Stroke assessment
Dear Madam, Dear Sir,
I (male) 41 years old, overweight, moderate smoker, experienced a panic-like attack with pain on the left side of my chest, extending into my arm, cold sweat, and mild feelings of faintness in February 2011. An immediate ECG showed no abnormalities. A cardiological ultrasound examination also revealed no findings. For me, that was then temporarily out of the world. In August 2011, I developed tinnitus, which was always present but I could easily ignore it.
About 3 weeks ago in the afternoon, I had another panic-like attack, during which I had acute shortness of breath and couldn't take a deep breath. I foolishly drove myself to the hospital, where they performed a lung CT scan due to elevated levels of D-dimer: 3100, leukocytes 16000, slightly elevated LDH levels, in order to rule out a pulmonary embolism.
My blood values were back to normal range 3 days later (although leukocytes sometimes fluctuate from normal to a maximum of 16000). However, since then I have had increased headaches (feeling of pressure) on the left side. The entire left side is affected. Increased tingling in the left hand (which has been present for some time), slight pulling in the left leg, burning in the chest, also on the left side. Tingling in the left half of the face, sometimes the skin there is also reddened, as well as the visual sensation of a white left hand. What is extremely bothersome is a noticeable pulse throughout my body. Occasionally, I experience difficulty swallowing. My tinnitus also manifests on some days as a loud buzzing.
Orthopedic examinations revealed no abnormalities, but a change in the C7 vertebra was noted during one examination. Further cardiological ultrasound examinations were inconspicuous, as was a lung function test. Cycling at high speeds is not a problem. My general practitioner attributes it to the spine and nerves.
In your opinion, could a mild stroke also be a possible cause?
Best regards,
M. Stiller
