Dr. Aida Abaz Quka
Neurology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
Answered by
Medically reviewed by
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am a 20-year-old female. About four months ago, something that I suspect to be a ministroke happened to me. All of a sudden, I started losing vision on my left side in both eyes, but it came back within minutes. About half an hour after that, I noticed that my left hand went completely numb out of nowhere. I freaked out and then saw the left side of my lip, nose, and upper cheek get numb too. All of which went away within two minutes. I got really worried and talked to a doctor about it over the phone. I told him all my symptoms, but he said it could not have been a ministroke. After two to three weeks, I still was worried about what happened and not convinced it was not a TIA, so I went to get an MRI and talk to a neurologist about it. He told me the same thing, it was caused by stress, not TIA. Today I got the same experience. I started by losing vision on the left side of my eyes, and the rest happened the same way as the first time. Both times loss of vision lasted for less than 15 minutes and numbness for less than 4. It makes it hard for me to trust the doctors I went to, although I could be wrong. Perhaps, I just have read too much on the internet. I am writing to get another opinion on this. Should I stop thinking it was a TIA, or was it possible, although it did not show up on the MRI?
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I read your question carefully and explain that your symptoms are very suggestive of TIA (transient ischemic attacks), although this is an exceptional diagnosis at your age.
We should also consider migraine aura, focal epilepsy, and panic attacks when discussing the possible differential diagnosis, leading to such a clinical scenario. Did you feel any headache during or after this episode? Does anyone in your family suffer from migraines?
For this reason, I would recommend performing an EEG to investigate for possible seizures and cardiac ultrasound to exclude possible foramen ovale aperture (a cardiac birth defect), which could potentially mimic this situation TIA at your age.
Other tests to consider would be thyroid hormone levels, anti-TPO for thyroiditis, fasting glucose for possible hypoglycemia.
In the meantime, please do not read too much on the internet because the information is too wide, non-specific, and may mislead you.
I hope this helps.
Was this conversation helpful?
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
Neurology
Related Questions
What is the cause of my recurrent strokes and TIA?
What can I do for weakness of the legs and numbness of the toes?
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - Types, Stages, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
I have numbness in my left foot.What could have caused this?
Can numbness in foot and arm mean ALS?
Diagnosed with Glaucoma: What Next?
Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy
