CSVD

cognitive impairment that should say!

Hi,
Mild, I'm 73 and been struggling for 13 years with symptoms with all sorts of diagnosis, few of which have proved incorrect! Mild is in the normal range for age so I'm told.
I have a family history of MS with both older brother and sister succoming to it and 3 close cousins currently diagnosed with it. Finally got a diagnosis of Autonomic polyneuropathy ( ANS) 4/5 months ago when I bothered to go to ED with sustained high BP, just had to sit it out, one smart cookie noticed the symptoms I was exibiting at the time and recognised ANS, further investigation confirmed it then my life and symptoms started making sence. The MRI was at my insistance and took 13 months before medical people realised it was urgent with some of the weird and whacky symptoms I'm go through. Being ANS it is difficult to tell which symptoms can be attributed to what, CSVD or ANS, I suspect more the ANS as they can be really serious at times, worst I have had is short term paralysis from the waist down followed by being unable to walk without assistance, managed to get through it and life goes on. Could not remeber how to speak on one occasion recently, again short term. What happens if it is not short term is the constant worry. I have rampant BP from the ANS and it has taken over my entire digestive system from throat to bladder and bowel. My BP runs between 127/89 up to 240/140 and there isn't anything that can be done for fear it could drop to low rapidly when medicated down. I count myself lucky if I can keep it around 150/100. After 30+ years of high BP, high cholesterol and T2 diaetes I'm really surprised I have come out with mild CSVD. With CKD, T2 and BP I would have expected more damage.
Cheers

Sorry about all your troubles. So happy yours is mild. Mine is moderate. I can’t really tell symptoms. I have anxiety and depression too but I don’t know if it is related

Hi,
Yes they can be related as far as I'm aware. I get anxiety, brain fog, memory lapses and mood swings. These have not been as notable now the anxiety of not knowing the cause no longer exists. Been cleared of having Parkinsons and MS. I used to get periods of depression without a cause, knowing the causes of my afflictions has stopped that. Found if I keep the mind and body busy I do better. When I sit down to relax things get worse as the mind tends to wonder. I seem to do better under a little pressure which tends to keep me focused.
Cheers

Do you think anxiety and depression are related to this ?

Sorry I saw you wrote they could be. Strangely my neurologist said they probably weren’t as I was first diagnosed with and treated for an anxiety disorder almost 20 years ago but it came back with a vengeance a year ago.

I also have normal BP, non diabetic, BMI about 28. My risk factor is severe CAD - even though I started statins over 30 years ago I don't have good cardio genes. The only thing I would strongly recommend is to make sure that you don't have any coronary blockages since the same mechanism that is causing the ischemia in your brain is the same that causes CAD. My coronary calcium score is about 1300 with multivessel involvement, and I also have some carotid blockage (50%).

Fortunately, at 68, I have not noticed any cognitive decline, mostly balance issues which I am doing therapy for. At least you are young enough to make some lifestyle changes which can hopefully prevent/delay any significant symptoms.

Good luck!

Hi,
Dealing with the diagnosis definitely can cause anxiety and depression. It depends on how emotional you get with potential life altering ailments. With CSVD it is about the lack of oxygen getting to the fine blood vessels that are now damaged. This can cause the brain to be less effective or struggle.
Do your own research into CSVD it can be more informative, sticking to trusted websights. Be careful not to scare yourself with the worse case scenarios.
Cheers

Thank u for that info keith xx U look after urself