 April 9, 2001 Well, here it is one day after my 40th birthday. So much has happened, I'm not sure where to start.
Lets start with a really big one. Jen and I move to St. Louis, MO. I got a promotion and will be here for 2 years. We now live in a tri-level townhouse, so we really get a workout everyday. The new job is going great. Lots to do to keep me busy. Jennifer is in school and studying hard. She is making new friend and enjoying her classes, especially her Choir class.
Jennifer is now considering the surgery. We have selected a Doctor here in the area and have sent in the paperwork. We will go to our first support group meeting on the 11th of April. I hope it is as good as the Staple Mates meetings in SA. I'll try to set up another on-line group here as well. I sure miss getting together with the members of the OSSG-SA group. It make such a big difference to meet and get to know people that have been there and done that. It is also very rewarding to help pre-ops on their journey.
April 12, 2001 I'm a little disappointed in the support group for the Doctor. Jen will see. It's mainly post-ops, the facilator is the office manager, the Doctor does not attend. The Doctors use the liquid diet for 4 weeks post-op and they do not really believe there is another way. They made me very uncomfortable when I explained the diet I was given. I was even told "well, you won't lose very much weight", Excuse me, but I've already lost 174 pounds in 9 months!! But Jen and I really want to meet the Doctor first. The office needs to get pre-authorization from my insurance before they will even make an appointment. So we'll wait.
May 30, 2001 I'm doing well. For those that don't know - while I was sick with an ear infection I had a stroke. The Doc said it was a small stroke, but a stroke nonetheless. It had NOTHING to do with my surgery or my being sick in October. But the surgery and what I learned from the October episode saved my life, had I not lost 180 pounds the stroke would have killed me. I had all the symptoms of a massive stroke except the swallowing. I had no problem with that. I sucked down water like there was no tomorrow. No dehydration for me, been there,
done that, don't want to ever do that again.
Part of my problem is that I'm not a Doctor, I just PLAY one at home. I never linked all my symptoms together. And I just treat them separately with OTC stuff. Some of the times this is not a good idea. Oh, worst of all - I never call a Doctor. Remember, I'm Superwoman!
When I first got sick, I thought I just had the flu or a head cold or maybe allergies. You know, tired, achy, stuffy head, blah! Then my ears seemed to swell and it felt like they filled my whole head. I couldn't hear anything but a loud roaring. On day 4, I got a headache, it felt like my head was going to explode, I just wanted to die. I laid in my recliner like a zombie. Jennifer went into action, lots of water and protein first (Ensure w/Protein), and then she called my Mom. Mom said "Call a Doc". She tried several, and none would see me that day. One even told Jen "we do have one available on July 26th". This was on Thursday May 3rd. She found a Head and Neck doctor that would see me on Tuesday morning at 9AM. That was OK with me. I just wanted to lay in my chair and be left alone. Saturday,as I lay there dozing I had the most horrifying dreams. I would wake up screaming or Jen would wake me because of my screaming and thrashing. I never had nightmares before. Sometime Saturday I lost the use of my right side. I didn't even notice when it happened. I didn't feel anything different. I though it was my maralgia intensifying, so I took an extra dose of my medication. Tuesday a friend drove us to the Doctors office. It was the worst car ride of my life. I felt so bad as it was, then add the bouncing of the car and the turns, the car would stop turning but my head didn't. The sun tried to blind me. Everything was so surreal.
This Dr turned out to be such a JERK! First of all we had to wait an hour and a half to see him. He walked around the room primping and posing like someone was taking pictures. When I got done telling him
all my symptoms, he looked in my eyes and in my ears. Then he gave me a third degree tongue lashing for not going to the ER because I'd had a stroke. Just like that! I had a stroke. He gave me a prescription for Clairton, told me "pay your co-pay and we'll see you in 3-4 weeks." Yeah right!
I have to tell you the thought of a stroke never entered my mind. I'm only 40. My face was fine; I couldn't have had a stroke. Well this scared the hell out of us. When we got home Jen got on the
computer and started researching it. OMG!!!
Jen called my neurologist (I already had an appointment with him in August for my maralgia parastectica). Jen explained it to the nurse who said he was in surgery at the time, but they would fit us in at 9 the next morning. Jen called my friend and made arrangements for the morning. The doctor was great, he saw us right away. He let me lay down while I told him everything; just holding up my head was difficult. He listened and took notes, asked a few questions. When I told him about the other doc saying I'd had a stroke, he asked if he sent me for a ct scan or an MRI. He didn't look to pleased when I said no. He took my blood pressure, looked into my eyes, mouth, ears and down my throat. He tested my reflexes (right side didn't respond). He stepped out of the room for a few minutes and returned with a nurse. We went right over to the hospital for a ct scan.
Turns out I really did have a stroke, they can't determine the exact time. But they did determine that it was not bleeding and was on the small side. I had full paralysis on the right side, unable to move my leg or my arm and hand. But I had no facial paralysis, thank heavens. He also told me that not everyone has facial paralysis. You could have knocked me over with a feather!
I'm back at work. I use my walker, I have a little bit of flexibility on my right foot, it drags a little but not to bad. Everything I do is exhausting. I always feel like I need a nap. I also have what is called Positional Vertigo caused by the stroke. Just turning my head slightly will throw me off balance, I always feel like I'm going to tip over or puke. One of the worst things that has happened is words or sentences seem to just fall out of my head. I'll be talking and mid-sentence the rest of it will be gone and I won't even remember what I was saying. This is terrible in staff meetings. I hope this goes away quickly it makes me feel stupid.
I'm taking all kinds of meds. One is Zoloft because it would be very easy to become depressed right now. I have blood work done everyday. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next three months I'll have a ct scan or an MRI. They will be watching for any changes. I have pain management, occupationally and physical therapy everyday for 4-6 weeks, they say I should regain all use of my right side. It's so hard not being able to use my right hand, I'm right handed! I can't write or sign my name. Even typing is a bugger. But that too will get better.
   
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