My fiance is 54 years old and was recently told he has MM.  We live in Alberta, Canada but he is from Denmark and is only here as a visitor.  He started having TIA's in June, his first one was on June 23, he has had at least 20 since then ranging anywhere from 1 to 15 minutes.  When the longest one occured he was taken by ambulance and was admitted and spent 10 days in the hospital while they did a ton of tests...the entire time we were in the dark as to what they were even looking for, it wasnt until the 8th day in the hospital that we learned that he had Moyamoya. 

He was discharge on July 7th and today we returned to the hospital so he could get another MRI and to have a follow up appointment.  I have done extensive research and all my research says that surgery is the best option.  The doctor however feels that trying different drug therapies is the way to go right now.  He is setting up an appointment with a  neurosurgeon, however he said that he feels this would be a last resort.  I agree that surgery shouldnt be entered into lightly but at this point he can't drive, work or engage in any "intimacy" ... yes that's right lol.  What kind of quality of life can he expect when he's just sitting around waiting? 

At this time he has had no permanent brain damage and the Doctor feels that he is at low risk for having a stroke...does any one have any thoughts on this? 

The hospital that he is being treated at has the leading stroke clinic in Canada...so should we just wait it out? Should we try and contact someone else for a second opinion?  How long have other people waited from diagnosis to surgery? 

He is scared and turns to me for information and reassurance since english is his second language and because he is so far from home.  Im scared, and desperate to give him answers to make him feel better, I don't feel like I have the answers he needs.

Thank you for responding.  You have confirmed what I thought... that they would drag it out.  I guess we will just have to push for them to do something. 

I hope things work out for you

Thanks Donna, Next time we go see the doctor I will ask how we can get copies of all of his scans.

I agree with Kathy.  I always get the CD/DVD of Destin's MRI's, MRA's, Angiograms etc and keep a copy at home.  Whenever we get a new doctor I will take the disks with me so they can look at them if they want to.  It  educates them and I feel better knowing they are better informed.  They may charge you a small fee and if you want the "written" results it can get pricey because of so many pages.  I usually just get the disks.