My Brush With A Stroke

Wow, I am so bad at updating this thing! No matter how determined I am... Oh well. And now I'm updating it because I thought it was the easiest way to explain a scary situation for my friends and family.

This past Tuesday, I was on my way to pick up Littlefoot from my parent's house. They watch him during my Mary Kay parties. It had been a great night and I was excited to see my baby and get home. On my way there, my left foot started feeling numb. I thought it was because I was sitting funny, so I moved around a bit to try to fix it. But it didn't go away. A few minutes later, my tongue started going numb too. weird. And then I started feeling a little dizzy and felt a strong urge to pull over. So I did. I was getting a little scared at this point, because I could tell that something was clearly wrong. I wanted to get to my parents, just a couple of minutes away now, so I wouldn't end up past out on the side of the road by myself. I took some deep breaths to calm myself, and pulled out into the road. I forcefully talked to myself, trying to make sure I didn't pass out or something. I kept thinking it was nothing and I was just be dramatic. As I pulled up to the house, I saw that my brother was just getting home from his shift too. Good. At least I wouldn't be alone in case something happened... I got out of my car, and realized I was a little wobbly. But I walked forward anyway. My left turned in funny and after a few steps, my leg couldn't hold up my body anymore and I fell on the lawn, face first. Thank goodness it was on the lawn! I immediately started crying, what the heck was going on? My entire left side felt completely numb and weird, my tongue felt numb and swollen. My brother had been in his car, and, at first, thought I had tripped and was laughing about it. I wish it was that. Quickly, he realized something was wrong and helped roll me over. He asked me what was wrong, and tried to explain. It was hard to talk and the words felt funny rolling off my tongue. He is with law enforcement, and decided to call an ambulance, which I was opposed to. Why did I need an ambulance? I was fine! He called them anyway. I was worried about creating a scene and the money it would cost to have them come. But, I learned from him that it doesn't cost anything to have them come and evaluate you. A minute later, we heard the sirens. Great, so much for not creating a scene! And my poor parents were still inside with my baby, without a clue as to what was happening on the front lawn. The paramedics arrived with all of their lights flashing and no sirens (they turn them off in neighborhoods).

Inside, a neighbor called my mom and asked what was going on. She could see lights flashing and wondered who was hurt? So, they went to investigate.

In the meantime, the paramedics began evaluating me. I was really scared at this point. I knew what the symptoms I was having most likely meant: stroke. They began testing my heartbeat, my pulse, my blood sugar... Another paramedic asked me what happened. I explained. He helped me sit up. Asked me to squeeze his fingers as I hard as I could with both hands. My right hand worked just fine, but my left hand wouldn't. I could tell it wasn't working as hard, despite the efforts I was making. Then, they had me close my eyes and put my arms out straight in front of me. They both were even for a second, but then, despite trying to tell my left arm to stay in place, it began to fall down. I started crying and apologizing. Why was I saying I was sorry? I don't know. But I heard my dad right behind me saying it was okay. Then, they helped me stand up. Boy was I dizzy! And, my left leg felt so weak.

After all the evaluations were finished, they decided they needed to take me to the er in the ambulance. I have no idea what they thought it could be, because they didn't say, but they were worried I would pass out or stop breathing. The paramedics were very reassuring and I was grateful I had made it to my parents house instead of on the side of the road somewhere. My brother followed us to the hospital with my mom, and Jared was on his way.

At the er, the paramedics wheeled me into my room. Before moving me to the bed, I felt my mind go blank like I was about to pass out. I started hyperventilating a little, panicking because I didn't know what was happening. The paramedic asked me what was wrong, but I couldn't explain. I knew what I wanted to say but the words were coming out garbled. So frustrating! Finally, I started to feel the words coming out normally and I could explain myself more clearly.

And then, the frustrating part of the evening began. The paramedic couldn't leave until he had given his report. You'd think that with a situation like this, and with the hospital we went to being the big trauma center that it was, we would have been met by a doctor or a nurse immediately. But no. We waited about 25 minutes until a nurse finally showed up. The paramedic gave his report. I was slightly worried because the nurse didn't seem to be paying much attention. Great, I'm in good hands! She put my bracelet on and left. The paramedic left. We waited about another 30 minutes until another nurse finally showed up. She didn't really ask what was wrong, but explained that the ER was busy that night and she had another patient going to the ICU. Okay, I can understand that. But seriously, we had waited forever already and I knew that I could have been having a stroke! But there was no urgency. She only left to find a doctor because my mom made it clear that we needed to see someone ASAP. My mom works with some of the best neurologists in the country, and she knew that we only had a three hour window from the time my symptoms first came to administer the medicine that would stop the stroke. And, at this point, it had been about an hour and a half.

About another half an hour later, the doctor showed up. He did similar tests to the ones that paramedic had done, and then asked if my Mary Kay meeting had been stressful. Can I just say that it is sooooooooo annoying when doctors ask about stress. Seriously. I'm pretty sure that even stress could not make me fake what was happening to me. And no. I was riding high and happy as a clam before things started. He had me walk around a bit. I could do it, with support, but my left side was still so weak. I would will my body to do something, and it wouldn't respond.

And then he left again. About twenty minutes later, another nurse showed up to take me to get a CT scan. Keep in mind, that we were now at about the 2.5 hour mark. Time was a ticking away and I was getting nervous. I couldn't understand why they were being so nonchalant about things. The scan took about ten minutes and I was wheeled back to the room. I think it was about an hour later, past three hours now, that the doctor came back in and said the scan was normal. Well, that's a relief! He mentioned that it could have been small stroke caused by a heart murmur and ordered an MRI to be done, as well as an echocardiagram. I had to call and get them scheduled the following day.

I was finally released about four in the morning with some baby aspirin. A long night with no answers. Because my mom has the position she does and knows some of the big wigs in neurology, she spoke with the department head who worked me in the following day to have the MRI done. She felt it needed to be done right away. And she told the doctor on call to give the results that night. The MRI was also normal. And I'm scheduled for a follow up with him next week.

So, there's my experience in a nutshell. But, after thinking about all of the events, and how lucky I was that nothing serious resulted from it, I have come to the conclusion that the Lord had been blessing me all along. First, I was able to make it to my parents house. Second, my brother had just come home at the same time to see my fall. Third, my brother was with it enough to call the ambulance. Fourth, my husband and brother are both worthy Priesthood holders and were able to administer a blessing to me before I ever saw a doctor or nurse. It was not long after I got to the hospital. After the blessing, I felt peace and calm. My tests should have been abnormal; the doctors were amazed that they weren't. I honestly believe I was being watched over that night. The ER was busy and the staff clearly were overwhelmed. I wasn't given the attention or the priority that I should have been given. After all, the possibility of a stroke is not something to be messed with. There should have been people waiting there for me, ready to perform the tests needed immediately. If the stroke hadn't cleared like it did, who knows what would have happened to me... And so the Lord watched over me and performed another miracle. I am so gratefut that Heavenly Father is aware of us and watching over us, and that He does he hear our prayers and answer them, sometimes without us even realizing it.

I have my appointment next week, and I'm sure there will be more tests. My mom remembers my doctor thinking I had a heart murmur when I was a baby, so it could be that. I am currently not taking any medication at all, so we know it wasn't a reaction to anything like that. I'll keep you posted.