Just found out I’ve had a silent mini stroke (TIA). Had this?

Yes, scary. I’ve never heard of or read about white before but my retinal specialist did tell me the visual symptoms for TIAs vary greatly. What got my attention with your first post was saying you just had afib procedures. My TIAs all came at the end of 30 hours in afib except the last one was two weeks after. The ophthalmologist told me on that one it was a residual clot from the afib breaking loose. The others seemed to also be from a clot that formed during afib.

The first one I had I was walking in the kitchen and my vision suddenly became pixelated in both eyes like when they hide someone’s face on TV. It was so confusing and I thought I must be having a stroke. Stopped suddenly after about 30 seconds. A medical friend suspected a TIA because of my afib and insisted I go to the ER. They were crazy busy. I waited 3 hours and then was pulled into something like broom closet where the ER doc told me he was going to save me money, no CT scan, you’re fine, go home. 4 hours after the TIA, I was standing and suddenly just fell backwards like a tree in the forest. No warning, no dizziness, didn’t bend or try to catch myself. It was like someone flipped my off switch. Luckily I was close to the recliner and landed mostly on it so hard I almost broke it. I believe that was a second TIA. My neurologist thought ocular migraine but no explanation for the fall. But I’ve had 3 TIAs since and all different so I now believe the “ocular migraines” and fall were also TIAs. One TIA I was standing and talking to a neighbor and my left arm suddenly got heavy, numb and massive tingling and my hand turned bright red then stopped suddenly and hand was normal color again. My neighbor saw it change as I told her I was in afib and thought I might be about to have a stroke or heart attack. Scary. Nothing visual on that one. The 4th and 5th were in one eye only. One was like a large grayed out circle in one eye. I thought I was going blind in that eye — lasted 2 min in Costco. The other was a sudden purple blob in the middle of my vision while watching TV, one eye only. Nonstop for an hour, but I could still see it briefly right after blinking for another 12-24 hours. Retinal specialist told me they were both TIAs. I didn’t ask her about my first 3. I didn’t go to the ER for any others. Why bother?

All mine started suddenly and stopped suddenly except the purple blob. All felt very confusing. I’ve read TIAs start and stop suddenly and are brief. Ocular migraines (no pain just visual) come on slowly, go away slowly and last longer. I don’t think any were ocular migraines. Brain MRI and MRA were fine. Carotid fine. Everything heart was checked before the TIAs (because of afib) and fine. No vascular issues. I believe my TIAs were all caused by little clots from afib. TIAs don’t usually cause damage or show up on CT scans or MRIs unless taken during the TIA which is hard to do.

Your afib procedure makes me suspect it was related to that. Your episode did go away slowly which is more curious. I hope your doctor takes you seriously. I know my ophthalmologist would refer you for a full work up. Sorry this is so long.

Please keep us posted. How are you doing with the ablation and watchman?

Wondering…today experienced a period driving when everything seemed so white! It helps to focus on dark cars, shaded areas, and ultimately, come inside, but what the heck? This has happened once before, and I’m wearing dark shades.

I’ve had a few TIAs now. They were all different. Can you describe more what you saw? You said everything went white. 100%? You couldn’t see anything but white? Partially? Did you close one eye then the other to see if it was one eye or both? White or bright like overexposed? How long did it last? Did it go away suddenly or slowly? Sorry for playing 20 questions. Just trying to get a better feel about your experience and then I’ll comment.

Thank you for responding. It went totally white in both eyes, slowing diminished. It was like being in a heavy snowstorm in which you could not see that lasted about 10 minutes. Kind of light a white out condition. Have never had this happen before, I do have a constant pressure in my head, but the CT scan showed the brain was normal. I have a follow up appointment with my doctor tomorrow and hopefully he will schedule an MRI. Must admit, it was scary.

2lizjohn, your frustration is understandable. It's somewhat puzzling why the ER dr didn't order the MRI while you were there, but your primary care provider can certainly do that. From my mother's experience, a TIA would not always show up on an MRI, but she had classic symptoms. Seeing white was not one of those. Not to confuse you or frustrate you further, but I wonder if you might want to contact an opthalmologist. I did that when everything in my world turned black. No cause was found at that time, howeverI felt bette r knowing she could see the nerves in my eyes and if there had been a concern, she would have followed through with treatment. Reason I return every 6 months, especially now that I've had a stroke.
I sincerely hope your frustration subsides and you can get the care and help you need.

I’ve had a few TIAs now. They were all different. Can you describe more what you saw? You said everything went white. 100%? You couldn’t see anything but white? Partially? Did you close one eye then the other to see if it was one eye or both? White or bright like overexposed? How long did it last? Did it go away suddenly or slowly? Sorry for playing 20 questions. Just trying to get a better feel about your experience and then I’ll comment.

I recently had an incident where everything went white. My husband took me to the hospital to get evaluated. After spending 4 hours in ER, I found no results whatsoever as to what happened. I had an EKG and a CT. all negative. Just had a ablation and a watchman for Afib done 2 weeks ago. Dr. recommended I have an MRI to determine if I had a mini stroke but didn't do it then. How do I get a doctor to take me serious? Am frustrated.

Thank you for your input, it is much appreciated. I have an appt with an eye specialist if April. I Will be seeing my doctor this next week and if he doesn't recommend an MRI, I am going to ask for one. It is the unknown that is the worst. My father died of a stroke so that is always in the back of my mind which also frustrates me that the ER doctor didn't order one when I told her of my father's stroke. I think she dropped the ball. My husband and I both felt like we weren't taken seriously since I walked into the ER. I wonder if I would have been treated differently if I had arrived by ambulance. Question rather I ever want to go back to that hospital again.

2lizjohn, your frustration is understandable. It's somewhat puzzling why the ER dr didn't order the MRI while you were there, but your primary care provider can certainly do that. From my mother's experience, a TIA would not always show up on an MRI, but she had classic symptoms. Seeing white was not one of those. Not to confuse you or frustrate you further, but I wonder if you might want to contact an opthalmologist. I did that when everything in my world turned black. No cause was found at that time, howeverI felt bette r knowing she could see the nerves in my eyes and if there had been a concern, she would have followed through with treatment. Reason I return every 6 months, especially now that I've had a stroke.
I sincerely hope your frustration subsides and you can get the care and help you need.