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Ms. Jenn
Fresh, Hot & Wild
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Joined: 14 Feb 2004
Posts: 7935
Location: Suite 550
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 Posted: 08/01/05 - 14:46 Post subject: MRI Results: Presence of brain unconfirmed...
Very early Saturday morning, I was awaken by severe chest pain and a numbness in my left arm. DH called 911 and I was transported via ambulance to a local community hospital. Between the house and the hospital I developed severe speech slurring/stuttering and decreased motor skills and weakness.
EKG and cardiac enzyme tests normal. CT Scan of my brain and lung nuclear imaging (looking for the presence of blood clots) came back clear. I was still slurring and had quite a bit of weakness and about an 8 on the chest pain. Since my head and lungs were clear I finally got pain meds and about 20 minutes later, all my symptons dissipated and I was released about 9 am. DH goes to work at 11:30 after I've assured him I'm fine. Go to work.
Take a few naps and fix dinner the rest of the day and about 6pm my pain resurfaces and I had a pretty bad headache, and the slurring starts again. I take a dose of the prescription meds they sent home and took another nap. Wake up at 8pm the pain hasnt chaned and the slurring is worse than it has been and I'm starting to get numb all over. DH calls about the time I tell the girlie to call him and he had a bad feeling at work and was headed home.
My father arrived shortly at the house to watch the girlie shortly after DH arrived home and we book it to the ER at the main hospital in Tulsa. I was sitting in chairs numb all over and having the shakes. I can also barely focus. While at the nurses station the DH motions for me (because I am being triaged immediately) and I can't move. I tried and my brain was saying " get up Jennifer" and I couldn't. I get right into a room in the ER and they're pissed the other hospital released me.
I get another CT scan of my head and chest, get some scary "maybe" scenarios from the internist and finally get to a room about 4:30 am, get an MRI and an MRA to confirm/outrule the scary scenarios...including the CT scan showed a lesion on my brain 
About 3pm Sunday, my speech began to clear. I was just about slur free and a lot stronger and passed some tests with the nurse to get her to take something very uncomfortable out. I promised I wouldn't fall if she did. I have a lot of visitors and phone calls and get peace and quiet about 8:30 pm. I sleep for a while and wake up with a MAJOR headache. Nurse comes in oddly enough at that time and I end up with some pain meds to help me sleep and they give me more anti clotting stuff, more steroids and take more blood.
I was slurring still a little when the second neurologist came to see me this morning. Ran some motor skills/reflexive tests and went to read my MRI.
I'm missing a blood vessel that carries blood to the circle, probably since birth, but it according to the MRI and MRA does not affect my brain fuction. The other three carrier vessels and the rest of my brain are working normally.
I've apparently suffered from a cluster of severe migraine headaches. If migraines are bad enough, they cause neurological symptons similar to stroke. The chest MRI also revealed I have significant scar tissue between my sternum and esophagus they don't have a known cause for, but it probably shifted and that's what caused the severe chest pain. They assume the severe chest pain and the stress I've been under brought on the migraines. Migraine is also consistant with why the symptons dissipated at the other hospital after having narcotic pain relief injected.
My headache is pretty dull and I'm a little foggy, but my speech is good. My handwriting is back, I can walk and jump and everything. I've been cleared for flying so I can still go on vacation on Wednesday 
We've made a plan to de-stress my life. I will be taking at least the fall off from school, working only part-time, no more birth control pills (increased stroke risk), exercising more regularly, and changing my diet to be more balanced and to exclude alcohol (drinking has been causing headaches).
Last edited by Ms. Jenn on 08/01/05 - 15:05; edited 1 time in total
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 14:53 Post subject:
Oh my goodness what a roller coaster ride! I'm glad its only as minor as migraines and that hopefully you can get those under control! The brain works in wacky ways, doesn't it? How very scary for you, wow.
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Cappy
Excelent
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Joined: 16 May 2002
Posts: 27368
Location: Spreadsheetylvania
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 14:53 Post subject:
Hope you get better real soon
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Ms. Jenn
Fresh, Hot & Wild
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Joined: 14 Feb 2004
Posts: 7935
Location: Suite 550
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 14:55 Post subject:
| cherylpf wrote: |
Oh my goodness what a roller coaster ride! I'm glad its only as minor as migraines and that hopefully you can get those under control! The brain works in wacky ways, doesn't it? How very scary for you, wow. |
Until the MRI results they were pretty sure I had MS and/or a stroke of some kind. I was very scared. Apparently so were a lot of other people  go figure 
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 14:56 Post subject:
| Ms. Jenn wrote: | | cherylpf wrote: |
Oh my goodness what a roller coaster ride! I'm glad its only as minor as migraines and that hopefully you can get those under control! The brain works in wacky ways, doesn't it? How very scary for you, wow. |
Until the MRI results they were pretty sure I had MS and/or a stroke of some kind. I was very scared. Apparently so were a lot of other people go figure |
Thats what I thought you were going to get to too, the 2 people I know with MS had numbness/inability to move like you described, minus the chest pain. Wow.
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phillycat
Member
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Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 1953
Location: Da hood
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 15:03 Post subject:
Wow. How scary.
Glad to hear that you are ok. Take good care of yourself.
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MastrBrewr
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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Joined: 24 Sep 2003
Posts: 6974
Location: outside
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 15:11 Post subject:
Yikes!
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Library Chick
Member
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Joined: 17 Feb 2004
Posts: 652
Location: On the Waterfront
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 15:24 Post subject:
That sounds so scary! I'm glad you're okay - just make sure to take care of yourself.
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youngrunner
Member
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Joined: 03 Jan 2005
Posts: 583
Location: warm and cozy in the computer chair
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 15:27 Post subject:
I hope your okay now! 
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akern
Member
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Joined: 31 May 2002
Posts: 17149
Location: CTU
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 15:29 Post subject:
Hope you feel better soon.
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ShannonG
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 15:29 Post subject:
I like the plan to destress your life. I hope this never happens to you again! Sounds scary.
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JACKED UP
PRESIDENT
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Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 21238
Location: www.johnnydu.com
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 15:38 Post subject:
OMG, very scary! Glad you're OK!
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16451
Location: Lake Wobegon, MN
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 15:49 Post subject:
| Quote: | | If migraines are bad enough, they cause neurological symptons similar to stroke. |
Hokey smokes 
Get yourself a hammock and start logging some quality time!! 
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Joined: 21 Aug 2003
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 15:51 Post subject:
| cherylpf wrote: |
Oh my goodness what a roller coaster ride! I'm glad its only as minor as migraines and that hopefully you can get those under control! The brain works in wacky ways, doesn't it? How very scary for you, wow. |
 I don't know what to say, but I'm glad it looks like things will turn around for you.
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marathonrnr262
Member
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Posted: 08/01/05 - 15:52 Post subject:
Damn girl, you almost gave me a stroke reading that.
Get well, destress...
Sheldon
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