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Showing results for tags 'stroke survivor'.
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Wow, what a happenstance find the diabetes comments are. You can see my stroke was almost 12 years ago. I've been diagnosed with diabetes off and on for several years. Last weekend (2024/02/04) I was in the ER for issues (weakness, dizziness, etm.). Their diagnosis was Type 2 diabetes. So anyway, in the course of the week I haven't been able to stabilize my blood sugar. My doctor suggested that I'm a Type 1 diabetic and prescribed insulin at 8 units twice a day: "Recommend increase but 15-20% every 2-3 days until 2 hour post meal is <180 and morning fasting is <130 without lows <70". My lowest blood sugar this week has been 363, the highest has been Over-range on the monitor (in excess of 600). In April of 2023 I was operated on for a pituitary tumor. Due to changes in employment I haven't been able to verify the results of that surgery. So anyway, in the course of the week I haven't been able to stabilize my blood sugar. My doctor suggested that I'm a Type 1 diabetic and prescribed insulin at 8 units twice a day: "Recommend increase but 15-20% every 2-3 days until 2 hour post meal is <180 and morning fasting is <130 without lows <70". My lowest blood sugar this week has been 363, the highest has been Over-range on the monitor (in excess of 600). With all of the above, I have dizzy spells and have fallen several times. Fortunately my laminate floor is on a sub-floor, so I haven't sustained a concussion. I've been doing a lot of reading as I proofread for about 14 authors.
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Whenever I had something that I had to accomplish I would say to myself "there's nothing to do but to do it." This phrase is the main point of my stroke story, and is has been the driving force of my life. Also I felt that if I didn't keep going and accomplishing, that physical therapy would drop me as a client, and I would have no more backing to say that I have met my goals. When I was 10, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor which resulted in my left side being partly paralyzed. Despite my diagnosis, I attended several colleges and had a few jobs. My most important job was as emergency lodge aide for the Salvation Army, where I did practically everything from counseling to cooking. When I was 65 I had my stroke. Then I was partly paralized on the right also, and I had spastic dysarthria and nasality. This voice trouble was my biggest problem because it was something I had not dealt with before and initially made it hard to be understood on the phone. With a lot of work I have overcome enough of my speaking problem to be understandable in all situations. But since there is nothing to do but to do it, I keep making headway. I am now standing for nine minutes and when I get to 10 minutes I will be able to do other exercises. This standing is my biggest accomplishment to date. My sister has been my biggest help since my stroke. She has arranged appointments, got groceries for me, and subbed for my aides. She did a lot of things because I couldn't get out and my aides' schedule made it tough to get anything done. But my aides were a big help also. Although I do as much as I can, they do what I can't do. I'm not very good at making friends so I don't have many. Most of my friends are my sister's friends. I occasionally see my neice and nephew and their families. I planted indoor plants with an Aerogarden for many years before my stroke, and now i am adding vegetables to the flowers I used to do. I have started to pursue different interests. I watch birds and hope to get a shelf built to store the rocks that I will study and enjoy. I like to learn things on the computer. Now I am studying to learn the Dragonspeak program better. I also make my own cards on Hallmark Card Studio. I would have never taken up birdwatching or thought of rock collecting had it not been for this stroke. Since this stroke I have taken up speech exercise and core exercise and stretching. I add this to the exercise plan that I had previously accomplished. I should network with other stroke survivors, but I don't because it is too hard right now. When I get better at Dragonspeak, hopefully I will be able to do so. I have two AFOS, adding the second one on my right side because of the stroke. I have used a motorized wheelchair for about ten years. When I am cleared I hope to be able to use a shower chair again. This Dragonspeak program is really helpful because I can't type or write well. I use a transfer pole in the bathroom and bedroom, and that helps me be as independant as possible with transfers. I can't walk and have trouble writing, and minor problems with speaking and swallowing. I had the trouble with walking and balance before my stroke. When I first had the stroke my trouble with fatigue was terrible, and magnified all the other problems i had. I tried different things to get my strength back. I am stronger and less tired now, and am now cleared to resume therapy with the goal of being able to safely use a shower chair. I was married for 22 years, divorcing in 2015. We had a pet chihuahua. I don't have any pets now. When my husband and I seperated, it was a huge challenge in 2013 to move from where I had lived all my life in New York State to live in Connecticut near my sister. I had my stroke in October 2015 it was ischemic – I had it when I was sleeping so I can't tell you exactly when it was. When I woke up I knew I must have had a stroke because I knew I wasn't speaking right. I wasn't scared but I was a little embarassed. I was in an acute care hospital at Yale New Haven for three days and then transferred to the Willows rehab for a month. Then I had home therapy for about a year. I still do my home program of physical and speech therapy almost daily and will do so forever. The stroke changed me by making me not as confident in myself as I was. I had always relied on my speech and my right side to compensate for my left sided hemiparesis. Now these were no longer strengths. All I could rely on was my thinking and problem solving, which thankfully were still good. My advice to other stroke survivors is to do your home exercises and stretches every day and take your aspirin regimen. Keep your mind active. Look up stuff on the computer. Go on day trips whenever you can. It's important to have as much fun as possible. I like sitting outside on my patio when it is nice out. There's a free movie and audiobook program called Hoopla that is sponsered by my local library. It is on my computer so it is accessible. My stroke has made everything I have to deal with tougher. I sink a lot but I am resolved to not go down with the ship! -
When I was a young girl I had the weekly task of dusting bookcases, end tables, and other furniture odds and ends. Every Saturday morning my siblings and I would do our assigned chores before we were allowed to go off to our free time activity. I was the youngest of five kids so I somehow seemed to luck out and always get the minimal side of chore assignments. Given that I was a very small girl it seems logical to me why I was assigned the things I was assigned. My siblings didn’t necessarily agree. As a girl, with an over the top imagination, more times than not I found myself getting in to some sort of trouble. Often, I was left having to sit quietly in time out and think about what I had done. We didn’t call it time out back then but it followed the same guidelines. I was sat down on the floor in the kitchen, asked to think about my mistake, and present an apology when I was ready. Maybe this is why today my brain is filled with an ever-flowing stream of imaginative information. On one particular morning as I dusted to my hearts content I found myself interacting with the various figurines that gracefully adorned our home. I was in a world of my own talking to these porcelain pretties and creating a world of wonderment. My mother had a beautiful set of angels. Each angel represented the months of the year. These intricate beauties were adorned with a birthstone, along with a floral bouquet representing each month. These winged statues were so precious to my mother that she kept them on the top shelf of a wall mounted bookcase. A bookcase my father built, no less. So precious were those figurines that she, for some reason, placed them far out of my reach. My mother always said those angels were pretties to look at but never to be touched. Yet, I was a climber. One Saturday morning I fervently went about my task of dusting and decided I wanted to play with those angels. You all see where this is going don’t you? I cannot tell you how I did it, but I somehow climbed up onto the back of the sofa, balanced myself on my tiptoes, and one by one, took down those angels. These little people with halos spoke to me and told me they wanted to fly. I without hesitation strategically placed twelve porcelain angels into a towel, folded it like a hammock swing, and began spinning around with those angels. “Wee,” I sang out, giggled, and proclaimed, “You can fly, you can fly, you can fly.” All was grand until I slipped. I fell to my knees, dropped the towel, and pieces of porcelain went everywhere. With the abrupt sound of breaking glass my mother miraculously appeared in the living room to find me amidst her now broken angels. My mother, I am sure, wanted to tan my hide and bite her tongue from saying not so nice words. Instead, she simply checked to see if I was O.K. and then very quietly picked up each piece and part of those angels. I, of course, was crying and saying, “I didn’t mean to Mommy!” Never did she raise her voice but more consoled me. Later that day my mom and I sat and glued those angels back together. We placed them back on the shelf as if they were, while scarred, brand new. For me, in calling up that memory of those angels I find that they somehow are an analogy in my life as a caregiver today. My husband is like those precious angels. He with his stroke is slightly broken. But with each day and some consoling he mends just like the angels that were glued back together to look brand new. And then the manner in which my mother so effortlessly placed me first by asking if I was O.K. before a bunch of broken figurines speaks volumes as to what matters most. I, as a caregiver, can only hope that I am like my mother and remember to put my stroke survivor first before any mood, object or thing on those days I feel beyond frustrated or exhausted. I hope I, as a caregiver, am like those angels and a deserving halo is floating above my head. And, in case you are wondering, I still have those angels. They are placed high on a shelf so to not be disturbed. Sometimes I think they still speak to me. Only now, they tell me I am doing an excellent job at care giving and everything is going to be O.K…
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About day three following my husband’s admittance into the Intensive Care Unit I was beyond exhausted. I hadn’t slept, eaten, or really come to terms with what had happened. Ideally, I expected him to just wake up, ask for something to eat and say, “Let’s go home.” My husband had every monitor possible attached to him. Not to mention the revolving door of technicians, nurses, therapist, and doctors coming into his room nonstop. With every person that entered the room I ask question after question as to what was going on. I even ask the housekeeper. In my mind I needed to understand. Call it a type A personality or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder but I needed someone to define for me what the “H” “E” “Double Toothpicks” was happening with my husband. What was this thing called Stroke? What did it mean? Why did it happen to us? Who was going to tell me the truth? How was I going to fix it? Whether it was my need for sleep, my means of processing or my plain old desire to get my husband help I had a moment of complete frustration. If truth were to be told, it was more than just a moment but you get my drift. It was this day, three day in, that a caseworker introduced her self to me. It was this day that I absolutely recognized my role as Caregiver and the journey I was about to take. Perhaps my circumstance was different than any other and could not be categorized. Maybe it was so unique that it was a learning experience for my particular assigned caseworker. I don’t know but when I ask, “If there was a check list to aid me in what I need to do,” I got a deer in the headlight look followed by a “I’m not sure what you are asking.” comment. I was told, “There is no checklist.” I shook my head and said “Seriously?” “There is no check list that can be given to a caregiver as to the first things one can do?” “Well, you can always check online…there is a lot of information out there,” The caseworker said. Ironically, I apologized to this individual and claimed, “I must not be speaking clearly.” “You are telling me there is not a simple things to do list that you could provide me.” Again, she said, “No” So, I sighed, thanked her for her time, and turned my attention back to my husband. My sister later confirmed for me that I was not inappropriate or out of line. She said I actually was very calm, cool, and collected asking a very reasonable question. In my mind, however, I believe my head spun around, my tongue lashed out, and I fell on the floor kicking and screaming in an unruly tantrum. Please don’t get me wrong, I believe this young girl was doing her job as best she could but in the moment that I was so deprived the last thing I had time to do was surf the internet. I vowed at that moment I would create a check list when time allowed. “Your loved one is in the hospital…Start with this” This consumed my thoughts. Things like organize your important papers, contact family, write down names of physicians, list the medicines, and eat something are to name a few. It might be small but if there was a list that stated these things when one is not able to think the Caregiver’s life might have a moment of relief… So, dear readers, I ask, “Why is there not a simple checklist?” “What do you think should be on the check list?” Please help me create a universal checklist that can be used by caregivers…
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This year is Leap Year. Which means we have an extra day added onto our calendar. This has always made me ask, “Why it is called year if it is just a day?” “Why not just call it Leap Day?” Anyway, with that awareness the thought jumps around in my head, “What would I do with an extra day?” As a caregiver, time for myself is something I get little of and I crave. It isn’t that I do not take time for myself but more that time has to be strategically planned. Oh the thought of going and pampering myself with a pedicure, massage, and facial runs through my head. Taking in a movie, mindless shopping, or oil painting like days of old crosses my mind. Even just going for a walk in the park, followed by a lunch outing make the list. And then reality sets in and I think, “Just a long uninterrupted nap would be nice.” I don’t seem to get enough sleep as it is and now, as a caregiver, it is always in segments. So a day to just cuddle up in the covers and get served breakfast in bed sounds heavenly. I envision myself as the Scarlette O’Hara character in Gone with the Wind or even more recent Lady Mary Crowley from Downton Abbey where a maid enters my room with a tray of the finest delicacies and waits on me hand and foot. What can I say, I am a dreamer. Basically, what I realize is that I miss those days before the stroke when my husband and I would go on impromptu outings. It was not out of the ordinary for us to load up our dog Max (miniature dachshund), a basket of wine and cheese, and go to the lake to soak in all that nature gives to us. Don’t get me wrong, we do these things now but it is different because I must do most of the work. It is work to get everything in the van. It is work to pack and prepare food for the both of us, as well as, Max. It is work to pack a “Husband Bag.” I do all this then it is work to load him, my most precious cargo, in the van. Sometimes we go to the destination and it will last fifteen minutes. The moment I had planned for a nice outing becomes overcast by a scurry to get my husband back to the comforts of home. He sometimes has anxiety so the outing becomes less enjoyable. This in turn strikes up sorrow with in me and I have to bury it because I don’t want to upset my husband. I crave those days when my husband would surprise me and serve me breakfast, or prepare a nice dinner with wine that he strategically picked out all with a story of how much I mean to him. Certainly, I still have special moments with my husband it just always includes assistance from me, the caregiver. All in all, I have adapted. I plan fun activity at home because it is easier. I order carry out so I don’t have to cook. I rent movies so we can watch them at home. The list goes on of things I do to take the burden off of myself but the one probing thought that still remains about Leap Year is, “What does my husband crave? What would he do on this extra day?” Oh sure I still think, “What would I do with an extra day all to myself.” Balancing having my own time verses time care giving for my husband would be grand. It is like creating a piece of art. There is a blank canvas, oils in various hues, and brushes to bring the two together. It is a masterpiece continually being adapted to perfection. Mostly though, what I realize with this thought about an extra day is that I have my husband in this day. I thank God each time I watch the sunset for having stamina to care for my husband at home. I praise the miracles of healing surrounding him. I am filled with joy for each moment we have to plan movie night, to plan what food to order, and to find comfort with just a touch. After all, it comes down to what matters most doesn’t it? For me, that is my husband surviving. So, on this extra day I plan to spend my “Leap Day” with a wonderful man who is a Stroke Survivor. I plan to savor every moment because who knows what tomorrow will bring. I plan to embrace that I am a caregiver and smile proudly while doing it. I plan to Leap with Joy on this day. So, my readers, I ask the question of each of you: What will you do this Leap Year Day?
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The month of August has not been good to me. It started off well enough. On August 3, I was about to leave for work when I felt a dizzy spell. I decided that me driving with a dizzy spell was not a good thing so I called in sick. Later on in the morning (about 9am), I started feeling dizzy, couldn't concentrate, felt disoriented, and felt a tingling sensation in the top of my head. I knew that these were not normal symptoms so my wife and I went to the ER. When I got to the ER, the Doctors there started concentrating on all the wrong issues such as my blood sugar readings (Yes, I am hypoglycemic but that is under control.) Once I finally got across to Abbott and Costello, they started looking at other things like "How long were you out in the hot sun sir????" "How about I wasn't outside in the hot sun you twit!!!!!" Then they did the blood work. At last they found something they could "attack". "Sir, Your Potassium is low. You are lucky you don't have post nasal drip." "Yeah, lucky me!!!!! You went to medical school how long to come up with that....." I guess I shouldn't be so hard on Abbott and Costello. They did do some things right. They did order a CT Scan. That is something you should do if want to rule out or consider stroke or not. They discharged me and when I saw my paperwork I was pretty ticked off when I saw the diagnosis of Migraine. "MIGRAINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who the {fill in the blank with an appropriate or inappropriate for that matter adjective} was the {fill in the blank} that decided that!!!!!!!!!!!! Liz and I got of there as quickly possible. We decided we would get an appointment with a real doctor instead of Abbott and Costello. I had seen a specialist at the Medical College of Ohio. We called and I was able to get a follow up appointment with the same neurologist last Monday. That appointment was a mixed blessing. They believed me for one thing which is a pleasant change from Abbott and Costello. The downside is I have to get a referral to a stroke neurologist. That appointment is 9/8/2005. More to come... Charles
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In the time since I last posted here, much has happened. I went back to work. I was told by my supervisor my job responsibilities were changed. At first I was not happy, all right down right very upset but upon further review I found I like doing what I am doing now. One thing I found I can't do any more is doing multiple tasks at the same time. You know the famous management buzzword known as "Multitasking". I can't do it anymore since my stroke last November. You give me one task to do and I am fine. More than that, I am like the old woman in the commercial, "I've fallen and can't get up!" Charles
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This was a draft entry from back in March 2005 I published 7/2/2005. Charles Today, I was find in the morning until early afternoon. Then a fatigue attack set in while we were traveling to Toledo. I was smart enough to get a scooter at Kroger so that wasn't a problem. We made it home and I put up the frozen products and sat down. About 1 1/2 hours later the fatigue went away.
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This entry was a draft entry from back in March 2005 I published today. Charles. 7/2/2005 Well, I saw the Neuro. He basically didn't do anything. He isn't going to do any more testing. He released me to go back to work. He reviewed the MRI which was performed. He didn't say he saw anything. I saw the radiologist report for the mri. It listed "Possible Multiple Sclerosis" as a condition. Liz asked him about MS. Actually she asked him more specifically asked him about demyelinating disorders. It was like he was ignoring her. He was all consumed with "Did those guys do a comparison of this MRI with the previous MRI performed in November 2004." We later went to a follow up to the Cardiologist. He mentioned, "Have you considered MS?" We later decided to go back to Cleveland.
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I got the MRI done this past Saturday. The appointment with my Neuro is next Friday. Will questions be answered? More specifically. Will the right questions be answered? Did I have a Stroke? Did I suffer Migraine Headaches? Did I suffer something worse? Charles Ramsey
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I paid bills this morning. Normally, this is a very quick matter and only takes about half an hour or so. This morning it took forever. I was having trouble concentrating which did not help any. I was having trouble seeing because I do not have my new glasses yet. Am I making excuses here????? The good news is the bills are finally paid and I still have my sanity (I think). Charles Ramsey
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I started a new Blood Pressure medication yesterday. Today I am feeling a little funny. I really don't know how to describe it. I am not dizzy like I was before I had my stroke but I still feel different. I was looking at the information sheet that the pharmacy gave me and they told me that dizziness and lightheadedness were to be expected as my body was getting adjusted to this medication. I just have one question. Why do I have to feel dizzy and lightheaded because of a medication? I guess we will never know the answer to that one. I am still off work thank goodness. I don't need to be dizzy at a nuclear power plant. That would not be good. I do have a follow up MRI scheduled for Saturday morning. That should be fun. We will see what happens. More as time permits. Charles Ramsey
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Well, it snowed today. I guess that is not unexpected considering it is winter and I do live in Michigan. Today wasn't too bad from a snow perspective (only about 6 inches of snow). I pulled out the snowthrower and cleared the snow. That wasn't too bad. I came inside and warmed up. I started watching the race on TV and next thing I know it is 5:00pm. I have no idea where that two hours went. I didn't think I was tired but I guess I was. I have been tired a lot lately. I guess that is part of the game now. You know what makes it worse. It started snowing again and now it looks like I hadn't done anything. It kind of reminds me of work when I would work and work and not have any meaningful results to show for it. Charles Ramsey
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Today seemed like any other Saturday. I woke up this morning full of energy. My wife and I went out and ran some errands. But at about 1:30pm, I felt like all of the energy I had had left my body. It was all I could do to even move. At first, I thought I needed something to eat and that would make things better again. Liz and I went and ate. It didn't work. I still had no energy. We made it back home and I had to sleep for awhile. I felt better after that. I don't know what my problem is. I do know I am getting a second MRI done at a hospital that has a clue. This MRI will come the day before my birthday. I guess the best birthday present I could get are answers to what is wrong with me. Is it stroke? Is it a mignaine? Is it something worse? I am usually not this down. This is the second year where my birthday has not been particularly happy. Last year, my birthday came two weeks after being diagnosed as being Hypoglycemic. What will this year bring???? Charles Ramsey
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You may have seen earlier entries about the doctor I saw at the Cleveland Clinic I lovingly refer to as Dr. FeelGood. I spent some time really looking over his report today in preparation for the follow up appointment I have with my neuro tomorrow. What I found was quite sobering. While I admit I was a bit miffed that he said I didn't have a stroke as a diagnosis, he mentioned some things (unlikely but theoretically possible) I am pretty concerned about. Among the " 'exotic' diagnostic considerations" he mentioned were demyelinating disorders (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Friedreich's ataxia, and Motor neuron disease) and cerebral vasculitis (a disease that causes the small arteries in the brain to constrict among other things). He did say that my history was "most suggestive of atypical migraines". Lord knows, I wouldn't want to have just the typical migraines. I gotta be different!!!!!!! He also said I need to exercise. Point for Dr. FeelGood He said I needed cholesterol lowering medication. OK so the Triglycerides were above 200. The total cholesterol was 183, thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would tell you more about the report Dr. FeelGood put together, but one of my cats is SLEEPING on it and won't budge. I guess that is her way of saying, "Enough for today." Charles Ramsey
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I finally got the paperwork from Dr. FeelGood's office today. It came this morning just after 9:00am. I decided to call them a little after 9. I spoke to the secretary for Dr. FeelGood. I told her that his nurse told me that I would get the information faxed to me today. I give her the fax number and waited. Sure enough the fax machine rings and starts printing out the pages I was so eagerly awaiting. I look at the fax cover sheet. 11 Pages is what I see. I am beside myself with excitement. A couple of minutes later the fax is done. I pick up the ramaining pages. Lipid Panel, INR, Protein study, carotid study, transcranial doppler........ Hmmmmm!!!! I got all of the labs but I didn't get the report I was so eagerly awaiting. I call Ms. FeelGood again. "Um, excuse me. I was told yesterday that I would be getting a copy of the report that Dr. FeelGood had sent to my Primary Care Physician." She tells me, "Let me check with Dr. FeelGood's nurse." About 5 minutes later, my fax machine cranks up again. Imagine that! The fax machine starts printing as only an inkjet printer can. I finally have the report!!!!!!!!!! I have a total of 14 pages of documentation to go through. The first thing I did was to get a copy of the documentation to my Primary Care Physician. Then I faxed a copy of the information to my Neurologist. I will be meeting with him Friday to see where we go from here. Don't you love it when a plan comes together!!!!!!!!!!!!! Charles Ramsey
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There was something interesting in the mail today. It was a letter from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. They want to learn about my experience at their outpatient clinic and use it to help them improve their services. As you may recall, our super hero was not that impressed with the Cleveland Clinic (especially after Dr. FeelGood did not send a copy of his report to my neurologist who I specifically requested). If you get the idea from the emotions above that I plan to give Dr. FeelGood a glowing review, "YOU'RE WRONG!!! He did give me some good advice and perform some tests I had wanted to have performed, but you need to read the freakin' paperwork you moron!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel much better now. Charles Ramsey
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Well I heard from Dr. FeelGood's office at the Cleveland Clinic today. They told me the results of the labs and tests they performed on me. They did two tests, a second doppler on the carotids, and a transcranial doppler test. Both of those turned out normal. They did a lipid panel (cholesterol was normal, triglycerides were high) and the ultra sensitive c-reactive protein test was high. I am still suffering from a sinus infection so that maybe a false positive. Prior to this, they did echocardiograms (normal and TEE), they did a stress test, they put me in a holter monitor and a 30 day event monitor. All of those were normal. They did an MRI which showed something. They did a Cervical MRA that the neuro here considered inconclusive. They did multiple CT-Scans. I initially did have a problem with high blood pressure which has been corrected. The last two TIAs have been at normal BP readings. So it is official (or maybe unofficial). There are no smoking guns as to why I have strokes or TIAs. I think (please let me know if there is sometihing else I haven't considered) that the only reason left for me to have a stroke or TIA is stress. I am going to see my neuro here in Ann Arbor on Friday to discuss where we go next. Oh yeah, I did ask why they did not send a report to my neurologist. Dr. FeelGood's nurse said, "We do not issue multiple letters. We issued the report to your primary care physician and he will send it to who needs it." I thought to myself, "How the f*^% is he going to know that unless he was psychic." Go figure. Charles Ramsey
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Good morning all. As some of you are aware, I decided to go to the Cleveland Clinic. I had gathered up all of the doctor notes and records anc copies of the various X-Rays, MRI, MRA, and CT-Scans I have received since November 2004. The doctor I went to at Cleveland Clinic looked over all of my records, looked over the various films, and said the following, "You did NOT have a stroke. You had a migraine headache." I did some looking online for headaches and found there is a very rare form of migraine headache called a hemiplegic migraine. The symptoms associated are the same as those I have described in my previous posts. What I have done so far is come off the counadin (with the addition of an asprin in its place). I know those risks but considering that my last episode occurred while I was on coumadin, it seemed like a non risky thing to do. For now, I am going to go into more of a lurker mode until they (the battling Neuro's) figure out what is going on. I will let you when I get more information. Charles Ramsey
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Yesterday was an interesting day. I woke up with my left eye (and only my left eye) was very dry. I put in eye drops and it seemed to work for awhile. I guess I will need to keep a bottle of the artificial tesrs with me at all times. I started the day by going to the local vampire shop (outpatient lab facility) and getting bloodwork done to check my INR as requested by my neuro. In other news, our valiant super hero (yeah, right) was working in the office Monday night. He had a cable stretched across the floor. He misjudged where the cable was and hurt his big toe on the right foot. He went to the Podiatrist yesterday and she told me that the toe was broken. I now am sporting a "stylish" surgical shoe that will help the break heal. Film at 11. Our super hero later had a follow up appointment with my endochronoligist who said that things were normal and to stay the course. Later, my wife and I went to the local office supply store to purchase some things for the office. We got everything on our list (except the USB cable to hook my wife's printer to her computer). We went to pay and I forgot to use the $20.00 coupon I had in my wallet. I have noticed that since the last TIA I had January 28th, I have had a lot of trouble with coming up with the right word to say in the context of what I am saying. I have also had trouble with balance because I am bumping into things, musjudging spatially where things are (Remember, the broken big toe.) and forgetting impotant details like forgetting to use the $20.00 coupon I had for a local store. It seems like things are pretty bleak for our super hero at this point. Has he met his match???? Has he met his Lex Luthor???? Can our valiant super hero recover from this and return to a somewhat normal life??? Why ask why??? Who the heck cares??? To find out the answers to these and other burning questions, turn in tomorrow for the next exciting episode of "As the Stomach Turns". Charles Ramsey
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I have really had problems with remembering things since the TIA on 1/28. I was out tracking down medical paperwork for my trip to Cleveland next week and my wife called me on the cell phone. She told me that I had a follow up endochronologist appointment tomorrow afternoon. I normally would have known that but I didn't. I had also gotten appointments mixed up. I thought there was an appointment February 10th at 10:00am. It was actually scheduled for February 15th at 10:00am. Why!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Charles Ramsey
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Frustration. If there was one word that could be used to describe today, it was frustration. I tried to get hold of the Disability Management person in my company. What I actually got was her voice mail. I left her the happy news that I had another TIA and that I would be notifying my neurologist about this (It was late Friday afternoon when I was released from the Emergency Room and after 5:00pm when I got home). I had wanted to get her email address and forward her the Larry King Live Transcript from last Friday on Stroke and Stroke Survivors (with appropriate sections highlighted to enhance my claim I no longer need to be working in an industrial environment). I tried to get in touch with my neurologist (unsuccesfully). My dear wife called and left them a voice mail message updating them on my status. Hopefully, someone will call tomorrow. It would be nice. I had another fatigue attack this afternoon about 1:30pm. It was minor in comparison to those I had previously. It appears that my new dosage of coumadin may be helping things. I hope it is. I am curious as to what another MRI taken now would show compared to the one taken back last November. I would be willing to bet there has been a change and not for the good. I did not have any other speech issues today thank goodness. We will see what comes later in the week. More to come. Charles Ramsey
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I had a pretty decent day today. We moved my wife's computer from one end of the house to the new office we had set up for the company. I didn't think I did that much but about 2:30pm, I had a real bad fatigue attack. These seem to come on suddenly. I can't really do anything when they hit. Luckily, there are none of the symptoms normally associated with a TIA along witht he fatigue. I think I can sum up how I feel in one sentence: I am TIRED of being TIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am also having trouble thinking clearly today. I told my wife three times that we needed to write our housekeeper a chick. Chick!!! What the heck is a chick? It actually is check. That may seem insignificant to most but it is significant for me in that I am having trouble coming up with the correct word to day. I thought the work "check" . I said "check" instead. My dear wife handed me a book this afternoon and suggested that I might want to read it. The book was A Delicate Balance - Living successfully with Chronic Illness by Susan Milstrey Wells. She had bought it when she was first diagnpsed with her neuropathy. I guess things really have come full circle. I wonder what the future holds. I wonder what the people in my company's Disability Management people are up to. It is really frustrating to know that your future is in the hands of people who do not know you and probably do not care for you or about you. I know I have three people in my corner. First, there is my dear wife and caregiver. She has sacrificed so much to ensure I am taken care of. She has also been assisting me in advocating my case to the members of the medical community. She is also good for a swift kick in the pants when it is needed. I am so lucky to have her. Second, there is my daughter. She was really scared when I first had my stroke back in November. However, she has been supportive of what we are doing here. She is also concerned which is a good thing. She is remarkably mature for her age. Yeah, she sometimes does have Blonde moments but that is probably because she is a natural Blonde. Third, there is me. I have to have faith in myself and not get into a funk. I realize that I can't give up. I will find out what is causing these cursed TIAs and how to keep them from occurring again. More later. Charles Ramsey
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I slept in today. Until about 4:30am. I don't know why I wake up that early but I do. I don't go to bed exceptionally early. Today was errand day with my wife. We left about 8:45am to drive to Toledo. We were going to Sam's Club, Wal Mart, and Kroger for various items we had been putting off for awhile. I got through Sam's with no problem. It was pretty much like any other Sam's Club.... Huge!!!!!!!!! We got to Wal Mart. We had a list of what we needed to get. We got those and my wife had to go looking for something to wear. She looked..... and looked...... and looked it seemed. In reality, she probably wasn't looking that long but it seemed like it. I started feeling fatugued at this time. I mean rrrrrrreeeeeeeeaaaaaaaallllllllllllllyyyy fatigued. She realized that I was losing steam, found what she was looking for and we came back home. I decided that laying down was the answer. I laid down at about noon and it seemed like moments later it was after 1:00pm. I felt like a new person, had a spring in my step that I didn't have when we had gotten home an hour earlier, and was no longer fatigued. I know that fatigue is an side effect of stroke and I know that I no longer have the stamina I had prior to my stroke. However, what I wasn't prepared for was how quickly this fatigue attack came on. From feeling OK to oh man am I going to make it. If it seems like I am critizing my dear wife who is my caregiver for the length of time she spent looking for that particluar piece of clothing, I am not. She has sacrificied her own health issues to see that I was taken care of. She deserved to get something. So what has our super hero learned from today you may ask? I learned that I can no longer walk these huge "big box stores" anymore. I have been relegated to driving one of those carts. There was a point in time in the not too distant past that my wife would state that I was leaving her quickly behind because of her health issues. Now it is me saying "Hey speedy! Slow down!!!!!!!!!" It is amazing how life seems to seek its own balance. Next thing you know dogs and cats will lay down together. That is a thought for another day. Charles Ramsey
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I ended up in the Emergency Room this afternoon. My neuro's nurse called us to tell me he was increasing my dosage of coumadin. I was out running errands and my wife told her about the symptoms I had experienced Wednesday and Thursday. She seemed a bit purturbed that I had not contacted them with my symptoms when they happened. About 12:30pm, I started experiencing that familiar symptoms: numbness in the left side of my face, not being able to think clearly. So what did I do, I called my neuro's office. "This is the answering service for Dr. (fill in the blank)." When I heard that, I did . Their office is out to lunch from Noon until 1:00pm. This is the same office that raked my wife over the coals for us not calling them. We ended up at the ER. I asked for my Frequent Patient Discount. They did a CT Scan , EKG, and bloodwork. CT Scan did not show anything. Somehow I knew that would happen. I was looking back over time and it appears that these TIAs are occurring on a seemingly repeatable 2 week (plus/minus) timeframe. Go figure. It is a good thing I am going to the Cleveland Clinic to be checked out. It just happens to be two weeks away. Charles Ramsey
