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F.A.S.T indeed


ksmith

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SOOO..

For someone who is one Plavix or another blood thinners you must stop for at least 5 days to 7 before and same afterwards. And , i found out later, is just the amount of time for clots to form that could cause for another or your first stroke.  SO I had to stop 5 days before and 7 after. No problem for I've had to stop it before for a medical procedure.

 

OK..

 

Before I proceed, I'll give some history.

 

When I had my stroke, in 2009, I had to be intubated and I developed TMJ from them over extending my jaw.  Due to the circumstances, I'm not complaining but it hurts periodically. In recent months, it has been hurting more frequently.

 

**caught up**

The end of January, I had a hemorrhoid removal surgery and normally you aren't intubated but because of the size of mine and time it would take, I was and again my jaw was adjusted. However, this time for a few days after, my jaw felt normal again. No pain.... UNTIL... Sunday I was chewing on a gummy fiber supplement and my jaw 'slipped' from where I thought it was fixed. The pain was horrible and for a time I could not close my jaw. I felt dizzy and vertigo ( bad to me for I have a baseline and this was beyond) I took some of my Ibuprofen and a warm compress and it seemed to be better.  Monday and Tuesday I had small bouts of vertigo but only lasted for a few moments.  Wednesday I spent mostly in bed for I was beginning to feel very nauseous and dizzy more often. Thursday late morning, I was out and out of no where, I was hit with one if not the worst vertigo attack that I've ever had. The world spun and when I was trying to walk straight I couldn't do it. Instead I veered to the right and I looked and felt like I was going to vomit. SO I sat down, where I was, and waited it off. Then after a time I walked to my car and sat in there and gathered myself again for a time.  I finally felt normal and made it home for stroke chat. I was feeling woozy during chat and after, I went to lay down. On and off I felt dizzy.  I was darn near 100% sure it was my jaw. SO  to bed I go.

Friday, I woke up and slowly got out of bed and barely was able to walk around my bed without failing on to my bed. So after I gathered myself, I went to the living room to call my doctor. I made an appointment but it wouldn't be until Tuesday. Well the feeling was something that I couldn't do all weekend plus work Monday night. So to be proactive, I went to my local hospital ED. ( 3 miles down road)

I was feeling OK when I got there but I wanted an x-ray of my jaw.  So when I walked in I said " I think I misaligned my jaw and I have had bouts of vertigo unlike how I have felt following my previous stroke" I had not sat down when a nurse called me into fast track in ED  I had a team of nurses and Doctors around me assessing me. While that was happening one nurse said that they were all on high alert for a 30 yo was in last week with stroke. I then began to understand why they were hyper vigilant, even so I kept trying to explain I thought it was my jaw. 

On one hand I was glad to see them go into action and the other was just wishing they would look at my jaw.  I was taking to CAT scan w/contrast. I'm allergic to it and they had to give me benadryl , in my IV so it IMMEDIATELY went into effect. SO not only were the ED concerned I was having a stroke, I was now slurring my words and fighting to stay alert. So I was in the ED for 7 hours, mostly waiting for the transfer to send me to the Stroke Hospital I went to 11 years ago. Last time I was medi-vac trauma. I was in ambulance for that was in another emergency. I had a paramedic riding with me. SO The ENTIRE TRANSPORT CREW were flipping attractive. I mean I was taken aback at first. The transport dispatch sent us to wrong building. We got out . It was cold and night. Walked into the building, went to the 8th floor and only to find out we were in the wrong building. We had to go 2 city blocks up so we had to go down again. Load up. and they were pissed because god forbid I was in an acute emergency, time is everything.

So we finally get there and I was in another team in the NICU (Neuro intensive Care Unit) and I felt conflicted again for I wanted my jaw looked at but glad I was taken seriously with a stroke history.  I was waiting for a nurse to come to I can get my phone to call my parents I made it but before that I hear over the loud speaker " Attention All Staff... Code Blue 8th floor ( my floor) room 808  ( I'm 810) so more staff then I've seen gather run past my door. Of course I'm feeling horrible to taking a bed from someone who could use it more. I hear the Dr's tell a person on phone they have been doing compressions for 30 mins and ordered blood. I then am reminded of how lucky we all are, no matter what stroke did to us, for we aren't guaranteed life. The bells stop , after a bit, as well as a code blue cancellation called so I guess it was good. ( fingers crossed)

SO , I'm NPO (nothing by mouth) so no food for 14 hrs when I'm told I am going to get a MRI ( it's 1:30a).  I get unhooked for all my machines and a nurse wheels me down. I speak to the tech and he thought I had a stent in my carotid artery. I told him no it was in my vertebral .I was told I can't do it for the MRI is a lot stronger and may try to pull my stent out, even after 11 years. So Back we go to wait .  I can't complain for everyone on shift were amazing. They work 12 hr shifts so I had who I first saw until 7a and same for day. I had the same nurse Sat & Sun so I was happy. She was awesome!!

 

So.. I  was told the MRI was going to take some time for the machine broke and needed parts. This may puzzle some because if I were having a stroke but rest assure if it was critical, they would have sent me to the main hospital. Looking over the testing I had in my local ED and compared to my scans that I had after my stent looked the exact same.  I had the same 2 out of 3 DR's  on my team. Since I was being monitored and the doctor in charge of  case is " The  Big-Wig" Neurosurgeon of the hospital and in Philadelphia. ( the city I was in . Temple University, Uni of Penn hospital, CHOP ( children's hospital  ) to name a few. I was in Jefferson Neuro)) So He and the other doctor who was a fellow and now a Resident  were one half of my team. The Neurology Department made up the other half. So again, since I wasn't critical, I took a back seat and rightly so. I was on stand-by all of Saturday morning, my parents came up, thinking I was going to be released for I was on 24 observation only. Then in the late afternoon, I got the OK for the MRI. OK Brief note, I'm VERY claustrophobic. I forgot I had to wear the 'cage' for head. MAN.. my heartbeat and  BP were clearly  I was given earplugs, extra padding, around ears, and a lavender washcloth over my eyes and panic squeeze call bell. The tech reassured me I was only in a tiny amount,  The touched my legs to show me. I sucked it up and was stiff as a board in nervous. (( For my follow-up in 3  weeks I was told take my Xanax)) It wasn't that loud for extra stuffings. When finished, I was given the ALL CLEAR to eat!!!! You would have thought I won the lottery., I had to wait for my floor Neuro to read the scans but there was an emergency so I probably be spending another night. Considering I was not critical, my stay was not a bad thing.

So this morning,

 

I got the OK from Neuro surgeon (  was fellow now resident) The test showed NO new stroke, which I already knew but relieved just the same, and was given the go home OK. I came home Sunday morning.

 

BUT.... MY JAW STILL HURTS LOL

 

Bottom line _ it made me happy to see F.A.S.T. in real time action . Not in a crisis.  It makes me sad that some hospitals still aren't taking people at their word and running the pro active actions.  I was talking to a nurse, in my local ED, about strokes from neck manipulation and she commented that it must not happen that often for 'we' never hear from it. I gladly shared my story as well as the Doctors in Jefferson Neuroscience Hospital shared how many they see. Granted, it can't always be traced to the chiropractor due to signing of waivers , luckily, I didn't and it happened immediately. There was another nurse there that concurred what I was saying.  But short of the longer, I'm healthy. 

 

   

 

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8 Comments


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kelli :

 

I am glad you are fine & like I told you before looking good pinkish too. whole story you were describing & hospital you went in was where our son got in his first medical school acceptance though later he chose upitt medical college since it is one of the top 15 medical college. but resident,doctors, nurses running around to take care of patients reminded me my own hospital visit 16 years ago & ofcourse now i visualize our handsome son will be working as resident doctor in few years. BTW after all this melodrama did they finally realign your jaw so that you don't feel vertigo ever again lol.

 

welcome back we all miss you including your boyfriend at home .

 

Asha

 

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Kelli, it is great that you got all the attention you needed and then some. The description you gave reminded me of some of the things Ray went through. We are fortunate if we live in a place with great hospitals and doctors. Hope you find the solution to the vertigo soon.

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16 hours ago, HostAsha said:

kelli :

 

I am glad you are fine & like I told you before looking good pinkish too. whole story you were describing & hospital you went in was where our son got in his first medical school acceptance though later he chose upitt medical college since it is one of the top 15 medical college. but resident,doctors, nurses running around to take care of patients reminded me my own hospital visit 16 years ago & ofcourse now i visualize our handsome son will be working as resident doctor in few years. BTW after all this melodrama did they finally realign your jaw so that you don't feel vertigo ever again lol.

 

welcome back we all miss you including your boyfriend at home .

 

Asha

 

No they didn't , with my jaw.. I must seek out my own doctor. 

And my boyfriend was very happy to see me. He meowed like he was so happy and was attached to my side all night and slept on my pillow, above my head, and rested his head on my face... AWWWWWWW I was loved!!!!

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22 hours ago, ksmith said:

I am... except my jaw... hahaha. But even thought I was certain I was alright, I'm glad the ED staff did what they should

Absolutely. I think the ED cop a lot of abuse, but do an amazing job.

Unsung heroes. 

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Kelli I'm so glad you had reactive medical staff. This helps to restore my faith in a medical team truly looking out for the life of another (I have unfortunately had times when I think that was not the case). I am so glad you are home and getting lots of kitty love. He missed his mama. Best of wishes in your coming Dr's visits and lots of love to you and your outstanding medical team! 🥼💕

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