Cara seems to be having TIA's almost daily !!!! ...so I read back posts and found the thread "Remoyamoya?"...some of the posts mention others having TIA's regularly after surgery then eventually fade away...but I was amazed at one post that something had her surgeries 14 years ago and still experiences TIA's...but much more milder.    My Cara doesn't complain but laughs it off sometimes...just scares me I am not sure if she is joking or not.  Tonite I was brushing her teeth and all of sudden her right hand  seemed to have had a muscle tightness and I could see in the middle of her hand a throbbing which I knew she couldn't have done...the smile faded from her face as she was looking at her hand...then her hand relaxed.  The TIA's keep happening on one side then the other.   I was planning on letting her go back to school on Tuesday...but wonder if that is too soon...would be 2 weeks after surgery...plus still in the 100 degrees here in Phx....have decided not to let her go a back yet !!!  especially not when she keeps having the TIA's ......but what if they go on forever....I might have to start home schooling her then. .  Those of you in those posts back in March of 2004...are you still having your TIA's...or they have ceased somewhat.  Doesn't seem to do any major harm to Cara...but I always thought TIA's were minor warnings of a major stroke.

Have a great weekend you all,

CarasMOM

  What you describe reminds me of what Kathleen experienced after her strokes..She would get tightening in a foot or leg.It looked to me like cramps. The first couple of weeks after surgery she would wake up crying and her right(milder strokes on that side) foot would look cramped and she would be so uncomfortable.Her leg would get a bit "jumpy".Her left foot now tightens up sometimes so much I can hardly get her AFO on.Does this sound anything like what she is experiencing.I do agree with DJ I would alwasy check with your Dr. about anything you think looks wrong it's not being overprotective it's cautiouse.As for school  That's your decision and I would not worry too much about it. If you feel like she should stay home longer go right ahead. You also may be able to get a tutor and therapies at home because of medical issues. In NY they have to bring this into the home if a A child can't attend becasue of medical issues.I'm not sure about your Dr. but he may be willing to recommend this. Mine has been amazing about recommending anything I feel is neccessary for Kahtleen.Kathleen missed 3 months of school her first year of Kind. There was a chicken pox outbreak and Kathleen even though she had the vaccine tested as not having imunities for the Chicken Pox.There were children in her class with it so I had to keep her home I was so afraid of her getting them and so soon after surgery I would have had to take her off the asprin. It would have also put her at a high risk for Reys Syndrome.We have since taken the chance and had re re vaccinated(they can actually get the chicken pox from the vaccine).But now it would be a bit safer to take her off the asprin becasue we know the surgery was successful and supplying blood.So my point is, could she physically go to school? yes, were we willing to take the chance? NO!! My prayers as alwasy are with your family.
Mary Grace

Thanks GUYS !!! ; ...

DJ:  Cara had both the EMS and STA-MCA surgeries on both sides...but we were told the STA-MCA may not stay open as the arteries were "VERY SMALL"...but when they checked the results of the first surgery via the doppler to see if still open 5.5 weeks later before the second surgery it was.  I definitely will email Dr. Meyer though.  I don't think she had one today...fingers crossed.  No complaints of headache or any pain.

Mary Grace: The cramp was a one time thing I am not sure is even a TIA...maybe it is.  I have them myself being a diabetic especially middle of night.  I read somewhere that if you drink lots of fluids that won't happen...and of course we all know MM need to be careful not to get dehydrated but not sure that would bring it on.  But I am watching.

Babyblue: You finally came on....I REALLY enjoyed reading your day by day story about your surgery with all those BEAUTIFUL pictures DJ posed with you and put on for all to see.   I may bump that thread up front !!! if I can find it...its a good one especially for those who haven't had their surgery yet.  I highly recommend anyone to read back posts....I know its time consuming and especially when we have enough on our mind for upcoming surgeries or "still waiting" for the time to come.

Tight hugs to all,

carasMOM

Hi Wayne...

...thanks for your post...you and another person mention plavix (wondering if too strong of medication for a child???) But am going to ask Dr. Meyer though and maybe see her pediatric neurologist (the pediatric neurosurgeon probably would be the way to go but he while the only one in AZ that has done MM surgeries...is the one that told us in March that we should wait a while longer before doing the surgery...and am not too crazy about going back to him but if we have to...then I will.   Waiting to hear back from Dr. Meyer on any suggestions.  Tight Hugs,  carasMOM

Thank you Michelle for your reply...

I got a response from Dr. Meyer a little bit ago.  He said that her having those TIA's shows just how fragile her cerebral circulation is.  The STA-MCA surgery that was done..the artery was only 1mm hence the augmentation in flow initially is not high.  However over time as the bypass grows and matures along with the encephalomyosynagiosis (EMS) we should see real improvements in blood flow and hopefully arrest of TIA's.  In regards to plavix, he has used it in aspirin refractory TIA's.   But he suggest that we sit tight a little longer, and if the TIA's continue we could consider switching to Plavix.  He also said that too much antiplatelet therapy can increase the risk of cerebral hemorrhage.   So will hang in there...and fingers crossed that she continues to get stronger, fights the TIA's...   hugs,  carasMOM