Hi,

We've gone 8 months with no new problems and just recently my husband had another TIA.  All of a sudden, he could not speak.  This is a new symptom, he has never been able to not talk.  Local ER took him off coated aspirin and put him on Plavex.  Any one have any experiences, both good or bad with Plavex?  Any info would be helpful!

I was on plavex for 4 years.  It is really not that much stronger than Asprin and I had no side effects.  My neurologist actually had me on two asprin (one in the morning and one at night) along with the plavix.  My recommendation is, if his nuerologist is planning to use blood thinners to treat him and not surgery, get a second opinion from a doctor with experience with MoyaMoya.  My nuerologist here in NC made me wait 4 years.  I finally sought help from Dr. Steinberg in Stanford, Ca.  He said he would have operated on me right away and he has done over 200 of these surgeries.  He is excellent.  Hope this helps.

David Farthing

Thanks very much for the input.  He's already had surgery but the bypass didn't work, the vein they used to do the bypass was too small and closed itself up.  Our neurologist is about 10-12 hours away.  Our last visit with him, they said the veins were too small and they would do exploratory surgery if something major were to happen.  Until then, he is doing alright.  

I have to agree with David to get a second opinion with a mm specialist. PLEASE don't wait for something to happen first. This is why a mm specialist is sooooooo important. These may be warnings. The plavex and asprin are assential in his treatment to help prevent clot formation with his narrowing veins, however, no medications prevents the arterial narrowing process from progressing or keep the moyamoya vessels from developing, let alone with his his surgery not working. I pray that you seek help from someone experienced with mm to know how to handle your husbands case. Time is not on your side with moyamoya.

You both will be in my prayers.

Mar

They can usually tell before surgery weather the vein is big enough, thats why they do all the tests ahead of time CT scan, angio, specs all of that stuff, did they not know? Thats what the advantage is to having a MM specialist and just a brain surgeon. Please! You really need to start all over and get a MM specialist unfortunately time is Not on his side. Mail your films to someone or find a specialist in your area if there is any but please keep pushing.
                                          Nancy

I have to agree with Nancy and Mar.  Before my surgery they did an Angiogram, MRI/MRA and Spec Scan to determine which vesels to use and to make sure these vesels were large enough.  I would also be interested to know what type of surgery they did.  Dr Steinberg used vesels on either side of my head in my scalp and attached them to a vesel on either side of my brain.  I met a guy from Canada who was going to get veins removed from his leg and attached to the top of his head.  This is why he opted to go to Standford.  I dont know all the aspects of your situation but I do know that medicine is not the answer it only delays the eneviatable.  If you want info on Dr Steinberg and Stanford let me know.

Best Wishes,

David

I was on Plavix for nine months before i found out about surgery. The blood thinner made me bleed and bruise very easy but that was about it. While taking the blood thinner though i continued having TIA's until i had surgery, now my surgeries are over all i take is asprin and things have been going well. I agree with David and Mar to get a second opinion. When i was diagnosed with MM i was told that i should not have surgery, but then found this site and had surgery at Stanford and learned that if i had not had surgery my MM would have caused major damage before anything could have been done. Blood thinners might help some but not forever. Hope all works out my thoughts are with you!

Christy

Although Plavix is a good blood thinner that requires little, if any, dose adjustment, it does present limitations that must be considered.  Neurosurgeons and general surgeons need to wait a minimum of 10 days before doing surgery on anyone who is/has been taking Plavix.  Patients taking Coumadin and Lovenox can usually be switched to Heparin in just a few days before undergoing surgery.  If there is a possiblity of needing surgery quickly, Plavix should NOT be used.
Roni

This is not neccassarily true.  Dr. Steinberg left me on plavex until my second surgery.  This may have been an exception because one of my back arteries is partially blocked but I did switch to asprin untill after my second surgery.

David

I was on plavix before my surgery and after my surgery and I'm still on it along with an asprin a day.   Before my surgery once I did start taking plavix my TIA's did stop or become less but I still had to have my surgery because they stoped and made it safe to do the procedure.  I think plavix is good in general....the brusing is annoying but thats a simple price to pay for feeling healthy.   :D