The Stroke Experience
On January 21, 2022, on a Friday afternoon, Pete, my husband and I came home after running an errand. It was time to start dinner when we got home. I started to get things out to prepare dinner, and I started feeling strange and was dropping the cookie sheet where I was going to put some french fries to be baked. The whole right side of my body started to go out from under me. I remember thinking, "If I don't make it to the kitchen chair, I'm going to end up on the floor," so I aimed my body toward the chair. I made it onto the chair. I had to grip the table for dear life with my left hand to keep from falling over. I tried to call out for Pete, who was in the other part of the house, but all that would come out was a loud, gutteral sound. I couldn't make words. Pete came in and quickly realized I couldn't make words. He called 911. The paramedics arrived and also realized I was having a stroke. They advised me Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas is the place to go for someone having a stroke, and that's where they took me in the ambulance.
You've made it to the ER...
After being tended to by Garland's finest paramedics in the ambulance, we made it to Presbyterian. Immediately upon arrival, after the EMTs telling the staff my symptoms, I was placed in the CT scanner, and it was found that I indeed did have a clot in my brain, which caused the stroke. The clot was in the MCA, the middle cerebral artery. I was given TNK, also known as tenecteplase. TNK is one of the newer clot busting drugs, which in recent studies has been shown to possibly be safer and more effective in resolving clots. In the meantime, I met Dr. Jennifer Takesaka, the neurologist on call. She told me that if the clot did not completely resolve, I would have to have surgery to go in and grab the clot, also known as a thrombectomy. Thankfully, over the next few hours, the clot did resolve, my speech returned and movement on my right side came back. They also did an MRI, and saw that no other damage to my brain had occurred due to the stroke. I spent the next 2 days in the ICU, because sometimes there are side effects from the clot busting drug, and also it is not uncommon for another stroke to occur soon after the first one.
During my hospital stay, several tests were done, and it was found that my cholesterol was high. I left the hospital 5 days after being admitted, with a plan to take medicine to lower my cholesterol. Sometimes high cholesterol can cause plaque in the arteries, which can break off as clots and travel to the brain.
I am grateful that my speech did come back and my movement returned. It is of utmost importance that if you suspect you are having a stroke, to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence!
You've had the stroke, now what?
In the days since I had the stroke, no one has been able to figure out why I had the stroke. I wore a heart monitor for 4 weeks, because it was suspected that I had atrial fibrilation, a frequent cause of stroke. The heart monitor showed no incidences of atrial fibrilation. To this day, no one knows what caused my stroke. I am continuing to take a cholesterol lowering drug, and also an aspirin everyday. I had what is called a cryptogenic, ischemic stroke, meaning the cause for my stroke is unknown.
I endeavor to eat healthy and exercise several times a week. I also believe in the Lord's love for me and His mercy in my life and know that everything in my future belongs to Him and is controlled by Him. I choose to not live in fear, but to trust Him and honor Him by living the healthiest life I can.
You've made it to the ER...
After being tended to by Garland's finest paramedics in the ambulance, we made it to Presbyterian. Immediately upon arrival, after the EMTs telling the staff my symptoms, I was placed in the CT scanner, and it was found that I indeed did have a clot in my brain, which caused the stroke. The clot was in the MCA, the middle cerebral artery. I was given TNK, also known as tenecteplase. TNK is one of the newer clot busting drugs, which in recent studies has been shown to possibly be safer and more effective in resolving clots. In the meantime, I met Dr. Jennifer Takesaka, the neurologist on call. She told me that if the clot did not completely resolve, I would have to have surgery to go in and grab the clot, also known as a thrombectomy. Thankfully, over the next few hours, the clot did resolve, my speech returned and movement on my right side came back. They also did an MRI, and saw that no other damage to my brain had occurred due to the stroke. I spent the next 2 days in the ICU, because sometimes there are side effects from the clot busting drug, and also it is not uncommon for another stroke to occur soon after the first one.
During my hospital stay, several tests were done, and it was found that my cholesterol was high. I left the hospital 5 days after being admitted, with a plan to take medicine to lower my cholesterol. Sometimes high cholesterol can cause plaque in the arteries, which can break off as clots and travel to the brain.
I am grateful that my speech did come back and my movement returned. It is of utmost importance that if you suspect you are having a stroke, to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence!
You've had the stroke, now what?
In the days since I had the stroke, no one has been able to figure out why I had the stroke. I wore a heart monitor for 4 weeks, because it was suspected that I had atrial fibrilation, a frequent cause of stroke. The heart monitor showed no incidences of atrial fibrilation. To this day, no one knows what caused my stroke. I am continuing to take a cholesterol lowering drug, and also an aspirin everyday. I had what is called a cryptogenic, ischemic stroke, meaning the cause for my stroke is unknown.
I endeavor to eat healthy and exercise several times a week. I also believe in the Lord's love for me and His mercy in my life and know that everything in my future belongs to Him and is controlled by Him. I choose to not live in fear, but to trust Him and honor Him by living the healthiest life I can.
