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2 scary days in ER

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  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Vancouver, the "wet coast"
2 scary days in ER
Posted by castelnuovo on Saturday, January 11, 2020 11:44 PM
So i spent 2 days in ER, this time as a patient and not as a therapist. It all started last week when I woke up at some wee hours with a very bad, sharp headache and a nausea. The headache was unusual as the pain was behind my eyes, not that usual cold/flu induced headache. But it slowly went away during the day. Couple of days later out of the blue fingers on my right hand went completely numb. It lasted few minutes and then it was back to normal. Unpleasant feeling but it went away quickly. Then the next day while we were out with the kids my left hand went numb and part of my face. It lasted a minute or two and went away. But it started to worry me so I thought to have it checked out. The next day however, my back went numb, then the numbness quickly spread to my shoulder, arm, fingers, face and mouth. At first i thought that I am having a stroke but the symptoms just didn't quite add up. Nevertheless, my wife called 911 and they were quickly here (at our home). They did a general checkup but couldn't determine anything specific so they decided to take me to the ER. On the way there, things turned much worse. I started to hyperventilate and become confused. For moments I didn't know where I was, who this guy with me in the van is, the letters and words started to not make sense. When we arrived I was increasingly disoriented, didn't know where I was and who these people around me are. Then I realized that I couldn't talk. The doctor showed me some every day objects like a pen, phone, keys and I didn't know what they were. He asked me to read some simple words and the letters were meaningless jumble. I was completely unaware that they did MRI, CT, X-Ray and brain wave  measurement on me, gave me an IV and bunch of other drugs. Nothing around me made sense and when asked, I didn't know the place I am at, the date or my name. I wasn't even aware that my wife was there and that she and a nurse helped me to the washroom at one point. I woke up in the afternoon the next day and slowly started to peace things together. Several neuro-doctors and nurses came by and told me what happened during the past 24 hrs. It is very strange to have a total blank in my mind, I don't remember anything. They told me that I had some kind of a seizure, decreased blood flow into the brain. It happens sometimes, we all apparently have some seizure threshold, sometimes we reach it, often we don't for whatever reason. Having worked a lot with stroke patients I was absolutely terrified knowing what could happen to me. But with a fantastic care from the ER staff at Vancouver General Hospital I am at home now and back at work. I can't drive or ride a bike for at least a week due to occasional light dizziness  and have to take meds for 6 weeks. Then there will be follow up MRI and with neurologist. But all in all, I am fine.

Just thought to share...

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Sunday, January 12, 2020 12:42 AM

I am so glad that you are back and alive.

I read through your story there several times.

Dammit Jim, I'm an architect not a sawbones...but:

I had two strokes about 1/2 hour apart in 2017.

I had quite a few of the same symptoms leading up to it, which I kept to myself. 

Finally, I took a hard knock where my vision and sense of equilibrium went 90 degrees sideways while driving my car to pick up my wife. I recovered in a couple of minutes. When I got to her I told her what had happened. I had the second one in my driveway and fell across the hood of the car. Like yours, she called 911.

In recovery I learned a few things.

High blood pressure is a culprit.

Also sleep apnea. Something like 70 % of first time stroke victims have it, undiagnosted.

I now have a CPAP. That thing is a gift. I truly hate it, but I now sleep 8-9 hours a night with only one or two trips to the head. I have a lot more bounce in my step.

I take blood thinner, bp reducers, treatment for gout, a statin and some other meds but I feel much better.

I recommend you talk to a sleep specialist; it has really changed my health.

Oh and I did PT for a while until I got my balance back.

I'm very happy to see you back in the mix.

 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

GAF
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • From: Anniston, AL
Posted by GAF on Sunday, January 12, 2020 1:02 AM

Happy to hear you're recovering.  It's not pleasant when something happens to you that you don't understand.  Take care of yourself and make sure you follow up with the doctors.

Gary

  • Member since
    July 2013
  • From: Chicago area
Posted by modelmaker66 on Sunday, January 12, 2020 3:27 AM

My prayers for fast and complete healing!

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Sunday, January 12, 2020 5:14 AM
Good to see you're back to regaining your health. Hopefully your upcoming Dr. visits will figure out what caused this episode and be able to stop it from happening in the future.

 

  • Member since
    July 2018
  • From: The Deep Woods
Posted by Tickmagnet on Sunday, January 12, 2020 7:17 AM

GMorrison

 

Also sleep apnea. Something like 70 % of first time stroke victims have it, undiagnosted.

I now have a CPAP. That thing is a gift. I truly hate it, but I now sleep 8-9 hours a night with only one or two trips to the head. I have a lot more bounce in my step.

 

I had a cpap as well and hated it. I got one of the dental sleep apnea mouth pieces and it works just as well and is much more comfortable.

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2015
  • From: the redlands Fl
Posted by crown r n7 on Sunday, January 12, 2020 7:48 AM

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

 

 

 Nick.

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Mopar Madness on Sunday, January 12, 2020 9:09 AM

Oh wow, that was quite an ordeal! I'm glad they were able to figure out what was going on and that your back home. 

Chad

God, Family, Models...

At the plate: 1/48 Airfix Bf109 & 1/35 Tamiya Famo

On deck: Who knows!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Sunday, January 12, 2020 11:50 AM

Wow what a scare!  

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Sunday, January 12, 2020 12:57 PM

Geez:

 I hope you are definitely doing alright. I did a Syncope, New Years Eve Day. Nobody knows why though. All tests came back normal? I did fall during it and cracked my shin and got a big strawberry on my poor beat up Knee. Doing fine now though.

 Glad you are okay. Take Care of Yourself !

fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Sunday, January 12, 2020 2:50 PM

Glad to hear that you are doing better. Follow the doctors orders. We'll send some prayers your way.

I have to use a bi-pap every night. Just got a new one 2 weeks ago after 7 years. It was getting noisy and kept waking me up. Sounded like the bearings in the motor were going bad. There are no words to convey how much I hate that machine but I use it. Tried almost every type of mask they have but can't find one that feels comfortable. Oh well, that's the way the meatball bounces.

Jim  Captain

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Sunday, January 12, 2020 7:38 PM

Ouch, that is scary but it's great to hear you're better now!

My hopes and prayers you keep healthy!

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: Vancouver, the "wet coast"
Posted by castelnuovo on Sunday, January 12, 2020 11:09 PM

Gentlemen, thank you all for the good wishes, much appreciated. Tomorrow is a blood test, then a visit to my GP, another MRI in few weeks and few more follow ups with a neurologist. It was very much a scary experience but things are ok so far, at least I feel good with a bit of a lightheadednes now and then, lasting just few seconds.

Thanks again for your thoughfull posts.

Castelnuovo and family

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Friday, January 17, 2020 6:29 PM

Glad you are ok and doing better. It sucks when they can't give you a defenite answer. I wish you a speedy recovery.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

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