TIA symptoms but ALL tests come back negative for anything

Just had two recent TMI's mini strokes about 2 weeks apart.
Prior month had a pacemaker and started blood thinners.
Also have hiatal hernia which may be pushing at my heart
causing afib, Brain MRI's with contrast show a small 4 mm
area. Seems a big waiting gave for a major stroke.

@llynst

Has he been tested for Parkinson’s? Has he been to a neurologist? Think this sounds like Parkinson’s as my husband has the same with early signs of dementia. Also with the weight loss ask his pcp to tested his adrenal system. My husband lost alot of weight in a short time and the PCP tested his adrenal. He is off the charts! We are now being referred to an endocrinologist.

Remember, you may not be looking for just one thing to be going on. It may be multiple things.

I would try to find a very experienced Neurologist and endocrinologist and see if any of these things could be a possibility for him. At least you would know what you are dealing with and could try to get him help with some of these issues. Wishing ya’ll all the best.

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?

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🙏❤️

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!

@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.

@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. 🙏🤗❤️