ANA Discussion Forum
AN Community => AN Community => Topic started by: Brendalu on October 04, 2008, 06:29:32 am
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I got up Tuesday morning with a really bad headache. The more the morning progressed the worse I felt. I called my daughter to tell her I couldn't pick up my grandson from school and she couldn't understand what I was saying. The next thing I knew the paramedics, the police and my daughter were all standing around me in my living room. Don't remember how I got there either! Anyway, I got out of the hospital last night and have ahost of new meds to go along with the old meds and I will never, ever go back to that hospital or to those doctors! I told them I was feeling very wonkeyheaded and they didn't have a clue and they thought I walked like a drunk and I said I always walk like that! Duh! Darn, haven't they ever seen an AN patient without balance. Anyway I am on the hunt for some decent doctors who understand the interworkings of the AN personality and the mechanics of the AN brain. Wish me luck, cause this time I think I'm gonna need it. I that I was slow the last time through, it ain't anything like this one.
Hugs to all,
Brenda the wenchy wench
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Brenda,
I have no clue what to say.... unbelieveable! I know you are going to find those that can treat and truly truly understand what we endure..... did this team that worked on you say you had a stroke? MRA's done?
Huggles..... oh, do I have healing huggles for you!
xo
Phyl
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Glad you are home and typing ... must have been scary for you and your family...and thankfully
you realized you couldn't pick up grandson and didn't leave to go get him a wish for continued
improvement is on the way
and I wish you luck on your search for new ,better doctors... that is one thing that has been hardest
for me ...finding someone that will take me and take what I say seriously... I love my regular doctor
and want him to go back to medical school and get training in ANs :) ... I think he is the only one that
I truly trust and he is limited in what he can do for me , but is helping me doctor shop
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Hi Brendalu,
All I can say is how sorry I am this happened to you and hope you'll be okay. I wish you luck in finding a wonderful doc who understands the whole picture and willl be the right one for you. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. I agree with Soundy, thank goodness you realized you couldn't go anywhere feeling as you did.
Wendy
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Brendalu,
I'm so sorry to hear this. It's incredible that you were able to get help as quickly as you did. What are your doctors saying about this? I hope you're getting good answers.
Best wishes,
Marci
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Oh my gosh, Brendalu, I'm so sorry to hear this. Talk about something totally unexpected.
Glad you've feeling well enough to return to the Forum.
Hope you are able to find more helpful doctors.
I'll keep you in my prayers,
Jan
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Wow, Brendalu, what can I say? I guess you just gotta catch those curve balls that Life has a way of throwing at ya. So glad you are home and back to recovery. I suppose this also could come under " this could have been so much worse" catagory.
Thinking of you,
Sue in Vancouver USA
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Brenda~
WOW is right! I think that you have had enough the last few weeks to last you for a few years! Glad you feel well enough to type - I want to know EXACTLY what they said too. Was it a stroke or did they just think that since you were "WONKY"?
K
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Brenda
I'm glad hear help arrived when they did. I'm happy to hear your doing well. May that event never happen again. Please keep us posted on how you are feeling.
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Hi, Brenda:
My, you certainly get your share of medical calamity. The word 'stroke' is scary. Was that a medical diagnosis? It appears as if this was surmountable, as you're home and apparently able to function. That the hospital doctors were clueless is disappointing. I can only hope and pray that you'll be able to find better, more AN-savvy physicians that can help you. Meanwhile, take it easy and try to remain the positive, valiant person you've proven yourself to be. Many folks here admire your tenacity in the face of multiple and ongoing physical challenges. Others face the same kinds of trials and you're an example of how to deal with this kind of hardship. I only hope that it will be lessened for you in the near future. :)
Jim
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The neurologist, who has treated me many times before and ordered the CAT scan and MRI and the echocardiogram and several other test test said I had a stroke. I also have an inner ear infection on the AN side So I know take Plavix and an antibatic wow I can't spell. I also can't sleep or I am sleeping all the time and I am not able to use my left hand or arm.My nose runs constantly too. Don't know if that has anything to do with what happened. my foot drags a little. I see a PT next week and a speech person the day after that and the shrink the day after that. I need a new date book, I think mine is full.
I guess I am will try to get a little more sleep. Thank you all for all of your well wishes, don't know what I would do without y'all.
Brenda
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Oh Brenda! I'm saying big prayers for you!! You have had enough, but once again your spirits and attitude amaze me.
K
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Hi Brendalu,
I am praying for you and hope you will have a full reocvery from your stroke. We ANers are a tough bunch and your gutsiness shows, you just can't keep a good woman down! Good luck with PT I hope it does the trick.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Well, Brenda, no wonder you're exhausted - a full date book will do that to a girl, you know! ;)
Seriously, take it easy and take good care of yourself. I think you've had enough excitement for a while.
Lori
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AAAARRRRRR!!!!! Yer only needs one arm ter wield a cutlass, wench! And if anyone around here can wield one it be you!
Fiercest wench around, our Brendalu!
Relax, swaller them pills and get better, we needs our Brendau-wench and her pirattitude back onboard and sailing on!
Hugs and wenchy smooches,
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/pirate2.gif)
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*runs in... gives Brenda MAJOR hugglez..... aims Queenie Beanie in Brenda's direction and coaxes her into some healing Beanie "toots" :).... runs back out*
xoxoxooxx
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Sending hugs for you Brenda, very sorry you are dealing with this problem of doctors on top of your diagnosis of stroke. Wishing you a "quick" recovery.
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Brendalu,
I came across this thread again and was wondering how you are doing. Hope things are looking up.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Wendy,
Thanks for asking! My right side drags a bit more than it did prior and my speech slurs a bit more than it did before. My speech has been a problem since the AN removal, I seemed to slur and mix words up when I got tired or stressed, now it just comes naturaly! I feel good, so I think that is what really counts and I added three more meds to my daily routine! Swallowing is a problem, but hopefully the new exercises will help that!
All in all I am very lucky!!
Brenda
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Brenda -
sorry to hear you're having some issues, but as you say, all in all you are very lucky.
Hang in there,
Jan
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Brenda,
A stroke... oh my..was it a hemmorage or a blockage?
Are you comfortable now with the neurologist that you're seeing? Can you get a second opinion?
The only way I know how to get through difficult times is to keep moving forward and putting one foot in front of the other..
All the best,
Kate
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Brenda,
All things considered, I agree hat you are lucky and you certainly have the right attitude. Are you going for PT -- it might help your right-sided weakness and speech problems. With all the claims for different things most us put in our insurance companies must come to dislike us for using so much of our benefits -- most people just pay and pay and go for an annual pysical, if that.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Wendy,
I have been working with a speech therapist for the past three years! I did PT the first six months after my An. It didn't help my balance at all. I am trying a new PT, but my PCP says that sometimes they do more harm than good. They have the no pain no gain attitude and that isn't the way to go with some folks, especially AN/stroke folks. She says it should be slow and easy, so she hand picked this PT gal. I still can't ride my bike ( I can't balance it) and I rode everyday prior to An surgery.
I drop things easily from my right side too, but I know it will be better. I am not a quitter.
Brenda
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Brenda,
Glad to hear you are going for PT -- that means you are doing all you can do and will eventually get better. I agree with your doc - slow and steady often wins the race -- it just requires a mountain's worth of patience. This whole experience has been a lesson in patience for me and I'm sure it has for you too. ;D
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Brendalu.
I am so sad you are dealing with this. Have you seen a new doctor? I know you will progress well with your gutsy attitude. We all are cheering for you. I am sending a big hug!
Mary 8)
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Hey Brendalu,
Also cheering you on!!
Marci
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AAARRR, Miss Brendaluwench (Sista Iron Bess Flint)
If that new Physical Terrorist o' yers harms ya in any way I will personally sail to Texas and kick her a$$ and that's a promise!
Big Hugs!!!
Capt Deb(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee60/Captdeb_photos/emoticon___pirate_by_anya1916.gif)
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Brenda,
just spotted this thread.
glad to hear that you are on the mend. You seem to be an amazing lady with a terrific resolve given what you have been through.
keep fightin'
laz
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Thank you all so very much!
First off, the speech therapist thinks that my speech will improve a little, but she says that she wants to run and another PET scan (I don't know if the insurance will go along with another, because they are very expensive, but we are giving it a shot) She thinks that my brain is misfiring information when I am tired and under stress. We all know that there is gonna be a certain amount of stress in our lives, but too much has different affects on different people.
I have warned the PT that I bruise easily and might want to work at Heartbreakers (for those who don't live in the area that is a strip club) The pole may help my balance and I outa make really good money because they will be all laughin at the old lady in the g-string! No more stuff I fall off of!
I am taking things one day at a time and my family is being very supportive of it all!
I really, really appreciate all of you and your kind words and prayers.
Hugs to all,
Brenda
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I really, really appreciate all of you and your kind words and prayers.
Running in to give the MASSIVE huggles as well, Brenda!!!!!!!!! :-* :-* :-* Hang in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
xoxo
Phyl
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Brenda,
Just saw this thread. Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry you had this. When you say your daughter couldn't understand you, do you mean your words were slurred or that what you said didn't make sense. The reason I ask is because in June my hubby started talking off the wall. He wasn't slurred, just didn't make sense. After 3 days in hospital his diagnosis was transient global amnesia. Supposedly all the CT's and MRI's would have shown a stroke. Did yours? Since his episode we have heard that it is sometimes referred to as a mini-stroke. Could this be what happened to you. Take care.
mema
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mema,
According to the doctors I have seen this week (second one today) what happened to me showed up on all the brain waves (tests) Because I had no clots, it is referred to as a stress induced stroke. I was in the hospital for four days and to answer your question about speech: while I was talking to my daughter on the phone what I was saying did not make sense, but then my words were very slurred as they were when the paramedics got here. Because my blood pressure was so low (92/55), the paramedics did not think I had had a stroke. How wrong they are and they are now learning it from a group of doctors, that folks with low blood pressure readings can and do have strokes.
Next time we have a hurricane I am just very calmly going to pack up and leave on a nice vacation and not come back until everything is over and my house is back in shape. I named this medical episode Ike after the hurricane!!
Brenda
Thank you for the huggles, Phyl, right back at you!!!
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Brenda, I just noticed this thread too. You have really gone through a lot. Sounds like you've got a really good attitude. We live in far NW Harris County, but also felt the wrath of Ike....that wasn't too much fun just a few weeks post surgery. I got a pretty good size headache helping to clean all the tree debris that we had at our house. I think you must live a lot closer to the coast and probably had many more issues to deal with on top of the medical stuff.
Here's hoping your PT goes well enough so you can ride your bike to your prospective job at Heartbreakers!
Patrick