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Another Stroke?

Unfortunately, I left work in an ambulance today.  I was answering phones and started to get confused, and I had not eaten lunch yet. I took few breaks from my desk thinking I was just overtired but nothing was helping.  I walked to the back of the department and then it goes blank.  I remember one of the nurses feeding me ginger ale, and another nurse taking my vitals and calling for a doctor. My boss called my parents and the ambulance, assuming I was having a stroke. Of course, the EMTs took me out the main entrance of the building, allowing patients and coworkers to see me crying and not at my best.  I know there was mention of taking me to Mass General, but due to the severity of my symptoms, I went to a closer hospital.

My last experience with a stroke-like event was much more chaotic.  I was taken to MGH and was met outside by a stroke team.  I had tPa, and stayed in the neurology ICU.

This time, no one was in a hurry, I had a slow heart rate, one of my arms was weak and tingly, and I was drifting in and out of a confused state. They discharged me, so I am home and in bed, but still not feeling like myself.  I will have to follow up with neurology again, just after I crossed them off my list!

I am dreading going to work on Wednesday, everyone will have lots of questions and I usually cry when there's too much attention on me.  I have to be careful in the future and be quicker to notice these symptoms, so in case it is more severe, I won't ignore it for as long as I did today.

It's always hard to have such a major setback like this after a few months of good health.

Comments

  1. Tom CliveNovember 8, 2013 at 7:28 AM

    Hey Danielle, I hope you're feeling a bit better and can find relief from Cushing's. I've been following your story and it really does sound like you've had a tough time of it. I hope that if you can get the cortisol under control everything else will fall into place.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 1, 2013 at 1:22 AM

    How are you doing now? I hope you are better. Please update when you are able. We care about you. --betseebee

    ReplyDelete

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