~ Thankful ...

.... that I made it through a recent storm in my life.

Having been pretty dang healthy all of my life I rarely thought of anything

major (health wise) happening to me.
But lo and behold.....
on the evening of November 4th at around 7 p.m.
I experienced a TIA.

A TIA is a Transient Ischemic Attack. 
It happens when blood flow to part of the brain is either blocked or reduced,

often by a blood clot.
After a short time, blood flows again and the symptoms go away

unlike a stroke where the blood flow stays blocked and the brain

has permanent damage. 

But a TIA is a definite warning.
It means that I am likely to have a stroke in the future.
I read that after a TIA up to 10 out of 100 will have a stroke within 2 days.
17 out of 100 will have a stroke within 90 days.
I feel like I am walking on pins and needles.
I feel like I'm in a blurred world.

My right arm felt like it had been chopped off. 
It lay limp by my side.
At the same time it felt as if someone shined

a spotlight in my face.
I was in a panic.

I was in the hospital from Friday night to Monday night.
Went through all kinds of tests.
CT Scan.....clear
Carotid Arteries......clear

Echo cardiogram......clear

Echo Transesophageal Procedure.....clear
MRI.....showed that an embolic event took place

 

Blood pressure at one point in the hospital reached 187/110

So, I'm on a new cholesterol medication and a bp medication.

I've always watched my diet but I am being really cautious now.

 

I had to wear a monitor for 2 weeks.

Possible Atrial Fibrillation could have played a part in having the TIA.

Results won't come in for a few more weeks.

Funny thing is....I'm turning 65 in December.
So, is this what happens when you turn 65?
You start to fall apart?

I gotta laugh at myself about that!

 Anyway, I'm hoping that it's nothing but blue skies from this point.

 

The only remnants of the TIA is some minor weakness in my right hand/arm occasionally.

And of course the thought of having another TIA or a stroke

is constantly on my mind.
So now, when I wake up in the morning, the first things on my mind are:
1.  Tom isn't here
2.  I had a TIA

I have to change that.
I'm so very thankful that I did not have a full blown stroke.

It was a wake-up call.
A tap on the shoulder.
A slap upside the head.

I think I'm on the right track.

 

I think someone special was watching over me.