What is Deep Vein Thrombosis DVT
Deep-vein thrombosis, also known as deep-venous thrombosis or DVT, is the formation of a blood clot ("thrombus") in a deep vein. It commonly affects the leg veins, such as the femo...
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Neurologist suspecting Cerebral Blood Clot
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My daily life consists of pressure all over my head & especially behind my eyes, visual obscurations and disturbances, pulsating headaches,lightheadedness and swooshing noises along with my heartbeat, derealization(everything feels unreal)...24 hours a day, 7 days a week...
This has greatly interfered with my life believe it or not. Everyday tasks have become almost impossible for me.I can not drive, walk without feeling like I am about to fall, or sleep peacefully. Those are just some examples. June 1st 2009 was my first visit to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore,MD. I am hopeful that I will get some kind of help here. I visited Dr.Charles J. Limb who is a doctor in the Otolaryngology department. He referred me to a neurologist in Sinai Hospital. He sent me to get a lumbar puncture done and my opening pressure was 32. That's when I was diagnosed with MILD pseudotumor cerebri so that's obviously not that cause of all my symptoms...well that's what he said. From there, I got referred to a neuro-opthamologist who checked my eyes for Papilledema. There was no swelling and everything was fine. I later got an MRV, I have no blood flow on my left sigmoid sinus veins (where blood drains out). It's not a clear picture though, so they don't know if it's a blood clot causing the interruption or what? I am waiting for my appointment with a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins on November 11th. I can't wait, I don't like to whine but I need some relief, I am hopeful that I am going to get some solid answers to what is going on with my head.I have been worried that it could be heart problems because I also get arrythmias, I visited a cardiologist who said they could be due to stress. I used to have high cholesterol but I got that under control. I really hope it's not a coronary artery causing this. So far, I've had these exams done: - MRI/MRA (came out normal) -Carotid Artery Sonogram (normal) -CT Scan of temporal lobes and arteries with contrast (normal) -Blood tests(cholesterol, diabetes, anemia, D-Dimer, Lupus) (normal) -Echocardiogram (Normal) -EKG(arrythmia and tachycardia) -24 hour holter monitor(arrythmia and tachycardia) -EKG Treadmill test(fast heart rate due to overweight)-Lumbar Puncture (32) -MRV(no blood flow in left sigmoid sinus vein and small right vertebral artery)So this is where I stand...what is causing the poor blood flow to my brain? Blood clots? Too much fluid in my brain? I am just going to have to wait and see. For now I am taking daily aspirin.I know God is going to help me, he won't leave my side. Posted on 10/22/09, 12:10 am |
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Hi there!
I'm so sorry to hear what you're dealing with..I know how it feels to feel so out of control and scared when it comes to your health. Sounds like some of you problems (like mine) might be due to anxiety as well. You mentioned that you were hoping you didn't have a blood clot in your brain (I did). If you have a MVA/MRI that should have shown if there was one....so sounds like you don't?....one thing I might suggest if you are trying to keep your blood "thin" is to start taking a DHA supplement (this is omega three oil - naturally occuring in fish like salmon and nuts). You might want to ask your Dr. first - but from what I know it shouldn't affect you negatively at all. I know how annoying it is to "think" your ears feel full, and weird sensations just come over your body for no reason. I started having panic attacks and actually became a little agoraphobic as well as soon as I'd start to go outside. I have found that an anti-depressant has helped A LOT with this. At first I was really reluctant to try it - but it has made a world of difference. It allows me to separtate what is mental to what is physical a bit. Anyway, please feel free to email me and keep me up to date. Amy:) 
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Amy! Thanks so much for your reply. Actually, my neurologist doesn't know if there is one yet or not because in my MRV there was NO blood flow in the left sigmoid sinus veins. I'm getting a CT scan with contrast soon to get a clearer picture of what is going on. He said it's either a blood clot or too much spinal fluid compressing on the veins. How do you know about the ear fullness? Do you have Pseudotumor Cerebri as well? My anxiety has gotten worse now that I'm sick, I know for sure the arrythmias are due to stress. I also feel so woozy and lightheaded ALL the time like I am drunk or something lol my neurologist said that might be the poor blood flow in my head. I'm sorry to hear your had a blood clot in your brain, what were your symptoms and where was the blood clot? By the way, what anti-depressants are you taking?? It would be REALLY nice to know!! Lol.
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Just as as yet another possibility, someone I know had various symptoms in the area of his sinuses. Eventually it crowded on the signaling to his heart, by which time the people at the hospital were asking if he would like to see a priest (he said no). With a little more digging they figured out that he had a pocket of staph infection that had been growing out of control. By all appearances he returned completely to normal after a couple days of antibiotics.
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More2be, staph infection is a skin infection.
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Out of curiosity, have you recently stopped taking anti-depressants? The symptoms you mention are similar to SSRI withdrawal. Just a thought, in case it had been overlooked.
I hope you find treatment and get well.
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