My brain mri looks like i've suffered from tiny strokes (or tias) at least that's what my neurologist has told me. But i'm too young to have that kind of thing. I have the symptoms that go with it however. Numbness in my hand and sometimes my toes. Or, it could be vasculitis says the radiologist.

So, i'm in the midst of being diagnosed. Have been going through this for two years now.

Are they sure what you had was a stroke and not vasculitis? Vasculitis in the brain is one of those things that people with lupus can get and they (vasculitis and tias) look the same on an mri.

Sounds like your doctors are doing what they can to help you.

May I ask what your presenting symptoms of lupus were at the age of 14? I'm just wondering. I think I have lupus, and I think i've had it most of my life, but it's mostly been mild except for a horrible flare during a pregnancy a lot of years ago. The docs back then thought it was preeclampsia, but it was severe in that my kidsneys shut down and I had a pneumothorax. I recovered from that and was fine for many years.

The doctors are sure I had a major stroke. I had to relearn to walk. I could not use the left side of my body. I had been having spottin in my vision right before the stroke. The mri proved I had a stroke toward the back of my brain. The first symptom of lupus I had was the malar rash on my face. I also had lupus nephritis...And still do. I have seizures due to the lupus affecting my brain. I have bad osteoporosis because of the predinisone. It took my doctors two years to officially diagnose me.

quote="tallwoman"]my brain mri looks like i've suffered from tiny strokes (or tias) at least that's what my neurologist has told me. But i'm too young to have that kind of thing. I have the symptoms that go with it however. Numbness in my hand and sometimes my toes. Or, it could be vasculitis says the radiologist.


So, i'm in the midst of being diagnosed. Have been going through this for two years now.

Are they sure what you had was a stroke and not vasculitis? Vasculitis in the brain is one of those things that people with lupus can get and they (vasculitis and tias) look the same on an mri.

Sounds like your doctors are doing what they can to help you.


May I ask what your presenting symptoms of lupus were at the age of 14? I'm just wondering. I think I have lupus, and I think i've had it most of my life, but it's mostly been mild except for a horrible flare during a pregnancy a lot of years ago. The docs back then thought it was preeclampsia, but it was severe in that my kidsneys shut down and I had a pneumothorax. I recovered from that and was fine for many years.[/quote]

With this disease at such a young age. Was the stroke related to the lupus? Or was it just an additional thing? I worry about having a major stroke too. We can live without a lot of things in our bodies, including our kidneys with the help of dialygis. But when our brains are affected, it really is a scary thing, isn't it? I don't like to worry, and I want to live my life as if there's nothing wrong. But sometimes, when i'm driving, I just pray, god don't let anything happen while i'm driving. I don't want to hurt anybody else. But what can I do? Stop working and go on disability because of "what if"? They don't award disability for "what if." and so, I continue day by day and hope and pray for the best.

My neurologist put me on aspirin therapy. I take a baby aspirin every day. But I worry about what it might do to my kidneys. My urine is showing blood in it.

I don't like to worry either. The stroke was a result of the anticardiolipin syndrom related to lupus. I ignored my doctors when they told me to take my coumadin, prednisone ect... I'll take the meds from now on. You are right about the driving. I can't have someone haul me around everywhere and I am definately not quitting work. Technically I am not supposed to drive, but the stroke affected my left side, so I don't see a problem. I drive well. How long have you been dealing with the symptoms?? Are you in a flare-up now or in remission??

Strokes are something that someone with the anticoagulant and other issues do sometmes need to worry about.

I am so sorry you've had to deal with so much! It's amazing to hear what lupies go through...

As for driving, please be careful. I know I had to stop driving for almost a year because of complications from lupus...It wasn't easy. But I did for my safety and the safety of others.

Hugs,
ladybrannon

I've also had a stroke a few years ago. My rh and neuro-drs.,both told me it was caused from having lupus.I still sufer from the effects of it.I have spoken of it in past post,so I won't go in to all of it again,but it is a scary thing!!
sharon

I have factor v leiden disorder, protein c deficiency and homeostasis thrombosis. All of these things are common in lupus sufferers and are responsible for blood clots. My family has all been tested for these disorders because they are genetic. That is how I found out I had lupus. I have all the disorders but my brothers and sister and my children only have one of them. I have to inject heprin every time I travel for more then an hour, take aspirin daily and also folic acid and b12. These were all prescribed by my hemotologist.

I also have severe migraines so I am watched carefully by a nuerologist as well. I am on a medication that opens the vessels in my brain during the headaches to keep any clots from entering my brain, if there are any.

Good luck to you and please be very careful.