My friend is having a few TIA's per day and had a stroke two years ago. Will she last the year?

What can we possibly answer to that question? How can we know? I’m sorry that you are going through this with your friend.

I was thinking I shouldn’t ask . I wish I could delete the question.

You can contact the mods and ask them to delete it.

Hard to say. Best wishes, and condolences.

Peace n love.

My father had something similar. He also refused surgery. He lasted 18 years. His brother had the same thing, starting at about the same age and he lived about 5 years so there’s no hard and fast rule.

Hopefully it’s not hereditary…

She should get a second opinion. There is no way we can accurately guess what is happening with her, but generally when carotid artery surgery is very successful if it can be done. In fact, way back in the day a study was being done comparing surgery to other treatment methods and they cancelled the study when they saw how successful it was, feeling it was unethical not to treat all candidates with the surgery.

The problem is not everyone is a candidate for the surgery.

I think over time the TIA’s will definitely take more and more of a toll. I’m very sorry for your friend.

I recommend to you, because of your mom, to find a GP or cardiologist maybe give you a once over if you haven’t in a while. Make sure they at minimum listen to your neck with a stethoscope. My dad has had heart disease) blocked arteries) since his mid 40’s. In his 60’s his a new doctor bothered to listen to his carotid. He was immediately sent for an ultrasound. Then scheduled for a surgery within a week or two. In one side he was 90% blocked! In my opinion his previous doctor was incompetent.

Second opinion.

@JLeslie ? This is not about me. I’ve never had a TIA . If I don’t have symptoms I stay far away from doctors and dentists. I think they’re opportunists and dangerous. You go to a doctor for any reason and you end up having a CT scan (I’ve never had one of those) or a colonoscopy. I don’t get mammograms either. Never.
If I have a broken bone I’ll go to one, though.

^Screening is a scientifically proven method of early detection of many cancers. The earlier they are detected, the higher the success rate,generally of treatment…..

A cancerous growth could be deadly or spread if it gets to a certain point.

Invasive procedures are WAY better than terminal cancer….

@Aster I know it’s your friend, but wasn’t it also your mom? If my dad had been checked all along, they likely would have found his blockage in his carotid years earlier at 50% or 70% occlusion. If that had been the case they would have been able to open up the artery for continued strong blood flow. Instead, when they actually opened him for surgery it was 90% blocked, and the surgeon deemed it too risky to repair afraid a clot might break lose and cause a stroke. So, instead the surgeon completely tied that artery off. My dad has zero blood flow through that carotid now.

Only about ⅓ (maybe it’s ½? Now I’m second guessing) of people have perfect circular blood flow from one side of the brain to the other (Circle of Willis). My dad’s is perfect so he only needed one side. If that had not been the case stopping the blood flow on one side would creat an instant stroke.

He might have that side to side blood flow working well, but it’s likely his only carotid continues to clog up. No back up this time.