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My Mother Is 94. In The Past 2 Years She
Question: My mother is 94. In the past 2 years she has had some atrial fibrilation ( not all the time—it comes and goes)....and also 4 TIAs ( XXXXXXX strokes they call them.) Her last tia was 2 eeeks ago. When it happens, her right arm goes weak and she has trouble speaking. It goes away after 1 hour. They don’t ever see anything on the CT of the head when she goes to the ER. Last time we didn’t go to the ER.
After this last TIA, she has begun seeing things on the wall, like numbers or bugs on the bath tub or cars driving by. Also she hears maybe organ music or a noise like wind is blowing. . This happens almost some every day but not constantly or all the time. . She has a strange look in her eyes. It’s a stare or maybe a distant look I have not seen before. She can communicate ok and uses a walker and I see no permanent stroke symptoms now.
What can cause the seeing and hearing things that are not there??? Could a TIA or stroke cause it?? What tests should the doctor do to find the
cause?? I might add that when she had a fall 5 years ago and they did a subdural hematoma surgery on her head, she had a time when she saw lights and flashing signs on the wall, but those have not happened in years.
After this last TIA, she has begun seeing things on the wall, like numbers or bugs on the bath tub or cars driving by. Also she hears maybe organ music or a noise like wind is blowing. . This happens almost some every day but not constantly or all the time. . She has a strange look in her eyes. It’s a stare or maybe a distant look I have not seen before. She can communicate ok and uses a walker and I see no permanent stroke symptoms now.
What can cause the seeing and hearing things that are not there??? Could a TIA or stroke cause it?? What tests should the doctor do to find the
cause?? I might add that when she had a fall 5 years ago and they did a subdural hematoma surgery on her head, she had a time when she saw lights and flashing signs on the wall, but those have not happened in years.
Brief Answer:
TIA or stroke may cause such symptoms. Further evaluation is necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor " service.
I have read your query and here is my advice.
A TIA may cause temporary symptoms that may involve behavior, vision, speech, gait, memory, movement, so, it is possible that symptoms you describe may be caused by TIA, or stroke.
Since these episodes are becoming more frequent, crescendo TIA-s should be considered.
In such cases, evaluation with brain MRI, ultrasound of the carotid arteries ( to assess a possible stenosis ), and cardiac work up ( including transesophageal ultrasound ) are necessary.
Treatment with aspirin should be started if there is no contradication.
Another possibility if TIA is not justified after such evaluations is dementia in the first stages.
Discuss with your mother's Neurologist about these issues.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
TIA or stroke may cause such symptoms. Further evaluation is necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor " service.
I have read your query and here is my advice.
A TIA may cause temporary symptoms that may involve behavior, vision, speech, gait, memory, movement, so, it is possible that symptoms you describe may be caused by TIA, or stroke.
Since these episodes are becoming more frequent, crescendo TIA-s should be considered.
In such cases, evaluation with brain MRI, ultrasound of the carotid arteries ( to assess a possible stenosis ), and cardiac work up ( including transesophageal ultrasound ) are necessary.
Treatment with aspirin should be started if there is no contradication.
Another possibility if TIA is not justified after such evaluations is dementia in the first stages.
Discuss with your mother's Neurologist about these issues.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Brief Answer:
Ministroke may be linked to dementia.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Aspirin is the first choice, but, since there are kidneys problems, Eliquis is okay to be used for atrial fibrillation and thromboembolism prevention.
I think that dementia is a possible condition if subsequent TIA-s or stroke are excluded.
Ministrokes may cause dementia too.
A brain MRI may give valuable information about the diagnosis.
Hope this helps.
Greetings.
Ministroke may be linked to dementia.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Aspirin is the first choice, but, since there are kidneys problems, Eliquis is okay to be used for atrial fibrillation and thromboembolism prevention.
I think that dementia is a possible condition if subsequent TIA-s or stroke are excluded.
Ministrokes may cause dementia too.
A brain MRI may give valuable information about the diagnosis.
Hope this helps.
Greetings.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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