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History: 80 Years Old, 5' 1", 95lbs, 5 Children, No
Question: History: 80 years old, 5' 1", 95lbs, 5 children, no serious illness, typical childhood diseases,excellent health, very busy - lots of energy & etc., still working part time. Surgeries - (all over 40 some years ago): tonsillectomy, hysterectomy (have ovaries), couple breast biopsies (normal) sudden onset severe dizzy spell= misplaced crystal in ear year and a half ago, cataract surgery year ago, small skin cancer removed from hairline 6 months ago, check up 3 months ago = lab-all normal including thyroid -( only medication: .05mg Synthroid daily), stress EKG, MRI (slight age related loss), physical all normal).
Symptoms: sudden weakness, lightheaded, irrational jittery feeling all over, and not able to see properly - could only see 1/2 circle - can see right side of circle and, cannot see the left 1/2 - as if blind on the left side of vision- both eyes , little sparkles of light surround entire vision circle- scary as my sight is very important to me. Am 500 miles away from my doctor. Please help
Symptoms: sudden weakness, lightheaded, irrational jittery feeling all over, and not able to see properly - could only see 1/2 circle - can see right side of circle and, cannot see the left 1/2 - as if blind on the left side of vision- both eyes , little sparkles of light surround entire vision circle- scary as my sight is very important to me. Am 500 miles away from my doctor. Please help
Brief Answer:
Recommend you be seen in an ER NOW
Detailed Answer:
Ok....here's what I'd like you to do young lady....I'm going to keep this UNCHARACTERISTICALLY brief in discussion because I want to call 911 RIGHT NOW as soon as you finish reading.
You are describing a visual field defect called a LEFT SIDED HOMONYMOUS HEMIANOPSIA and you can even tell the 911 operator that as well. The most common reason for such a visual defect is stroke in adult patients....and so again, I recommend that be seen and evaluated with an MRI of the brain (with gadolinium contrast and a STROKE PROTOCOL).
The most I can say about where it is located in the brain is that it will be in the RIGHT HEMISPHERE behind a place called the OPTIC CHIASM and likely in front of the occipital lobe.
There are of course, other possible causes to kind of picture including VISUAL AURA of migraine headache but you are not describing any type of severe headache syndrome and so I am concerned as well for the fact that you don't seem to have a history of migraines. That is why in any case, even if this proves not to be a stroke an imaging study of the brain SOONER RATHER LATER with gadolinium contrast is in your best interest.
Please let me know how things turn out when you return from the hospital but CALL 911.
DO NOT DRIVE YOURSELF AND DO NOT ASK FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DRIVE YOU. IF YOU GO BY 911 TRANSPORT AS A POSSIBLE STROKE IN EVOLUTION THEN, YOU WILL GET PRIORITY INTO THE SCANNERS AND IMMEDIATE BY THE STROKE TEAM IN THE HOSPITAL AND MY DEAR....IF THIS IS A STROKE....TIME IS BRAIN....AND THERE'S NO TIME MORE TO SPEND IN CASE THERE IS THE CHANCE THAT THEY CAN USE MEDICATION TO BREAK UP ANY CLOT YOU MAY HAVE so as to avoid permanent loss of vision.
Off you go dear and all the very Best....911 all the way.....
Recommend you be seen in an ER NOW
Detailed Answer:
Ok....here's what I'd like you to do young lady....I'm going to keep this UNCHARACTERISTICALLY brief in discussion because I want to call 911 RIGHT NOW as soon as you finish reading.
You are describing a visual field defect called a LEFT SIDED HOMONYMOUS HEMIANOPSIA and you can even tell the 911 operator that as well. The most common reason for such a visual defect is stroke in adult patients....and so again, I recommend that be seen and evaluated with an MRI of the brain (with gadolinium contrast and a STROKE PROTOCOL).
The most I can say about where it is located in the brain is that it will be in the RIGHT HEMISPHERE behind a place called the OPTIC CHIASM and likely in front of the occipital lobe.
There are of course, other possible causes to kind of picture including VISUAL AURA of migraine headache but you are not describing any type of severe headache syndrome and so I am concerned as well for the fact that you don't seem to have a history of migraines. That is why in any case, even if this proves not to be a stroke an imaging study of the brain SOONER RATHER LATER with gadolinium contrast is in your best interest.
Please let me know how things turn out when you return from the hospital but CALL 911.
DO NOT DRIVE YOURSELF AND DO NOT ASK FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DRIVE YOU. IF YOU GO BY 911 TRANSPORT AS A POSSIBLE STROKE IN EVOLUTION THEN, YOU WILL GET PRIORITY INTO THE SCANNERS AND IMMEDIATE BY THE STROKE TEAM IN THE HOSPITAL AND MY DEAR....IF THIS IS A STROKE....TIME IS BRAIN....AND THERE'S NO TIME MORE TO SPEND IN CASE THERE IS THE CHANCE THAT THEY CAN USE MEDICATION TO BREAK UP ANY CLOT YOU MAY HAVE so as to avoid permanent loss of vision.
Off you go dear and all the very Best....911 all the way.....
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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