Has anyone out there had a TEE. No I'm not making this up. The doctor numbed my throat and had an IV going. Then he inserted a flexable hose (w/a camera on the end of it) down my throat to look at my heart. He said that they were looking for a hole in my heart that could be associated with migraines. Needless they "soft-pedaled" the test, but, My four ribs on the left feel broken!!! Do you ever wonder if they think you're just a complaining woman? 50 years of migraines have been a real pain!!!!!
The test you had is a Thoraesogophic echocardiogram. It is the only surefire way to detect PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale) The hole between the atrium and ventricle is open when you are a fetus but is supposed to close itself after you are born. If open, the theory is that you lose oxygen rich blood through the hole, which causes the blood vessels in the brain to dialate to accomodate the brain's demand for oxygenated blood. It is widely believed that migraine pain is caused by cerebrovascular dialation. Hence forth the birth of vasocnstrictors (Triptans) to abort migraines. There is a neurologist in Colorado who is currently accepting patients for research trials regarding the link between PFO and Migraines:
Dr. Randall J Bjork
Colorado Springs Neurological Associates
175 S Union Blvd.
Suite 310
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Contact Linnea Hughes, Clinical Coordinator at (719) 473-3272 x117