largest dicection repoted to date by: shannon lawson
iam a 38 yr old women who is in boston hospital i am told that i have a severe disected artery that goes into my brain there is no such surgery to repair this im told tha i should be drooling staring at the ceiling i have had 13 episodes between tia and actual stokes some way some how i am still here walking and talking i have to beleive that this aint just coincidence but i miricle from god i am on comidan and thats suposed to stop the blood clots from forming im told by neroligist how uncommon this disection is the artery is completly blocked off there is no blood supply flowing threw tha artery on my left side im so looking for a neroligist who feels that they may help me im seeking help
Aug 08, 2011 Rating
largest dicection repoted to date by: shannon lawson
iam a 38 yr old women who is in boston hospital i am told that i have a severe disected artery that goes into my brain there is no such surgery to repair this im told tha i should be drooling staring at the ceiling i have had 13 episodes between tia and actual stokes some way some how i am still here walking and talking i have to beleive that this aint just coincidence but i miricle from god i am on comidan and thats suposed to stop the blood clots from forming im told by neroligist how uncommon this disection is the artery is completly blocked off there is no blood supply flowing threw tha artery on my left side im so looking for a neroligist who feels that they may help me im seeking help
Aug 06, 2011 Rating
Dizziness and TIA by: Anonymous
I have a dissected carotid artery. The first symptons were in my office after bending over to retrieve some files, I stood up and became light headed, then severely dizzy having to hold onto my desk to find my chair and sit. I closed my eyes thinking the dizziness would go away, but my office started spinning, and subsequently I started throwing up. I tried to call my cardiologists but couldn't find the numbers on the phone. It passed, I called the Dr. and he said it was likely an inner ear thing and it should pass. I took the train home and drove to his office anyway, and he said the same. That was Thursday. Sunday morning, I was sitting in my den reading and bent over to pet the dog, when I became dizzy again and soon had to run to the bathroom to throw up. My wife took me to the ER, and they immediately diagnosed it as a stroke. It was too late to use the clot busting drug, but that was a good thing. A cat scan and MRA revealed a dissected carotid artery which caused the TIA. I'm fine now, no symptoms or side effect (on Coumadin, 325 mg aspirin, Lipitor, Diovan for blood pressure). I'm 56, in very good shape, strong, and never had an issue before. Just had a follow up MRA and no change. The neurologist suggested to not do anything, since anything invasive to correct the artery unless life threatening could have more negative effects than to leave it alone if I'm doing fine. I was fortunate, it could have gone much worse.
Nov 03, 2009 Rating
Right Internal Carotid Artery Dissection by: Dennis
55 Year old male in great physical condition. August 23, 2009 I was hiking and climbing on Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii. After a 3 mile hike up to 8600 feet elevation, I suffered a TIA. My left arm went numb and limp. As I said aloud What The *&^%,
My speech was slurred. After about 5 minutes I was able to speak clearly and had regained the use of left arm. I hiked back to car and drove to local Emergency Room. I was well cared for and diagnosed with Right ICAD. I was put on Heprin then converted to Coumadin. I was discharged 4 days later and told to do little to nothing and take my Coumadin. It has been over 2 months and my Neurologist has just ordered a CTI to check on my progress. I did experience symptoms 4 days earlier 8/20/09, and was seen by a VA doctor. Right side ache around eye, pain in neck, right eye blindness, pulsating tinnitus. Doctor did not know and told me to slow down.
Sep 25, 2009 Rating
Brother by: Anonymous
My 50 year old brother just suffered a dissected carotid artery resulting in a stroke. His family doctor didn't diagnose the problem when he first went to see her within days of the initial symptoms. A week later the symptoms became severe. He was sent to a hospital that does eye testing because his vision was blurred. They immediately sent him to the main city hospital. Not sure what they suspected. At the main city hospital he was made to wait in the ER for 6 1/2 hours suffering a stroke. As a result he currently is in hospital with paralysis on the right side, unable to speak, unable to understand speech and not sure what else. The doctors are indicating the severity of the damage needent have been this severe if he had been attended to immediately at the ER when presenting with signs of stroke.
Sep 21, 2009 Rating
Learn from other people's experiences by: Robin Langton
The best place to get information on carotid artery dissection is from people who've actually had one!
To learn more, search for the "Carotid Artery Dissection" group on FaceBook.Com
The group shares people's real experiences from all over the world and provides practical information.
Well, I would certainly advise you to get hold of the angio report and pictures and have it looked at by a Neuroradiologist specializing in Angiograms.
The role of anticoagulation (coumadin) in dissection is still controversial in cases of proven dissection, however many neurologists do give it for a limited amount of time and usually stop it at some point provided there is no indication of continuing damage to the blood vessels and as long as there is no other reason (such as a heart problem) to give it.
If the diagnosis of a dissection itself is in doubt (as I mentioned, it is hard to easily link your double vision with the diagnosis you were given ) then I would certainly see value in going over all the clinical & imaging data (including a full neuro exam) with an experienced stroke specialist. This is important because coumadin does increase the chance of any type of bleeding and whilst your doctors are probably justified in insisting you stay on it I would want them to be certain of the fact that you did in fact have a carotid dissection.
Be well,
Vascular Expert 1
Dec 03, 2007 Rating
Mark's responses by: Mark
They never showed me the report. I understood that they missed the dissection on the Angiogram, caught it on the Carotid Sonogram and then went back and DID see it on the original Angiogram.
>>> Did you suffer from a headache at the time? If so where was the maximum pain?
No headache at the time but I did have a bad 2 day headache the week before. Never had one that bad. The pain was like a tension headache. Side to side on the forehead. May be unrelated??
>>>What bothers me is that your symptoms of double vision (diplopia) are not very characteristic of a carotid artery problem and would be more common in cases of a vertebral artery problem.
The double vision was the first symptom and only lasted about 3 or 4 minutes.
>>As dissections of the vertebral arteries may co-exist with those of the carotid arteries I wanted to make sure that this was not the case.
They told me they checked me from my heart to my head so I assume they checked the vertebral arteries.
Dec 02, 2007 Rating
Vascular Expert requests imaging data (VC gho) by: Anonymous
What did the angiogram show? Could you please provide the exact wording of the angiogram report.
Also:- Did you suffer from a headache at the time? If so where was the maximum pain?
What bothers me is that your symptoms of double vision (diplopia) are not very characteristic of a carotid artery problem and would be more common in cases of a vertebral artery problem.
As dissections of the vertebral arteries may co-exist with those of the carotid arteries I wanted to make sure that this was not the case.
Thanks
Vascular expert 1
Dec 02, 2007 Rating
Mark responds to vascular expert's questions by: Mark
>>>Did they look at the vertebral arteries as well as the carotids?
I think so. The Neurologist said they looked at everything.
>>>Was there a history of trauma to the head or neck (including chiropractor treatment) before this happened?
I'm very active but I don't think so.
>>>Do you have a family history of stroke / blood clots?
Did they look at the vertebral arteries as well as the carotids? Was there a history of trauma to the head or neck (including chiropractor treatment) before this happened? Do you have a family history of stroke / blood clots? Was an angiogram performed?
