Hi everyone. I had a right side STA-MCA bypass on February 23rd.  For the most part I've been okay but for the past 2 weeks I've had a really bad dry cough. My primary care doctor thinks it's allergies and prescribed me allergy meds on Saturday. Yesterday morning I woke up with really bad pain on the right side of my throat and a swollen lymph node. I went to the ER and they tested for strep (came back negative) and did an additional throat culture which won't come back until next week.  They prescribed antibiotics and a cough syrup with codeine.  The cough is under control but the my throat still hurts a lot.

I've been researching my symptoms and a lot of the info I've found leads to neuro ailments.  So far the docs are treating this as an unrelated problem, but do you think this could be related to my MM? Have any of you experienced these symptoms pre or post surgery?

Sounds Like a simple cold to me but I am not a doctor.  I have not hurd of Nurological caused illnesses.

I got a cold 3 months after my surgery and my family practitioner gave me an antibiotic, and  Rx cough meds. He said if my throat still was sore or hurty to suck on hard candy expessicaly peppermint.

Hope this helps,
Becky

Hi Becky, thanks for responding. A cold was ruled out because I don't have any other cold symptoms.  My throat isn't just sore anymore. My lymph node is swollen and it's obstructing my breathing.  In addition to that I've been getting really bad headaches again and tingling plus weakness in my left hand and mouth again (and now my foot too). I've had several repeat CTA and they all look fine.  I was doing so well now I feel like I've taken 2 steps back.

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear that you are not feeling well.  My thought to your question is have you contacted your neuro doctor and let them know what is going on, especially since you are experiencing numbness.  I've learned that many doctors don't really know what moyamoya is and even if they do they are not all that familiar with it.  Sometimes doctors treat only what they can see.  I agree it does not sound like a cold.  If you been in a hospital or even a doctors office you could have picked up some sort of infections.  Are the antibiotics working for you.

Tish H.

That sounds more serious then before. I would definitely review your symptoms with your neurologist. Expessicaly if you are feeling any kind of Numbness. I hope you feel better.
Becky

Thank you for the suggestions Tish and Becky.   The antibiotics seem to be working as my lymph node is less swollen and my throat does not hurt as much. I was actually able to eat today.

As far as my other symptoms-- I've mentioned it to them but I'm fed up with my neuro-surgeon's office. Now that Dr. Day, the one who performed my surgery left, it's been a pain trying to communicate with anyone there. I've been asking for a note clearing me to go back to work since the week before Memorial Weekend and I've gotten nothing. I was told by the nurse coordinator that "most people have a neurologist local to them that is familiar with MMD" in other words she was telling me that I need to go elsewhere now. The problem is as we all know, there aren't many docs familiar with MMD much less that actually treat patients with MMD, which is the reason why many like myself travel to find one who does.  I'm so frustrated. I've called her, paged her, left numerous voicemails and while I sit home waiting, I don't have any income because my disability expired.

My short term disability expired on Memorial Day and the only way to reopen it is for them to send office visit notes, but I haven't been up to Boston to see Dr. Du (who has taken over Day's patients) since early May.  Meanwhile my job is calling me almost daily requesting my status. I am stressed out to the max.  I really regret having the surgery now.  I have costly medical bills because I used an out of network doctor, I don't have the support I need at home and now I'm going broke and I could lose my medical coverage if I don't go back to work soon. I've been really positive this past year as I've been dealing with all of this but right now it's just too much.  I don't know what to do.   I'm stressed to the max which I know is not good considering my condition.  I really wish I did not have the surgery.  Sorry to be such a downer. I'm just really not feeling well and maybe everything from the past year has built up and I'm making this bigger than it is, but right I feel helpless. And I hate feeling this way.

Vent away!!! This is the perfect sopt to do it. I am outraged for your situation too. I think it is Bull Sh%* that Dr. Day did not finish what was started in your care by recomending someone who could take over when he left. That is EXTREEMLY unprofessional!!!!!!
Please don't regret having the surgery because it will save your life. I am so sorry you have to deal with this sh%*.
I am sorry I don't have any advise.
Stay strong.
Becky