I am getting no where fast. I am entirely exhausted by the battle in trying to obtain a diagnosis, I want to be headache free, noise in my head free, have no pressure in my head and neck when I stand. Just today standing in the supermarket, my eyes filled up, I couldn't stop them and inside I was crying and thinking when is this ever going to end. Why was I standing in a supermarket queue feeling exhausted when all I had done was walk there to collect a few pieces for dinner? My body is struggling with the constant headache and noises in my head. I want to be able to carry out a full shop of being able to go round the supermarket with a trolley and get everything I need without my headache becoming intense and the pulsing noise becoming louder not forgetting the relentless pressure in my neck and ear.
Unfortunately I am still being messed around with their lame mistakes. I honestly don't think Dr Tyagi knows who I am or has read sufficient notes on my case. On the 25th June 2015 I received yet another letter regarding having an MRI scan this time the appointment had been arranged for four days from the date of the letter. I wondered if my CTA had been reviewed and they had seen the abnormality within my vertebral artery. I emailed Dr T explaining I was yet again confused as earlier in June I had received similar to arrange a new scan. Dr T responded by saying his recollection from our May appointment was that I had requested a further MRA scan to question dissection. I honestly could not believe what I was reading in his email and he obviously has no recollection of the previous emails between us earlier in June when I received the previous letter regarding a scan. I responded and told him the whole situation was becoming ridiculous and that I would be seeking advice to make a complaint.
I received a copy of the CTA scan that was carried out in March and I managed to view it on the 16th July. I can see the abnormality on the CTA of the vertebral artery at V3 level/atlas loop. I can see evidence of a dissection due to the double lumen showing, it does not look like a fenestration. Now what concerns me is that I asked Dr T at May's appointment if my vertebral artery showed the double lumen as it was showing on my Mra and he said no. I then asked him if it showed a natural fenestration of the artery and he said no it was patent and normal. I managed to read the report on the disc (bearing in mind I never received a letter or report about my CTA) The report reads:
>[Report Summary]
<BR>Clinical History :
<BR>? Left carotid dissection on MR angiography.
<BR>[CT Angio aortic arch and carotid Both]
<BR>CT Angio aortic arch and carotid Both :
<BR>CT angiography obtained from aortic arch to vertex
<BR>Normal appearances of the aortic arch and the origins of the
<BR>great vessels.
<BR>Normal appearances of the common carotid and both internal
<BR>carotid arteries from origin to termination.
<BR>Intracranial circulation appears unremarkable.
<BR>Vertebro-basilar system is patent. The basilar artery and
<BR>its branches are normal.
<BR>Imaged soft tissues and bones are within normal limits.
<BR>Imaged lung parenchyma appears unremarkable.
<BR>Conclusion: Normal appearances of the neck vessels.
If you managed to grasp any of it you will have noticed Dr Tyagi my Neurologist has questioned a CAROTID ARTERY DISSECTION and not the VERTEBRAL ARTERY DISSECTION. The Carotid has been looked at and reported on, nothing mentioned about the left vertebral. Not that it matters as the double lumen can still be seen on the scan, even for me who has no medical training its not hard to notice it. I am at a complete loss at the amount of times doctors have failed to listen to me. There is no excuse, I have given them the report from Dr Shapiro in New York and it states Vertebral, the emails that have gone backwards and forwards between Dr T and myself all state Vertebral. At my appointment in May all the talk was about how my Vertebral was normal.
I decided not to email Dr T but instead start the complaint process by visiting Citizens Advice on the 21st July. I can't keep giving these doctors any more chances, they are putting me at risk, I have two children to care for who need me. I could be at risk of having another dissection in any of my arteries because no one has investigated to say otherwise. What if I didn't know any better and done some overhead painting again, there is nothing to say it won't happen again and my research shows it does frequently happen specially if people have any sort of connective tissue disorders.
Today, 24th July I received a letter from hospital to state my drug infusion has been brought forward to the end of August which is better than November. I am very unsure about this drug considering it constricts the blood vessels and I am very apprehensive about going into hospital where it is clear that sub standard practices take place. None of the imbeciles I have dealt with can read a scan properly.
All for now
Your still Whooshing & Whirring Friend
