I had two strokes Saturday night

Glead to hear your still with us.

As a veteran with not only battle damage but also a virus struck me and damaged my heart muscle by 85%.

What we both have gone through is, believe it or not, life changing. This can cause havoc not only to you but around the family.

My recommendations is to listen to your body... or start doing it and when it tells you to sit down... DO IT! 

Listen to your medics and consultants and stick to the tablets like glue. Build a routine around it so it becomes second nature.

Change your diet. You don't really have to change what you eat, but just how much and of course, cut down the old booze.

More home cooked forr. Change how you cook it. Use more olive oil, rape seed oil to cook in instead of fats and alsso have more lean and white meat and fish. Tuna, Salmon..... Many tasty ways. Have red meat once ot twice a week, cut down the McDonalds, Wendys etc to once a month. More fresh fruit and salads (cold meat cuts with them).

Your colesterol should come down. I did this and my colesterol came down and is 3.4. My diet has not realy changed, just how much I eat has, what and when. I have two bottles of beer a week and a very small measure of single Malt Whiskey on a friday night as a treat. This doesn't affect how my meds work and some are strong doses. 

Everybody is different though and you have to work through these changes with a positive attitude and rope the family in to help. It has taken me 7 years to pick myself up and get back into geat. but what's happened to me is permanent and can't be changed. Life now for me is in the slow lane but I have still recovered enough to be 50% of what I used to be health and fitness wise. That's all I can get because the motor is damaged but it is still good enough to get me in trouble with my sister!

listen to the physio, become a (rubber) ball squeezer! LOL get those excersises done refuse to be beaten and listen to your body!

While I was in hospital for quite an extended period the ward sister was just like an RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major). Never let me get away with anything, wouldn't let me feel sorry for myself, caring but as tough as nails! There were quite a few slanging matches and low flying bed pans!

Still... they put me on the right track and I have stuck to it... that's probably while I'm still here annoying folks.

So... you get on with life. refuse to be beaten and I look forwards to seeing your builds being posted.

James (AKA Snap the Mad!)

Thanks, Gary and thanks to my other friends.

Yep, Plavix. BP is down from 198/ 130 when I was admitted to 125/96. They don't want it lower just yet. 

A friend of mine years back had a massive stroke as a byproduct of artery work in his heart. That one really messed him up for the rest of his life. Of course I've reflected on that quite a bit. I didn't know his medical history, but the original problems started with a heart attack. He was a real high stress individual, became a kitten.

God does work in mysterious ways. I haven't had a chance to talk to a priest about this yet, but I will. But I understand the theology to be "treat your body like a gift". I've gone way too long using it as a physical credit card of sorts. Always there when you need it, until it isn't.

In my near future- GI scope, eye exam, more blood work, PT, neuro re-evaluation in three months, apnea screen. Doc tells me that 72% of stroke victims had sleep apnea at the time of their stroke.

Makes Bill a busy boy. Thanks again all for the kind words.

Bill, glad to hear that you're ok. I had two bloodclots at the same time in my right eye about 8 years while driving, and went blind in that eye when it happened. Scared me, as I had no idea why I suddenly went blind, but I had about 4.5 hours left of driving to get home (driving from Panama City, FL, to home in west Georgia, after finishing up some work at one of the hospitals there), so I immediately went to see my eye doctor as soon as I got back. He took a look in my eye, and immediately sent me to my cardiologist, who told me I was darned lucky that the clots went to my eye and not my brain, as they would have caused a massive stroke (and the blood vessel that feeds my right eye was only one vessel away from one that goes to my brain). God was definitely looking out for me that day (as He always does). The clots finally passed about two days later. I had had three cardiac stents placed the year before, and the theory is that some of the plaque had broken off from that operation, and lodged in the blood vessel feeding my right eye. I was even on Plavix at the time (blood slickener/thinner), so it was really weird that I even had clots.

Anyways, Bill, if you are on a blood thinner (Plavix is very popular with cardiologists), take the advice mentioned earlier - DO NOT cut yourself AT ALL, even with the tiniest cut - you will bleed badly, and that is no exageration. Ask me how I know.

Again, glad to hear that you're ok.

Gary mason

Glad you made it through okay.  I met someone in college who had a stroke over summer vacation one summer.  He was fine, but it took over a year to get back to school.  Take care of yourself, get some rest, and listen to the doctor's orders, and keep amazing us with the wonderful models you build.

John

GMorrison

Of course I'm already back working, part time.   Bill

Bill,

Are you kidding me!?! I seriously don't believe you know how LUCKY you are. Take the time off to recover!! The part-time work ALWAYS turns into full-time. Your body is telling you to slow down, and get healthy.

Bill - sorry to hear about that, yikes!  Take care of yourself and don't push the "back to work" more than you need for the distraction.

Modeling time is exempt from restrictions however.

Praying for a full and quick recovery...

Gm...im glad you got the medical attention in time ! Lucky you made it home ..koodos to your great wife gm !!!!

I'll be praying for you for a fast recovery and ill be thinking of ya at the bench.

5-high 

Nino

 

GMorrison

"...

Of course I'm already back working, part time.

 

Bill

 

 

 

 

  Bill,

     Please take it easy. I am so glad you stiuation was not worse.  Working part time sounds good too. It's good to keep active.  Keep it part time if at all possible.

     Praying for your full recovery.

     Wow, there's a bunch of members who worry 'bout  Ya.  Thanks for all you do. You are a well respected Man.

     Jim.

 

  Took the words right out of a lot of mouths with that last sentence.

GMorrison

"...

Of course I'm already back working, part time.

 

Bill

 

  Bill,

     Please take it easy. I am so glad you stiuation was not worse.  Working part time sounds good too. It's good to keep active.  Keep it part time if at all possible.

     Praying for your full recovery.

     Wow, there's a bunch of members who worry 'bout  Ya.  Thanks for all you do. You are a well respected Man.

     Jim.

I really appreciate all of the concern and advice from you all. It's nice to know that there are survivors to tell their views.

I have a Neuro appointment tomorrow afternoon to get the full picture, and that Dr.s opinion.

Then I have an appointment with a new GP who hopefully will be better able to keep me on the ball AFA taking care of myself.

PT starts next week.

Of course I'm already back working, part time.

Bill

Wow!  I'm glad you survived, GM!  Yes, your therapy is the right one for motor skills.

Yeah, now you need to watch your blood pressure, and get the cholesterol down.  But I'd be careful with any drugs doctors want to prescribe, especially blood thinners.  My mother died as a result of the effects of blood thinners she had to take to prevent clotting, when she was being treated for colon cancer.  Mom was naturally anemic, and she was also allergic to Heperin, the most common thinner prescribed.  She came through her surgery fine, the tumor was removed, nothing in her lymph system.  But half a year later, she was still on the thinners, and she suffered a massive stroke and heart attack that killed her.  Upshot is, I would want a second, third, fourth opinion, when anyone wants me to take any drug.  I'd look for more natural cures or procedures, as easier on the system.

Well, sorry, didn't mean to scare you any more than you already are for having a stroke.  Get well soon, keep building!

Glad it wasn't worse Bill. I've ran into at least 3 customers whom have strokes, all with different outcomes. Good luck on the re-hab.

Well Chit !!!

   You know the heart surgery I had was scary . Bill , please take care of yourself ! Watch that B.P . Now I know most don't know , and maybe your doc didn't mention it . Cholesterol is also made by the Liver , to help aid in digestion . You may be prescribed a Statin . Take it faithfully .

   I wouldn't be surprised if you fell better soon .Glad you made it home alright . This was scary reading about  you driving home by yourself .Us old geezers have to look out for each other .  Don't do that again Please !  T.B.   P.S. I didn't check this Thread this A.M. or I would've replied sooner .

Thank God, nothing tragic happened to you.  You’re a strong individual and will pull through this with flying colors.  You’re in our prayers.

Toshi

Hello Bill,

I am happy that you made it to the hospital on-time. You need to take your own advice and see a doctor no less then once a year. I see this all to often of men and women of your age. I wish you a speedy recovery, and many more years of good health.

GM, being on the north side of 70, I worry about stuff like that. Sounds like you'll make a complete recovery. B/P and cholesterol took off when I was around 50. I don't miss a single day of my meds. I do miss my stogies and Irish whiskey though. Please, keep us posted on your recovery.

Glad to hear you are OK GM and on the mend.

Holy crap!  You're very lucky that it wasn't worse while you were driving, G.  I send best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery.  Speaking from experience, do what you can to regulate your B/P, cholesterol and blood sugars and have an annual physical.  Although my high B/P and cholesterol are mostly hereditary issues, I have changed my eating and exercise regimens and that has helped lower all three levels.  Good luck buddy.

Definitely keep after the BP. My ex battles hers. She had a small stroke a couple years ago. She lost a little motor skill on on one side, I don’t remember which.  Not good as she needed to type for work.  I got her a soft ball to squeeze, had her pick up and stack coins, shuffle a deck of cards, lots of things like that. Once a week she would place stickers on ruled paper as evenly as possible. She could track her progress that way. Took maybe 4-5 weeks and she had enough dexterity to return to work. 

Keep positive and good luck!

Dave

Very scary! I'm glad they caught the BP and cholesterol problems, but it's terrible how they had to find them. I hope you can make a full recovery and get back to normal ASAP.

All the best on a speedy recovery.

Dude!  I thought this was going to be about strokes of genius you had or something!

Take care of yourself brother.  I'm glad you're okay - get on the annual physical schedule.  Wow - this was shocking.

GM you are very lucky to have made it to the hospital.  My mother's friend had a similar experience at a stop light, but did not survive.  If her son had not been with her, the car would have likely rolled into oncoming vehicles.  Having a stroke is never good, but see the bright side of things.  You made it out safely.

Wishing you a speedy recovery, and be sure to build lots of models. You know, for therapy.  

Wow! Praying for full recovery for you champ!

GMorrison

Currently, I'm feeling OK. But I have lost some use of my right hand. I know the therapy for that and the OT readily agrees.

So I was driving and the world suddenly and unexpectedly just went nuts. I couldn't see and I had no motor control. I took a number of seconds to pass. When it did I felt exhausted, and scared. I drove home (yes, stupid idea) and as I got home it happened again in the driveway. I fell down at that point. My wife called 911 and they took me to ER. 

So I had every kind of scan, and there were two burst vessels in the left rear corner of the grey stuff.

Generally there's not been too much loss of function that I can tell, and the Doctor and OT are optimistic it will repair itself.

But I also was found to have absurdly high blood pressure and cholesterol. They'll letting the BP subside gradually as I kind of need it high if there are any remaining little clots. Otherwise lots of meds.

But I am not driving and probably shouldn't for quite a while if at all, until these constant dizzy spells stop entirely.

Lesson learned- see the Doctor on a regular basisi.

 

Thankfully your still with us.  

Scary, hope you have a full and quick recovery! Hypertension is what they call the silent killer, so it is important for everyone to get theirs checked. 

I used to have  normal pressure, had healthy habits, low body fat , low cholesterol, worked out regularly etc, then around 10 years ago in six months my systolic BP went from 110 to 185 for no visible reason. The doctors checked everything and have been unable to find any reason why I should have it; medically I should not have it,but they can't explain it. There is nothing I can do lifestyle improvement wise so I take doses of two different drugs and that holds it down to 125.

So no matter who you are, get it checked! They only caught mine because I had had a normal annual checkup, then went back to the doctor six months later for the flu, and they measured the jump. Lucky case of the flu for me!

You take care of yourself, Bill.

You're a nice guy and I hate to hear this and also that you were so scared. Who wouldn't be.

Sounds like a very scary wake-up call to maybe pay attention to some stuff, as you alluded to.

Glad to have you around and talking about this.