Ksmith

My name is Kelli.

I suffered a stroke by  the hands of a chiropractor. It all started ( by said by my husband because I don't remember) I was working two jobs and have two boys. I was working up the ladder of my Financial institution, and I had a day off from both jobs and school ( working in Masters) so we, my husband and I, went to the chiropractors office for a routine visit.  We planned to go out to lunch after that.  We have been going too him for years and my husband and his family have been going longer. So I went in and moments after he adjusted my neck I complained of feeling funny. I sat down and my speech started to slur and my eyes  went out like Marty Feldman and my right side drooped. Luckily, the doctor called 911 and the EMT's were there fast. I was flown to a local hospital and did a tele conference to a Neuro Hospital in Philadelphia, PA and was told I was having a stroke. It's all a blur for my eyes were closed for I could think to open one eye so it's all a blur. I was told I had to be restrained because of me always trying to get out of bed. I was giving clot busting agents and then whisked away to go into surgery to remove the remaining clot that were formed from the stroke.



They went in around my groin and fed a wire up to my brain stem and slowly was able to pull out the clots and add steins,. My husband was told that the main goal was to keep me breathing in my own. Since it was so far up in my brain stem. I was lucky to have the head of the department and one of the top surgeons in the region there and operating on my that night. 6 1/2 hours later I was moved to the ICU



I had to re learn how to talk, walk, eat all the basic daily tasks. My stroke is mainly an invisible stroke. I have the right sided weakness now. I only have that from an amazing acute rehab I was at and perseverance. I have vestibular issues* and double vision as well as short term memory. Most of the memories I have are gone. The ones of my younger and my oldest son are gone. I can't imagine myself in there for this is the only one Ive ever know. Everyday is like a new day. Yesterday is like a distant past. It's hard but I have wonderful children and a supportive Husband who is there every step of the way and never complains. i Can't say that I have excepted this but I'm working in it. My mantra though this, as from my father, was ' Slow and Steady Wins the Race' and ' It is what it is' We can be angry but where are we going to get.

**Vertigo and dizziness

• Spinning or whirling sensation; an illusion of movement of self or the world (vertigo)
  
• Lightheaded, floating, or rocking sensation (dizziness)
  
• Sensation of being heavily weighted or pulled in one direction
  

• Imbalance, stumbling, difficulty walking straight or turning a corner
  
• Clumsiness or difficulty with coordination
  
• Difficulty maintaining straight posture; tendency to look downward to confirm the location of the ground
  
• Head may be held in a tilted position
  
• Tendency to touch or hold onto something when standing, or to touch or hold the head while seated
  
• Sensitivity to changes in walking surfaces or footwear
  
• Muscle and joint pain (due to difficulty balancing)
  

• Trouble focusing or tracking objects with the eyes; objects or words on a page seem to jump, bounce, float, or blur or may appear doubled
  
• Discomfort from busy visual environments such as traffic, crowds, stores, and patterns.
  
• Sensitivity to light, glare, and moving or flickering lights; fluorescent lights may be especially troublesome
  
• Tendency to focus on nearby objects; increased discomfort when focusing at a distance
  
• Increased night blindness; difficulty walking in the dark
  
• Poor depth perception
  

• Hearing loss; distorted or fluctuating hearing
  
• Tinnitus (free publication)
  
• Sensitivity to loud noises or environments
  
• Sudden loud sounds may increase symptoms of vertigo, dizziness, or imbalance
  

• Difficulty concentrating and paying attention; easily distracted
  
• Forgetfulness and short-term memory lapses
  
• Confusion, disorientation, difficulty comprehending directions or instructions
  
• Difficulty following speakers in conversations, meetings, etc., especially when there is background noise or movement
  
• Mental and/or physical fatigue out of proportion to activity
  
• Loss of self-reliance, self-confidence, self-esteem
  
• Anxiety, panic
  
• Depression
  

• Nausea or vomiting
  
• "Hangover" or "seasick" feeling in the head
  
• Motion sickness (free publication)
  
• Ear pain
  
• Sensation of fullness in the ears
  
• Headaches
  
• Slurred speech
  
• Sensitivity to pressure or temperature changes and wind currents