How It All Happened
It was January 16th, 2006. I was having dinner with my family, around five o'clock in the afternoon, when suddenly my vision got blurry. I was trying to focus, but I couldn't do it. It seemed to be worse in my left eye. I mentioned it to my husband. I said: "Something is wrong with my vision. It feels as if I am looking through a window, and the rain is pouring on it on the other side." It lasted for a few minutes, and then I managed to focus again. I thought it might have been low blood pressure, or maybe the flu I thought I had been going through for a couple of days then.
We finished our dinner and I figured I'd go out for a walk, thinking a bit of fresh air would help. So I took the dog for a walk around a couple of blocks. I still couldn't see very sharp, but it wasn't as bad as at the dinner time. When I got back home I took a shovel and cleaned up the driveway (It snowed that morning and the day before). I also cleaned up the car and thought of going out shopping (I think we had run out of bread, or something like that). I entered the house and told my husband I was going out. He said: "Why don't you go tomorrow, we'll manage tonight. You said you were not feeling well." I said: "You are right. I better stay home." At that point I realized that the fresh air didn't really make me feel better. In fact, I felt really weak, as if I had really, really bad flu. I put the car keys back on the hook, took off my jacket, and laid on the sofa. I put my feet up thinking it would help the blood flow. I seemed to somehow feel there was lack of blood in my brain. It didn't help any.
I got up to fetch a glass of water. I went to the kitchen. That's when I knew it wasn't flu symptoms I was feeling. I couldn't hold my head straight up any longer. I took the water and went back to the sofa. Then I started feeling weakness in my left arm. I could still lift it, but it was very weak. I told my husband we might have to call an ambulance. He was very worried, but kept trying to convince me it was just a bad flu. He suggested we should sleep on it and see how I feel in the morning. He said: "What else could it be?" I said: "I don't know. Could be stroke, maybe." He was in complete denial and told me not to even think it would be something as bad - it was impossible something so terrible would be happening to me [Poor thing - he still feels so bad about it, I keep telling him it was a normal reaction].
Next thing I stood up, but at that point I could hardly stand on my feet. I made a few wobbling steps, but then had to sit back on the sofa. I started crying and said to my husband something was definitely wrong with me and it was definitely something more serious then flu. We finally decided to call 911. By that time it was around 11 o'clock. We somehow managed to get me up and down the stairs so I could go to the bathroom and change before they came to pick me up. Don't even ask how we managed to do that, I have no idea.
The paramedics told me they thought it wasn't a stroke, because I was able to speak, and stroke victims usually have trouble speaking. They took me to the hospital. The time I spent in the emergency was the worst part of the whole experience. I spent about twenty hours waiting to get a bed in the hospital. During that time they did a bunch of tests. The CAT scan didn't show anything and the doctors were puzzled - I had all the classic stroke symptoms. Then they did an MRI test, which showed that an artery on the right side of my neck had a tear which had caused the blockage of the blood flow. The result was total paralysis of the left side of the body (by that time I couldnt move my arm and leg at all any more). The local doctors consulted the specialists in the region and contemplated a surgery, but finally gave up the idea because the risks of the procedure outwaged the benefits. I felt relieved when they told me there was not going to be any surgery.
I spent about ten days in the intensive care, and was then moved to the hospital rehabilitation unit. All together I spent about 9 weeks in the hospital. I have recorded my recovery progress in this blog.
Now I am at home, still recovering. On Monday it will be exactly fourteen weeks since I had the stroke. I feel very optimistic that one day I will fully recover. I stopped wearing the brace at home, I ony put it on when I go out. I can securely walk using a cane. I am trying to build up my endurance by walking a little further every day. I have got the full range of motion back in my arm and hand, but they are still weaker and slower then the healthy arm and hand. I still feel some numbness in my torso, but that is also improving from week to week. The weakest point is still my left foot, which I can only move up-down, and not quite left-right.
I can take care of myself with no help. I still use the bath tub chair, but only when getting in and out of the shower. I went grocery shopping with my husband today (I use the electrical cart for the disabled available at the grocery store). I went shopping with my friend last weekend - we spent almost all day out. We went to Farmers' Market and several clothing and shoe stores. I was exhausted at the end of the day, but managed and enjoyed it very much.
I excercise religiously every day. Next week I am starting aqua-size program at the local swimming pool, highly recommended by my physiotherapist. I am looking forward to it and I feel it will help me a lot.
This is where I am now. I am very pleased considering that in January I was excited when I moved my index finger tiny little bit, and that was the only thing I could move on my left side.
posted by Beti @ 5:20 PM
2 comments
