that your microvascular ischemia is asymptomatic, at least for now. In my case my areas of disease are different than yours and manifest mainly as balance/gait issues.

Since there is really no way to reverse this the only thing you can do is live a healthy lifestyle to minimize the progression and try to not stress over it.

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melissa711 | @melissa711 | 4 days ago
In reply to @keithl56 "Symptoms can vary and are related to the specific areas of the brain that the ischemia..." + (show)
Profile picture for keithl56 @keithl56

Symptoms can vary and are related to the specific areas of the brain that the ischemia is affecting. Look up the areas where the hyperintensities are located and see if their function corresponds to your symptoms. Also, it is possible that your microvascular ischemia is asymptomatic, at least for now. In my case my areas of disease are different than yours and manifest mainly as balance/gait issues.

Since there is really no way to reverse this the only thing you can do is live a healthy lifestyle to minimize the progression and try to not stress over it.

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@keithl56 thanks for replying. I’m having a hard time accepting that I shouldn’t be continued to be tested for other causes etc. and that there’s nothing that can be done. I feel like a ticking time bomb.

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