TIA symptoms but ALL tests come back negative for anything

Posted by calanbrown @calanbrown, Mar 14, 2025

I am looking for someone that has had a similar experience. TIA symptoms,was brought to the emergency room and admitted and treated as possible stroke patient. All tests come back negative for stroke related attack. Brain and heart and blood showed nothing indications of anything at all. Ruled out diabetic problems, medication problems, drinking or drug problems, physical or physical activity problems.

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Profile picture for kovamk @kovamk

Hi, I’m glad I found this thread. My wife has had these Tia symptoms recently, but all tests come back negative. She had the first, and most severe episode Aug 9th, 2025 and went to the ER. They sent her home after an CT and MRI and in 2 days she had another episode and went back to the ER. They admitted her and she had 5 episodes in one day, but then appeared to get better with doxycline as they thought it was Lymes. After 5 days as an IP she was looking like she was improving, so they sent her home. She seemed to get better but after a few days at home she started to feel bad again and has episodes once every 2 or 3 days. She’s had a constant pressure headache after the 1st episode and the headache is now spreading to more areas of the head and ears and even teeth now. We’re very scared and have received no effective treatment. My wife can’t do any activity for longer than 5 mins before she has to take a break because she gets so tired. Nobody seems to know what is causing this. They just ruled out all the serious things from the MRIs, spinal tap, bloodwork, and neuro tests eeg and Emg. We saw a stroke neurologist today with no answers and are now referred to a headache clinic and a general neurologist. If anyone has had a treatment, natural or medical, please let me know, we’ll try anything within reason. It’s scary bc she was perfectly healthy prior to her first episode and now she can’t do much and is scared when she has these episodes.

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So sorry to hear this is happening to your wife. I was (as well as all the associated doctors I’ve come in contact with) as dumbfounded as you and is why I shared my story. Although others have also shared similar stories, I’m still in the dark about it all. It was somewhat comforting to know that I wasn’t the only one. Still hoping some grad student looking for something to write a thesis on someday will find these threads and investigate (at the universities expense of course) these situations. At any rate, thankyou for sharing your story. I hope you guys find some answers soon.

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Hi, I’m glad I found this thread. My wife has had these Tia symptoms recently, but all tests come back negative. She had the first, and most severe episode Aug 9th, 2025 and went to the ER. They sent her home after an CT and MRI and in 2 days she had another episode and went back to the ER. They admitted her and she had 5 episodes in one day, but then appeared to get better with doxycline as they thought it was Lymes. After 5 days as an IP she was looking like she was improving, so they sent her home. She seemed to get better but after a few days at home she started to feel bad again and has episodes once every 2 or 3 days. She’s had a constant pressure headache after the 1st episode and the headache is now spreading to more areas of the head and ears and even teeth now. We’re very scared and have received no effective treatment. My wife can’t do any activity for longer than 5 mins before she has to take a break because she gets so tired. Nobody seems to know what is causing this. They just ruled out all the serious things from the MRIs, spinal tap, bloodwork, and neuro tests eeg and Emg. We saw a stroke neurologist today with no answers and are now referred to a headache clinic and a general neurologist. If anyone has had a treatment, natural or medical, please let me know, we’ll try anything within reason. It’s scary bc she was perfectly healthy prior to her first episode and now she can’t do much and is scared when she has these episodes.

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Profile picture for jenatsky @jenatsky

@hakablue i believe you’re playing with fire. A TIA or TIA like symptoms should alert you to something’s going on in your brain that’s not normal. Doctors don’t know everything about the human body but they do a pretty good job and learn more every day. If you’re considering dumping medicine for homeopathy try doing both simultaneously instead.

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Actually my family doctor had labeled it an ischemic stroke which makes sense because I have Throphilia a blood cutting issue. I have brain damage from aneurysms and three craniotomy’s in 2000. So thinking is a problem, brain fog, memory issues, concentration, verbal communication comprehension. Last October there was a noticeable decline in my thinking and concentration so I requested a referral to a neurologist from family doctor. Contacted their office and was told if I wanted Migraine help they could get me right in but if I wanted an. appointment for cognitive issues six months , so I made the six month appointment and waited. Finally went to appointment and started talking about cognitive isdues. He stopped me and said oh no this appointment is for Migraines if you want to discuss cognitive issues make another appointment. I was stunned and furious. I have frontal lobe damage so anger is not a good look for me to express. I exchanged emails pointing out his error and he still wanted to deflect blame. I looked up practice and they are a Botox factory for treating migraines. Explained issue with neurologist with my family doctor and she did a referral to the same practice, different doctor. Their scheduling staff called and said they needed to do a MRI, well I have multiple metal clips in my brain and a MRI will kill me. I left a message for the doctor office saying exactly that and have not heard from them since. I gave up locally and have a telehealth appointment with neurologist at Cleveland Clinic. My faith in doctors is at an all time low, I’m planning to retire at 62 instead of 70 as planned. I have been treating my migraines with herbal tea, supplement and neck and spine adjustments. It’s done wonders almost completely headache free. They are more tension than migraine. I’m still trying the neurologist route and all the other health issues but my patience is running out. Thanks for your suggestions

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@hakablue i believe you’re playing with fire. A TIA or TIA like symptoms should alert you to something’s going on in your brain that’s not normal. Doctors don’t know everything about the human body but they do a pretty good job and learn more every day. If you’re considering dumping medicine for homeopathy try doing both simultaneously instead.

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I had two episodes two days in a row. First day-sudden drooping of left eye, vision going in and out, and sudden headache. I lost about 10 minutes time and then I was fine and didn’t worry about it till the next morning when again left eye dropped, unable to move left side, fuzzy vision this time and headache with total confusion. Went to ER this time and thought I was explaining everything but the medical staff didn’t seem to understand. They put me in an ER room, was given a neuro physical test that I passed. They sent me for a CT scan w/contrast and it showed I have been having chronic strokes(TMI)’s. I was given something for pain and sent to waiting area to see if medication worked. It did and they sent me home with no follow up instructions about strokes. I’ve had cognitive decline for a year now and still cannot get into a local neurologist. I’m not real impressed with the medical system right now and considering holistic treatments. I have a few other things going on. But that has been my experience with TMI.

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Profile picture for jerce @jerce

I think that a TIA would be diagnosed by the results of Ct scan and definitely by an MRI OF THE BRAIN.

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Has this done as long as any other test you can think of by a neurologist and cardiologist. That’s why they left the final results as a crcptogenic stroke. The second one I had, I was at the hospital within 20 minutes of start and doctors all agreed I was having a stroke as I did not drink or so drugs. After extensive testing they could not find any evidence though. I have a LOT of cardiologists and neurologists very stumped. But found out through this forum that I’m not the only one this has happened to.

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Profile picture for jerce @jerce

I think that a TIA would be diagnosed by the results of Ct scan and definitely by an MRI OF THE BRAIN.

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not really true. i've had 3. none of these tests proved one way or the other. but we know i had them. right drooping. and a little speech slurring.

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I think that a TIA would be diagnosed by the results of Ct scan and definitely by an MRI OF THE BRAIN.

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Profile picture for calanbrown @calanbrown

That’s what all the doctors that took care of me at the hospital concluded and put on my discharge papers. My symptoms resembled that of being intoxicated or high. Non responsive to conversation, unaware of my conditions but not my surroundings. No pain or discomfort. Brain fog and memory loss. I was with people during all the TIAs and that’s what they said.

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@calanbrown thanks. Last week I had a very strange “something” happen. Went to ER had all kinds of tests, kept me over night and no answers… could be TIA or Panic Attack, or “life”…

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Profile picture for SusanEllen66 Susan McMichael @SusanEllen66

How did you know you were having or had a TIA?

What did it feel or look like?

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That’s what all the doctors that took care of me at the hospital concluded and put on my discharge papers. My symptoms resembled that of being intoxicated or high. Non responsive to conversation, unaware of my conditions but not my surroundings. No pain or discomfort. Brain fog and memory loss. I was with people during all the TIAs and that’s what they said.

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