TIA symptoms but ALL tests come back negative for anything

@brigid4 I’m so sorry about your husband (and your) situation. I used every doctor I had to try and get a referral to a vascular neurologist, and kept striking out because their first question is: “when did you have a stroke?” I reply honestly that my neurologist could not find any blockage in my MRI or CT angiogram, but I’ve had stroke symptoms (according to Mayo Clinic, Cleveland clinic, etc.,) for months and now two years. I finally started writing my own referral letters that my doctor could send. Then I began calling and sending my letters directly to local vascular neurologists at large facilities, like Baylor Scott & White, Methodist, and others. I finally got a call and appointment (a month from tomorrow) from a vascular neurologist who received a referral from my doctor and me. I don’t know if any of this helps you, but if you do decide to send letters, I would make them as concise as possible, stating how your husband‘s symptoms mimic those listed on sites like Mayo Clinic. -Best of luck to you!

Thank you!

You’re welcome. My hope, love and prayers are with you. 🙏🙏❤️

@stauggroomer35 This really is ironic, and I’m definitely going to bring it up at my appointment with the vascular neurologist. Within the last 8-10 months, my breathing has been labored, I started getting migraines just above my left eye, and it has caused my vision vision to change in that eye, and I was in the hospital for nine days starting April 16 for acute kidney issues (my creatine level had climbed to more than 6). It fits so many of the PFO symptoms. I’m happy I found this site and your post. Thanks again for your kind reply.

@neelishere1948 You will have to reach out to University Hospita (UTSA Medical Center). SA woefully lacking in specialist care among the physicians who have practices. The research teams at the University Medical Center may have someone they can refer you to.

@txwalker22 he showed signs of a stroke like the weakness on left which was his arm and his face drooped. His speech slurred. He was just sitting on the couch talking to my mom when it started. My mom asked him if he was ok and he grabbed his face cause it felt weird. She knew the signs since she had a few mini strokes from clots. All the tests they did including CT and MRI didn’t show anything at all. They never could find where the clot had been, etc. it just so happens the doctor has a PFO himself and decided to do the bubble test. It wouldn’t hurt to have that test done.

Some people go their whole like and never know they have one. I look back and think about different signs that you would just write off. Like he has horrible migraines. The kind you would throw up and very sensitive to light. Also feeling tired for no reason. Sometimes shortness of breath. Migraines were thought from the 2 car accidents he was in. Shortness of breath he used to be a smoker. Tired we just figured just over worked. One of the things that happens is your oxygen level will drop with a PFO so you will have times of shortness of breath which he gets and looks like you do too.

If it is a PFO you can have surgery to have the hole covered in a type of mesh. My husband opted not to do the surgery cause the risk was close to being the same with or without having the surgery. He’s on slow release aspirin once a day. He was on a statin but came off of it cause it made his legs hurt and made him feel worse. They had him on the highest dose which dropped his cholesterol really low. You need cholesterol for your brain. He was having brain fog and forgetting. After a week being off he was more himself. He still has moments but he has learned to cope. His stroke symptoms that he had was minimal which he was lucky. He has worked through those.

I hope you do find out what is going on with you. I pray you find your answers and wish you all the best. If you have any more questions just let me know. 🙏🤗❤️

@stauggroomer35 This is interesting! Before the bubble test, did they find blockage through a brain MRI or CT Angiogram, or could they just tell based on his symptoms that he had a stroke? Although my entire life has changed the past two years, they haven’t found anything (Frustrating, frustrating). Vascular neurologists Won’t see me because I haven’t had a documented stroke. I finally have an appointment next month with a vascular neurologist, and I’m wondering if I should bring up the bubble test? Before the stroke, I was an endurance athlete (5K - marathons, and sprint to half Ironman triathlon). Now, I can’t even think about riding my bike, And my glorious exercise is walking in nature. cardiology wise, I am like your husband. Totally unremarkable, Even though I battle for breath after showering or doing dishes. Walking is fine. Anyway, I’m glad things are going well for him, and I appreciate you putting that “bubble test” out there.

Amazing. For two years, I thought it was just me, and for two years I’ve had serious issues with balance, spatial issues, hitting curbs while driving, memory, finding words, failing neuropsych tests, etc. Brain MRIs and CT angiogram’s show no blockage, but some days I slur my speech like the first nine months. Through research, I’ve focused on trying to get an appointment with a Vascular Neurologist, and I finally have one next month. There are so many things they can check that a general neurologist cannot, but the entry point is difficult as a typical requirement is that you first show them that you had a stroke–which obviously I cannot. It has been a while, so I don’t know if anything can be reversed, but I hope that my balance and memory can get better. I also wish the best for everyone on this message board!

My husband actually had a stroke and everything was good with him. Nothing with his blood work or any of the heart tests they did. They admitted him cause he apparently did have a stroke. The doctor he had while he was in the hospital was awesome. He did a bubble test. This test actually showed there was a pin sized hole in the backside of his heart (PFO : patent foramen ovale) My husband was born with it like we all are but his did not close all the way. He was 49 when he had the stroke. Luckily the heart doctor he had has a PFO. He also did the monitor for a month, etc. and they were all normal. maybe ask about that test to be done. I hope you can find a doctor that can help your husband. You as his partner feel powerless. My prayers are with you🙏❤️

My husband had a TIA 12 days ago and the hospital put him on Plavix for 3 weeks plus aspirin. His cardiologist is doing a second echo and doing a heart monitor for a month. We cannot find a neurologist to see him - there is a year and a half wait for appt. His internist flew the coop and will not get him into a stroke clinic. Does anyone know a neurologist or clinic that accepts Stroke patients in San Antonio area?