[Cathya]

Laurieanne;

Since my bout with bc including chemo (ac/taxol) and herceptin I have had a stroke and more recently a TIA. In my experience the TIA was very different from any sensation I felt in my hands/arms during or after chemo. I was not aware that I was having my stroke. I had been very dizzy but this was during my second bout of herceptin and my injection fraction was very low. It was only during a brain mri that it was identified. In November I had a TIA. My left arm went completely numb and felt swollen. I was in the middle of a store walking with my daughter and mother so I continued walking and rotated my arm for about 10 minutes until the sensation left. Following this I went to the hospital where I had blood work and an ekg. My blood pressure was very high and the neurologist put me on three different medications...heart, blood thinner and lipitor. It is routine here to have follow up tests which I am now concluding. My heart seems fine and this seems to be a lacunar stroke originating in my brain. Up until this time I had not been particularly reducing my salt intake etc. but I certainly am now. I also watch my blood pressure closely and with the medication it generally remain below 120/80. I am not sure exactly why I am having these problems and feel quite good now but my own gp believes that it is from the treatments for my bc as I didn't have high blood pressure or cholesterol previously. I hope this helps. The tests they are having me do are a doppler, echo cardiogram, halter moniter and head ct.

all the best,
Cathy