The last 15 hours have been a nightmare. As I was going to sleep last night, I realized that the field of vision in my left eye was narrowed only to the periphery...no sight in the round middle. After about 30 minutes it seemed to be better. Woke up and my eye felt as tho it had been shot with Novacaine.


Started looking stuff up on the Internet and got really scared. Called the neurologist, not in, but called back and said go to eye doc or ER. Hmmm. Called the eye doc, not in, they said go to my doc or to ER. Hmmm. Called my doc...no appointments but after begging and pleading they saw me in 20 minutes. Hmmm. Went there, she got me into an eye doc. He kept looking in and dilating my eyes and then said that thing that always reassures you...'I am really worried.' Just what I want to hear on a Friday. Going back there on Tuesday for some ocular nerve test. And I need an ultrasound of the carotid artery and a possible MRI.


Did I mention the eye doc wrote the labs on a lab slip not covered by my insurance so I spent an hour going to a variety of labs before I ended up back at my first lab...the one covered by my insurance? Did I mention that my husband took one of our sons to Laguna for a few days to skimboard?


Now the eye doc's office just called and asked when I went for the labs. He wanted them STAT! Now I am more worried than before. So for now, increase baby aspirin and if I lose the vision again, get to the ER immediately...do not think about it. ACK!


So here is my question: What is the point of eating a healthy diet and exercising? Should I listen to my husband and not look up on the Internet that which they said it might be? I sometimes think my health was better when I smoked Camels and drank Stoli!!! 


Seeing the VeganHeartDoc in September. Need to keep the faith, exercising and eating a vegetarian diet. May just go back to vegan like Bubba Clinton once the little one goes back to school.


MORE from the Institutes of Health. I am glad I found this site as I am less scared than I was before!!!


The eye doctor wrote the diagnosis Amaurosis fugax on the lab prescription which is a loss of vision in one eye due to a temporary lack of blood flow to the retina. It may be a sign of an impending stroke. THEY TOLD ME IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO GET TO THE ER IMMEDIATELY AND NOT TO JUST ROLL OVER AND GO TO SLEEP! =)

Causes
Amaurosis fugax is a symptom of carotid artery disease. It occurs when a piece of plaque in a carotid artery breaks off and travels to the retinal artery in the eye. In people with amaurosis fugax, vision loss continues as long as the blood supply to the retinal artery is blocked.

Atherosclerosis of the arteries in the neck is the main risk factor for this condition. Risk factors for atherosclerosis include heart disease (CHECK), high cholesterol (CHECK), smoking (HAVE NOT SMOKED IN 21 YEARS), diabetes (NO), and high blood pressure (I HAVE BLACKMORE BP WHICH MEANS IT IS LOW NORMAL).

Symptoms
Symptoms include the sudden loss of vision in one eye (CHECK). This usually only lasts seconds but may last several minutes (CHECK). Some patients describe the loss of vision as a gray or black shade coming down over their eye (CHECK). LASTED 20 TO 30 MINUTES.

Exams and Tests
Tests include a complete eye (CHECK AND HE MADE ME FEEL BETTER--NOT--BY TELLING ME HOW WORRIED HE WAS) and neurological exam (I AM SURE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK). A carotid ultrasound should be done to evaluate a blockage in the carotid artery (MONDAY'S ACTIVITY ALTHOUGH WHEN THEY DID IT LAST YEAR IT WAS GOOD!)
Routine blood tests such as cholesterol and blood sugar (glucose) should be done to check your risk for atherosclerosis, which increases with high cholesterol and diabetes (CHECK).

Treatment
Treatment of amaurosis fugax depends on the severity of the blockage in the carotid artery. The goal of treatment is to prevent a stroke (SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN TO ME!).

Your doctor may recommend:
No treatment. You may only need regular check-ups to check the health of your carotid artery. (I DO NOT THINK THAT IS PART OF THEIR PLAN ALTHOUGH I AM CALLING ON MONDAY TO SEE IF I SHOULD THE VEGAN HEART DOC EARLIER THAN PLANNED.)
Diet changes and medication to help lower your cholesterol and control your blood pressure (CHECK).
Aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), or other blood-thinning medications to lower your risk of stroke (CHECK--81MG ASPIRIN INCREASED TO THREE).
If a large part of the carotid artery appears blocked, surgery is done to remove the blockage. The decision to do surgery is also based on your overall health. (NOT EVEN CONSIDERING THIS OUTCOME!)

Outlook (Prognosis)
Amaurosis fugax itself usually does not result in permanent disability. However, it means you have atherosclerosis and an increased risk for stroke. (WHY ME? WHY THE WEIRD STUFF?)

Prevention
The following can help prevent a stroke:
Avoid fatty foods. Follow a healthy, low-fat diet. (I GUESS THAT MEANS THE VEGAN HEART DOC WILL WANT ME TO GO VEGAN AND NOT JUST VEGETARIAN. SHE HAS A REAL ISSUE WITH CHEESE. DANG!)
Do not drink more than 1 to 2 alcoholic drinks a day. (I DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL, ONLY TWO CUPS OF COFFEE AND WATER)
Exercise regularly: 30 minutes a day if you are not overweight; 60 - 90 minutes a day if you are overweight. (ALL RIGHTY THEN...THIS COULD BE PART OF THE PROBLEM. HAVE ONLY BEEN EXERCISING 35 TO 40 MINUTES A DAY, FIVE TIMES A WEEK, NOW I HAVE TO GO WITH CARDIO AND SOMETHING ELSE. ACK!)Quit smoking. (HAVE NOT SMOKED IN OVER 20 YEARS)
If you have diabetes, heart disease, or hardening of the arteries, your LDL "bad" cholesterol should be lower than 70 mg/dL. (THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE. NOW I KNOW WHY THE VEGAN HEART DOC IS ON ME ABOUT THIS NUMBER.)


So I believe I know the purpose of my blog. It will be my voyage with heart disease and how to make my heart healthy again! Twenty years of being fat did not help. I truly do have incentive now!