Hospital again

[gja1000]

Gary is in the hospital again. He had signs of a stroke this monring when he got up. He had weakness in his left arm and leg, and slurred speech. I raced him to the ER where the symptoms were much better and went away in about an hour. He is completely fine now. They are doing a stroke workup to see if they can determine what caused it. The doctor thinks it was a stroke, rather than a TIA (transient ischemic attack), but that there was no damage. They must decide a course of action though, in order to treat him properly to avoid another stroke.

Things are complicated because he cannot have a dye study of his brain which would tell them more than a plain old CAT scan (which showed nothing) because his kidneys do not function as they should and the contrast dye could further damage them. So, they are ruling out everything else it might be and then they will go from there.

I'll update you all more when I know anything! I'm bored, so may be online more than usual - thank goodness for wireless internet!!!!!

[Tiramisu]

Hang in there, girl!

[gja1000]

Thanks Sandy, we're hanging tight!

[Blueyes]

Geez Gayle...I'm so sorry! I hope they can pinpoint the cause. Are all of his symptoms gone already? Let us know how things are progressing. I think a stroke is what I fear most for Mike. Take care of you too... My thoughts and prayers are with you both. Betsi

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by Blueyes

Geez Gayle...I'm so sorry! I hope they can pinpoint the cause. Are all of his symptoms gone already?

Yep, all gone, been gone since about 8:30 this morning (thankfully). They've just been running tests today, all of which so far, are normal (for him). We are waiting for one more, a study of the carotid arteries in his neck. They need to be sure they are not clogged up. Keep your fingers crossed that they are OK, there is a surgery to unclog them, but I don't want him to have to go through that!!!

I know, a stroke is my worst nightmare for Gary too. I think this was a big time warning sign, and hopefully, we can keep him from having the big one. They will likely put him on blood thinners for the rest of his life - aspirin or coumadin - just depends on how big they think the risk for another stroke.

[Blueyes]

I'm glad his symptoms are gone! Blood thinners sound like a good idea. Mike is on aspirin, plavix, and 2 shots of lovenox a day. He was on coumadin for a short while...I just hate that stuff! It's so hard to regulate. I'm glad Gary just had this "warning"...not the Big One Let me know what they say about his carotids. Hang in there!

[lynne b]

Gayle, I am so sorry to hear about your hubby. I hope they can find out what is wrong and that he feels better soon. I will be praying for both of you.
Lynne

[gja1000]

Thanks everyone for your support. I'm home with the doggies now. He was watching TV and going to take a sleeping pill about 9:00, so hopefully, he'll get a little sleep tonight. His heart failure doc came to see him and said that all the heart tests turned out fine. Good news. We are just waiting for the carotid test - (fingers crossed) hope it will be OK too!

Betsi, I agree about coumadin, but the last time he was on it, we were told he qualified for a home monitoring machine and if that is the case, then it will be OK as we can get it regulated ourselves. We didn't get the machine because his coumadin was only short term. This will be permanent, so we will definitely get the machine this time. Gary has taken Lovenox just a few days before starting coumadin. It caused so much bruising that it looked like he had been beaten badly in a battle!!!

[Blueyes]

A home monitoring machine sounds wonderful! I'm sorry he has to add a medicine, but at least he won't have to go to the lab every few days. Between 2 shots of lovenox and 2 shots of insulin a day, Mike is one big bruise.

I hope you can get some rest tonight..the hospital should provide sleeping pills for spouses

[Shada]

Praying for a peaceful night, and a tomorrow that will bring all the right answers..

You and Gary are in my thoughts and prayers..

[Marilyn]

Oh, Gayle, I've been very busy and just logged on to find this. So hope all goes well with the tests. So sorry you and Gary are going through all of this, but so glad that the symptoms are all gone!!! Perhaps this was the warning call that will help avert something that could have been much worse.

You are both in my thoughts and prayers.

[Janet]

Gayle...I'm so sorry you and Gary are going through this. I'm sick with the flu and couldn't get on yesterday and not sure how long at a time today. I hope they have some answers for you today. I'll try to get on later for an update. You and Gary are both in my prayers.

[donna1990]

Gayle, so sorry, will be praying for you guys.

[judy]

Gayle,

I am so sorry to see this. You and Gary are in my prayers.

My Mom was on coumadin for years, way before regulatory machines. It really kept her going for a long time.

[gja1000]

HI Guys!
We are just waiting for the results of one test and if it OK, we can fly this coop! We do know that he has some plaque build up in his carotid artery, and it may have to be cleaned out at some point. We are hoping that they don't have to do it this week. The neurologist has not yet seen the report, but when he does, we will have some answers. He said he would go to radiology to see if he could get the report. Hopefully, Gary won't need the surgery - I hate for him to have to go through the stress of that - but he CAN'T have a stroke, so whatever they say he needs, we will think about it carefully and choose the best course of action. The way they are talking though, I think we'll get to go home today on coumadin or aspirin, and then maybe have to think about the carotid surgery at a future date, if needed.

Gary is doing great, no return of any symptoms at all. He's already tired of the hospital bed, food, and noise!!! He's ready to GO HOME!