[Richard157]

I am having a health issue. Most unusual for me. I am having bad headaches, dizziness and near black out spells. I am having an MRI of my brain done tomorrow. The doctor thinks I may have nerve damage in my brain. Makes sense, I have nerve damage in several other parts of my body, probably caused by diabetes. I am very concerned about this. If I do have nerve damage in my brain and it progresses in the years to come then what is the prognosis? I wonder if it could lead to a stroke???

I have had dizziness for many years but it was not so bad until a few months ago. My doctor had me get an MRI of my neck arteries, they were clear. He has taken ny blood pressure several times recently, both standing and seated. It was the same both positions. My blood pressure runs 120+/60+ which is good for a man of my age. He examined my ears for obstruction, no problem there. He does not think it is my medications. ( I am taking Avandia, Altace, Vytorin, water pills and a med for gout). The last resort is, in his opinion, nerve damage in the brain. The MRI is tomorrow (11/21) but I will not see my neurologist for a follow-up until Dec 19. How can I wait that long??? I have not been this worried about my health for many years. I have been so very healthy, but now I'm not so sure.

Richard

[princesslinda]

Sorry to hear you're having problems Richard. Please keep us posted on how thing's go.

I think if I were you, I'd call my neurologist and get the MRI results before my appt. It generally takes a couple days to get them read and transcribed, then they are sent to the ordering doctor. If you have the MRI tomorrow, i'd give them a call by Wed. of next week and see if they can give you results by phone...this way, if there is a problem, you can discuss it further at your appt, and if its all normal, you won't have to worry needlessly until your appt.

Sending thoughts and prayers your way...its hard when something new pops up health-wise.

[Jan B]

You will be in my prayers Richard. I hope you can do what Linda suggested -- you shouldn't have to wait a month. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow.

[Coppernob]

Richard, I am sending positive vibes your way. I shall think of you tomorrow and hope that all goes well. Linda's advice seems smart - I am sure that the neurologist would understand your concern and that waiting a month for the results would be agonizing.
I'll be keeping an eye out for updates to this thread. Hang in there

[Evermont]

I hope everything turns out OK for you Richard. I don't know about these things but I wouldn't think that nerve damage could lead to a stroke because strokes start out vascular in nature - so it's the plumbing that leads to strokes, not the electrical system.

Worry is to be expected but it's better if you can channel it into 'concern'. Waiting for results like this is can be agonizing. My favorite trick in such cases is redirection. Find something you can focus on which you can actually do something about. Take care of business or come up with some creative productive effort that you can put your attention to.

[davef]

Richard,

You know we are all pulling for you and will keep you in our thoughts. The good thing is we know you are a tough cookie, you story that inspired us all proves how tough you are.

Take care and do keep us updated,

[Scrabblechick]

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers for a GOOD result, and an easy way to fix this!

[TomB]

Greetings Richard,
Getting an MRI is painless but awfully noisy. If you're curious, ask for a CD so when you get home you can see on your own computer what they saw. Waiting 3 weeks for results is BS. Call the office next Wednesday and find out. My bet is there isn't anything out of the ordinary so you'll get sent back for a CT scan. An MRI, sometimes an MRA, shows soft tissue. A CTA shows calcium deposits. Make sure to get both head and neck shots.
Between tomorrow and Wednesday, you could spend a lot of time by doing a Google search for things like: "causes of dizziness". I just did and it looks like there are lots of possibilities.
Best to you and Tally Ho.
Tom

[notme]

Hi Richard. I am so sorry you are having health issues. I know you must be worried.

Hopefully, you doctor will find that you need an adjustment in medication or something that is easily remedied.

My good thoughts and prayers are with you. Please keep us posted.

[xMenace]

Have you asked your doctor about the Avandia? Why are you taking it?

Avandia Side Effects | Drugs.com

Side Effects of Avandia - for the consumer


Avandia
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Avandia:

Headache; weight gain.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Avandia:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision or other vision changes; chest pain; fainting; numbness of an arm or leg; severe headache, stomach pain, or vomiting; symptoms of heart failure (eg, shortness of breath; sudden unexplained weight gain; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet); symptoms of liver problems (eg, dark urine; yellowing of the skin or eyes; unexplained nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite; stomach pain); symptoms of low blood sugar (eg, anxiety, increased sweating, dizziness or drowsiness, headache, chills, tremors, increased hunger); unusual bone pain; unusual tiredness or weakness.

[BlueSky]

The side effects of Vytorin include both headaches and dizzyness. Here they are (my bolding):

Common Vytorin Side Effects
Vytorin has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with more than 3,800 patients having been evaluated.

In these studies, side effects are always documented and compared to side effects that occurred in a similar group of people who are not taking the medicine. Based on these studies, the most common Vytorin side effects included:

Headache -- up to 6.8 percent of people
Muscle pain, known medically as myalgia -- up to 3.5 percent of people (see Vytorin and Muscle Pain)
Upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold -- up to 3.9 percent of people
Flu -- up to 2.6 percent of people
Pain, including back pain -- up to 2.3 percent of people
Increased liver enzymes -- up to 3.6 percent of people (see Vytorin and Liver Problems).

The following side effects also occurred in more than 1 percent of people taking Vytorin, simvastatin, or ezetimibe:

General feeling of weakness (asthenia)
Indigestion (dyspepsia)
Nausea
Muscle cramps
Dizziness
Unexplained rash
Blurred vision
Fatigue
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Gas
Diarrhea
Joint pain
Vytorin Side Effects

[mzteacher]

dear richard,
i am so sorry for your health concerns....i too shall be praying for you and sending good thoughts your way....your post tugged at my heart....reading others responses made me so glad that we are not alone in this disease and its problems.....i could feel the love and caring being sent your way....i hope you can too!!! i am so grateful to be part of this supportive community!!!!
good luck tomorrow.....keep us posted
susan

[Richard157]

Thanks for all the good infotmation, all of you are very kind.

BlueSky, I have seen the possible side effects of Vytorin in the druggist's info sheet. My doctor (internal medicine) insists that it is not any of my meds except possibly for Allopurinol (?) that I am taking for gout. I stopped taking that med three days ago. I am supposed to stay from it for one month.

John, I have taken Avandia for 9 years and my present symptoms started recently so I dont think it is that med. I am taking Avandia because I developed insulin resistance in the mid 1990's. I am a "double diabetic". It has been a wonder drug for me. My resistance is under very good control.

I am not going to worry about this now. I needed to get it all off my chest. You people have helped. Thanks!

Richard

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by Richard157

... BlueSky, I have seen the possible side effects of Vytorin in the druggist's info sheet. My doctor (internal medicine) insists that it is not any of my meds ...

Mmmmm ... I have been there too before too. And I am no longer comfortable with doctors who second guesses the results of research commissioned and published by the drug manufacturers ... .

[gettingby]

Richard,
Wonderful and caring thoughts are coming your way. I do hope that it is nothing serious and that it can be taken care of quickly. I would follow Linda's advice and call them for your results. Waiting that long is just wrong.
(((HUGS)))