Well, now I know what a stroke is - and had two yesterday morning.

[TahitiNut]

I was released from the hospital this afternoon after being poked, prodded, CAT scanned, X-Ray-d, MRI'd, EKG'd, and 'tested' by every person I met.

At 9am Monday, as I was preparing my morning coffee, I somewhat quickly lost my balance and couldn't stand easily or coordinate movement. Well, it sure wasn't anything like I imagined a stroke to be - no pain, no sound, no whistle of sound of trumpets - it just came upon me leaving me with an initial WTF? perplexity.

Called 911 and the paramedics came within 5 minutes. Less than 15 minutes later, I'm in the Emergency Room and undergoing all the standard tests and examinations. Then it wore off and about an hour after onset, I was feeling better - about 95%. So, I'm put in the adjacent care area and start getting more tests. X-Ray, CAT scan, opthalmology (due to 'floaters' in left eye).

At about 1pm, I have another stroke. Same thing, same side. Mush mouth and weakness and failure of coordination ... mostly on my right side, both arm/hand and leg/foot.

Two TIAs ... count 'em ... two. (Never happened to me before.)

So, now I'm back home with a prescription for Lipitor, instructions to take an aspirin every day and clean up my habits.


So I wonder ... did anyone miss me? :silly: :dunce:

:rofl:

[WilliamPitt]

1. DUDE.

Be well, please.

[TahitiNut]

4. Well, I have enough excess avoirdupois on me to make a petite woman.

I just have to find someone to adopt her. :silly:

[librechik]

31. lipitor taker here--

don't forget to supplement it with CoQ10--otherwise you get little twangy muscle spasms in your fingers and toes.

And don't forget to take it! (like I always do--making my doctor flip his lid!)


start moving--slowly--and take care.

[Jane Austin]

40. Is the Co-Q indicated for Zocor (Simvistatin) too?

Thanks.

[librechik]

162. it couldn't hurt-- ( I can't take Zocor)

and CoQ 10 is good for you anyway, AFAIK

[Jane Austin]

225. I do take it - have for years.

It keeps my teeth from hurting.

What does Zocor do to you?

[roguevalley]

343. what's coq 10 and where do you get it? my mom and dad had

these, my dad major strokes. You will always rewire forever. Remember, keep the blood pressure down. that is beyond key. I wish you only well, my dear.

[blondie58]

388. you can get it almost anywhere- grocery stores, health food stores, etc.

[David Zephyr]

208. Excellent advice, librechik. Do take the CoQ10.

And take it in the morning.

[Jane Austin]

224. Hmm. . . I take it morning and evening.

What's the reasoning on the morning recommendation?

Thanks

[David Zephyr]

229. I take it in the morning because I'm less likely to forget to take it later which is what I do.

I take all my meds in the AM with the exception of the statin which I take with dinner at night. If I take them in the morning, I'm done and I don't have to worry about remembering.

How much do you take daily between the morning and evening?

[The Doctor.]

253. Absolument! Normally I don't recommend supplements, but Es and Omega3s are

good here too.

Since I'm not a MD, always consult one first, but I've yet to have one disagree with that.

[librechik]

289. Thanks for saying consult a MD, Dr _e

I worried about not mentioning that in my response.

[TahitiNut]

372. From what I can tell, it might be wise for me to take CoQ10 even IF I opt to forgo ...

... the Lipitor. Without insurance and without the ability to pay for health care (beyond a flu shot and such), Lipitor presents a conundrum. Just the brand drug itself (not the generic atorvastatin) runs $130 and up for 30x10mg, afaik. That, on top of the need to have periodic CBCs and doctor's visits to monitor liver function and muscle mass, presents economic impediments. From what I read (from reputable sources, including the Pfizer study itself), its efficacy in my case isn't really very persuasive.

These are decisions I must make for myself and in no way reflect any opinion regarding another person's needs or choices. That said, feedback and personal experience is always appreciated.

[Audio_Al]

380. Zetia and Vitorin still have no reliable studies available. Wife can't take

any of the statins (Zocor, Lipitor, Mevacor).

She stopped taking all of them after years of trying.

She has lost some weight and watches what she eats.

Ultimately, lifestyle changes are important.

Be happy, be healthy...

We take Co-Q 10 (100 mg.), aspirin, flaxseed oil, and a big multivitamin. (Actually, she could give me arsenic and I wouldn't know it.)

I take Mevacor 10 mg. daily.

[Annces]

2. Glad you are okay

I don't know much about strokes, but sounds like your was not too serious.

[loves_dulcinea]

19. yes, quite serious

even mini strokes over time can cause significant brain damage.

my condolences, get well and stay well.

[TahitiNut]

52. Yeah ... the doctors (gad! at least 6 of them) were VERY sure to impress me with that.

Neurologists, interns, residents, ... they were sure to give me "the message." I'm trying to detect any lasting impact, but it's tough keeping my imagination in rein. Like ... I'm making typos in this and correcting them ... are there more than usual? ... can't tell. Having what they call "word retrieval" difficulties ... but I can't tell if it's more than my usual. All the tests came out clean.

It's been a REALLY bizarre experience - dodging a bullet - seeing folks not so lucky in the same floor where most neurology patients go.

[tblue37]

98. If you are having permanent effects, then it was "real" stroke, not just a

TIA! A TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) is, by definition, transient. The blockage and its effects are temporary.

[TahitiNut]

102. Yeah ... they're slightly vague on that.

OTOH, maybe my foggy-headedness kept me from being clear on it.

The senior attending neurologist said 'stroke' very clearly and the blood work (and scans) show it. The chief resident says two TIAs and says there's really no difference except in duration and severity of damage. Since they lasted an hour before recovery was evident (and about 2 hours for nearly complete recovery) and a TIAs are generally thought to last only a few minutes, the resident and attending essentially agree that they were ischemic strokes and not hemorrhagic strokes.

[tblue37]

116. We are in the same boat--though I just had the one little stroke

that we are sure of. There might have been a second during the time it took to get me to the hospital, because my symptoms worsened quite a bit over the 1 1/2 hours it took. That was longer than one would wish, of course. I live alone, and it was mid-summer in a college town, so no one I know was even in town that day! On top of that, all my neighbors were out of town or at work that afternoon.

I didn't call an ambulance, because even though I have fairly decent health insurance, it would have cost me about $600 for an amblance. As a part-time college adjunct instructor I was pretty poor. I had no cash on hand for a cab, and couldn't walk down to the store to get cash. At the time, I was so poor I didn't even own a car. (I am a full-time adjunct now, so I am not as poor as I was then.)

I finally got hold of a friend in Overland Park, 45 minutes away, who left work and rushed to take me to the hospital.

Later, my sister chewed me out about not calling the ambulance, saying they would have paid for it. But that fact is, her 25-year-old son refused to drive to his uncle's house, where my sister (and everyone else) was by the pool and not accessible by phone, to let her know I needed her help, because his 5-year-old was taking a nap, and he didn't want to have to wake him up.

I did home daycare for 18 years and raised 2 kids of my own, so I know how desperately precious the time is when your kid is napping, but I was shocked that he wouldn't wake the kid up to save me when I was having a stroke! I made it clear to him that that was what was happening, but he would not wake the kid for anything.

I later realized that I should have called the ambulance no matter what, but as I am sure you know from your own recent experience, you don't exactly think clearly when your brain is under attack from within. I have never felt quite the same about my nephew since then, though.

[gateley]

114. I had what my doctor refers to as "that little stroke thing" a few years ago. I don't

recall any symptoms such as yours, but I was concerned because my right hand/fingers were numb, as well as my lips on the right side of my face.

Neurologists feel I had a teensy TIA - too small see the on all the scans.

The only lasting impacts I've noticed are that I don't know which way to turn the handle in the shower to make it hotter or colder (I have to lean in and peer at it), and I can't figure out which knob controls which burner on my stove. (Since I usually only use one burner, I put a piece of colored tape on it so I didn't have to go through the exercise turning on each one by one.)

Hopefully, you'll have NO lasting impact -- you're in my prayers and I'm so grateful you phoned right away and the response was so quick.

Take care!

[blondie58]

389. I am so glad that you're okay, T-Nut

and please look at this as a warning- and a second chance! And you're right about seeing other folks not so lucky- a stroke can be a really cruel twist of fate.

[Hoof Hearted]

168. ALL strokes are serious, period. It's an injury to your BRAIN. They are cumulative

and the damage is permanent. Your brain can sometimes relearn tasks but that damage is always there.

[Uncle Joe]

3. I hope and pray you recover quickly, TahitiNut.

:hug:

[safeinOhio]

20. A Shot across the Bow

Heed the warning and Clean up those habits. Good luck and health.

[calimary]

228. Sure sounds like it. Glad it was across the bow and not a direct hit!

Whew, TahitiNut - take care. Steady as she goes, okay?

And safeinOhio, Welcome to DU!

[madmom]

359. Hi dee ho there good neighbor!!!! And take care TN!!!!!

[TahitiNut]

377. Ubetcha ...I gotta take care of myself.

After all, I haven't found anyone wanting to do it for me - even though I've tried. Twice. :evilgrin: :silly:

[yewberry]

5. Whoa. That's gotta be pretty scary.

I'm glad to hear that it wasn't worse.

Now clean up your act!

[TahitiNut]

22. Yep. Gotta say ... it got me worried.

On the bright side ... a LOT of folks pay quite a bit to get drunk enough to feel that way. As a non-drinker for about 16-17 years, it was nostalgic.

:silly:

WOW! ... there sure are a LOT of attractive women working in that hospital! (Sorta like how EVERYONE looks better towards the end of a good drunk.)

[SusanaMontana41]

310. ROFLMAO

Take care, man.

[TahitiNut]

314. Hey ... I just GOTTA find the silver lining in such things.

Humor and 'lust' (libido, actually ... no matter how atrophied) are core motivators for me ... reminders that I'm still alive and functioning. They're also ways I cope with stress and avoid depression. I also find that it helps relax folks having to offer care ... and MIGHT help reduce errors. God knows we ALL have enough stress in our lives ... and not enough coping skills. I just hope I can have "last words" that'll be humorous ... it'd be terrible to pass on any other way.

I've thought for a long time that it's the smart thing to do. Laugh. (I recall it was called the "best medicine" at one time.)

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Wow

Pretty scary, eh?

Take care of yourself. :hug:

[alarimer]

7. Wow. That must have been scary

I hope you are doing better now.

[itsrobert]

8. I'm glad you're okay. I see a cardiologist next week

for rapid heart rate at times.

[Lex]

9. Oh my!

Take care.

Scary indeed. :hug:

[Buns_of_Fire]

10. Take care of yourself, okay?

Please?

[villager]

11. holy cow! Glad you're okay!

I mean, in a relative, post-TIA Way! ;-)

[truedelphi]

12. Hadn't missed you yet - but am glad

You are here now and will be back to "normal" soon!

[Basileus Basileon]

13. Wowwow. Thank God you had those. TIAs are one of the best predictors of strokes.

Gives you the ability to head off The Big One, rather than continuing in your ways and being blindsided. It might not feel like it, but you're lucky indeed.

Stay healthy. DU wouldn't be the same without you.

[miles 2 go]

285. I second that. Tahiti is one LUCKY DOG.

Most people don't get a nice clear warning like that. THey just kind of wake up with a new life where someone else might be wiping their butts for them from now on.
It sure sucks that it happened but most fortunate.

[TahitiNut]

296. Just a "normal" November for me, I guess. It should go without sayng ...

... that I'll have something at the top of my list tomorrow in giving Thanks. I'd be the LAST person to think I wasn't lucky. No matter how I might joke about it and make light, I'm VERY aware of the wake-up call.

[Subdivisions]

14. OMG TahitiNut! Thank goodness you're ok! I didn't know

to miss you yet, but we would've noticed if you had been gone much longer!

Glad you're back with us!

[babylonsister]

15. I missed you! So sorry to hear that, Tahiti. I'm shocked

that Lipitor and aspirin are the meds prescribed, but so glad you got such a prompt response.
Now about those habits...:hi: :hug:

[TahitiNut]

69. They've said that they might add low dosage of hypertension meds ...

... like ToprolXL in a few weeks, but they want to wait and let my 135/75 blood pressure keep that arteries open in my brain. Sounds strange to me, but they noted that my brain seems to have larger than usual arteries and can only (without a medical record) assume it's hypertension-related. I tried to suggest that I was more hypotensive in my younger days - but that was treated as inexpert and anecdotal, I think.

In any event, they try to wait a couple weeks after a CVA before starting stroke victims on anti-hypertensives - at least that's what they said.

I guess my HDL/LDL was worse than it's been in the past. I forgot to ask what the measures were. :shrug: I've been 200-220 in the past. High but not THAT bad, iirc.

[Warren Stupidity]

78. I'm suprised at that. I would have thought the opposite.

But they must know what they are doing if they are saying they want to keep it where it is for now.

135/75 is not so bad - the 75 is in fact ok and that is the important number.

[Breeze54]

16. Damn! That sucks, TahitiNut !!

I wasn't here to miss you but I would've noticed, if you hadn't been around for a few days.

I hope you're feeling better! Count your lucky stars you're home already!!

My brother had a stroke a year or so ago and was hospitalized for weeks and was blinded.

His vision slowly returned and he also completely changed his lifestyle.

I'm glad you're well enough to be back here posting!

Take care of yourself!! :hug:

[Mojambo]

17. Holy Crap!

Get better soon!

[Samantha]

18. I noticed your absence immediately

and almost experienced a panic attack worrying about your status. I am so sorry you had to experience two strokes, but I am relieved you are back.

What are the "bad habits" you must clean up, at least those you would care to confess on this board? I ask only on the off chance some of your fellow-DU'ers who share some of the same bad habits might want to reconsider their desirability in light of your experience.

And sincerely I say this -- a prolonged absence from you would have noticed by everyone, so welcome back. You are a one-of-a-kind, and this place would not be the same without you.

Sam

[TahitiNut]

75. That's kind of you!

:hug: Thanks!

[book_worm]

21. Many good wishes sent your way!

[Richard Steele]

Well, I'm glad to hear you're doing OK.

Please, for DU's sake, do whatever it takes to avoid #3, OK?

[TahitiNut]

84. Well, now that I've got another "been there, done that," I 'm not inclined to see the 3rd act.

I have this strange personality trait - I'm eternally curious and find a value in new experiences, even ones like this. At the same time, I value my sanity and mind above all else. I may get fat and old, but I still have my (half-)wits about me. I don't want to lose it.

[durrrty libby]

23. I'm sure that was scary for you. I hope you don't live alone

High blood pressure? Get it down

Take that aspirin faithfully. Prescription blood thinners are no fun

Take care

[Mojorabbit]

24. I am so glad you called the medics

Be well! :hug:

[peace13]

25. Take care, that is very scary.

I hope you are feeling better. And thanks for the laugh. Your sense of humor will get you through this. Peace, Kim

[City Lights]

26. Oh TahitiNut, I'm glad you're alright.

:scared: stuff. Please, please heed your body's warning. :hug:

[NashVegas]

27. Whoa, TN!

I'm so glad you had the smarts to get straight to the hospital. What a good break for us all.

Take it easy, Bub. And eat LOTS and LOTS of garlic-tomato-chicken soup, k?

[TahitiNut]

127. "garlic-tomato-chicken soup"?? Yum! Sounds goood!

:silly:

T'anks, Cris! :hug:

[NashVegas]

158. And It's So Good For You ...

Seriously .. take care, sweetie.

[The Doctor.]

255. Throw some celery in there too!

And peppers, and onions, and all that good stuff!

Get movin' too. We can't have you going anywhere on us. I always smile when your sigline grabs me... I would definitely miss ya!

:hug:

[TahitiNut]

299. It looks like I'll be learning to make soups ... all that sounds GOOOD.

I love onion soup ... love garlic ... love the way those ingredients (tomato, peppers, etc.) taste in soup - FAR better than in other recipes or as sides.

[The Doctor.]

361. Thanks to you I'll be cooking tomorrow!

Just the thought of tomato-chicken soup with all those ingredients is making me want to get at it.

I think I'll use breast, fresh garlic, and diced tomatoes. I have fresh red green and yellow peppers I'll roast a little first. I'll throw in celery and maybe diced black olives.

Can you recommend spices? Usually I just sniff through them and add what I think will work... with about a 70% success rate.

Meanwhile I'm glad you're serious about being good to yourself. :toast:

[magellan]

28. Add me to the "holey moley" and "glad you're okay" contingent!

Take care of yourself, y'hear?

[Tatiana]

29. I'm so glad you're OK.

:hug:

[ulysses]

30. you know you're not allowed to die, right?

Be well, my friend.

[TahitiNut]

301. Well, I think I'm colorfast ... except when I get a tan.

:hug: uly!

[Qutzupalotl]

32. Get better, okay?

Walk around and stuff. Seriously.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

33. Best to you -- wishing you a full recovery. nt.

[rosesaylavee]

34. Good that you live close enough to a hospital

to get taken care of so quickly. Let us know how you are doing, ok?

[MADem]

35. Stay well, take care of yourself!

Oh course you would have been missed, if I'd only known you'd been gone!!

[Bluebear]

36. OK, now cut that out, alright??

Phew. Glad you're back with us!

[TahitiNut]

387. Thank you, my friend. Me too.

:hi:

[zabet]

37. Thank goodness

you are OK!! Kudos to you for having the
sense to call 911. You would be amazed at the
number of people who do not.

[TomInTib]

38. Whoa!! Buddy!

I hope it wasn't anything I said or did.

That shit'll getcher attention, won't it?

Goodness gracious, keep me posted.

[TahitiNut]

206. Tom ... you're a 'brother' no matter what.

I appreciate you ... quite a bit, as a matter of fact. :pals: :hi:

[VP505]

39. Wow, that is scary,

I hope the treatment keeps you well!

[Jane Austin]

41. You be careful, TN!

I join those who encourage you to clean up your act!

[EFerrari]

42. You'll do anything to get attention, won't you?

:hug:

[TahitiNut]

82. It was a ploy to spend a couple of days with lots of attractive gals ...

... looking good in their scrubs and with great smiles and lots of smarts. :evilgrin:

Seriously, there are some really terrific 20-somethings and 30-somethings in health care - nurses, nurses aids, technicians, and even transport (pushing gurneys). (Guys, too.) Their good humor, care, and intelligence sure made the experience easier.

[EFerrari]

95. So, did any of those gals come home with you or are they on call?

Seriously, what is the follow up deal?

I missed you, TahitiNut. I missed not arguing with you a LOT!

:)

[TahitiNut]

107. Only in my dreams. (Just to keep my good standing as a 'Dirty Old Man.')

:silly: They were really quite lovely.

[donkeyotay]

300. The whole world looks better after one of those reminders!

It ain't just the lovely angels of mercy who cared for you. The goodness and sweetness of life. Ahhh... So glad you are okay, DOM, you would be missed. :)

[EFerrari]

333. Your karma must be very good

:)

[CTyankee]

143. I had that experience when I was hospitalized for 2 months following complications

from an elective surgery to "cure" my diverticulitis. My problem was "scar tissue," which I developed as a result of "bad luck" as a result of the first surgery, and then further infections in the abdominal cavity, requiring another abdominal open surgery barely 3 days after the 2nd.

So I ended up with 3 surgeries in about 3 weeks. After the 3rd one I hallucinated and my hair started to fall out.

After dealing with a temporary colostomy and its reversal (4th surgery) 5 months later I am now home and struggling with some memory losses. I still have no "real" memory of the recovery from the 3rd surgery.

It is a strange journey back from illness. I hope you get well soon, but I have learned that it is a long road back.

I wish you well...

[JanusAscending]

205. Let me guess...........

St. Raphaels Hospital?

[CTyankee]

325. Not St. Rafe's. Yale.

On my last surgery visit I was clear eyed enough to see how filthy the room and bathroom (ugh!) were. I complained loudly but their efforts to "clean" the rooms were desultory. And sure enough, I developed an infection and had to be put on antibiotics.

[JanusAscending]

374. Same filth at St. Rays!!

In five days, no one even cleaned under my husbands bed, and there was a dirty bedpan in the bathroom, most of the time.They killed him, MERSA infection put him in a coma, and messed up his kidneys. All he went in for was gall bladder laperoscopy sugery. Lets hope our friend fares better, and completely recovers!!!

[Renew Deal]

248. lol

:rofl:

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

43. Be well

I didn't miss you while you were out (you were out?) but I would if you didn't come back.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

44. Take care of yourself!!

This place would not be the same without you.

Happy to know you are home.

Peace.

[The Straight Story]

45. Sad to hear this my friend, and I missed you

but my aim is improving :rofl:

[TahitiNut]

58. That's good! Good aim is important.

:rofl: That's one of my favorite puns, too -- good for so many occasions. :silly:

[lonestarnot]

46. Fucking A!

I did! Did they give you any blood thinner besides aspirin? :hug:

[Junkdrawer]

47. Bye, bye red meat...

:hi:

[TahitiNut]

89. They'll have to pry my dead cow out of my cold,dead hads.

:evilgrin:

On the other hand, turkey sure sounds good to me ... and I think I'll be cooking more chicken ... and eating more sushi.

[Junkdrawer]

97. ...with low sodium soy sauce n/t

[Hoof Hearted]

179. Eat your fruits and veggies first, then your starch, meat last.

It will help you cut your weight, balance your cholesterol and hold "the big one" at bay. Also, if you're like most of us, you probably eat too fast. Just slowing down can go a long way as well.

There is no such thing as a stroke (or TIA) that is not serious.

Your brain is injured every time and the results are cumulative. You could loose your ability to speak and communicate. You could lose all motor function on your right side.

Take it seriously and please do take care.

You might want to talk to your doctor about Warfarin too. It's a generic anticoagulant.

[pdxprog]

318. Might try trading the dead cow for some dead bison or elk

Very tasty and much better for you, if you can get them where you're at.

[Spazito]

48. Whoa! I am glad you are better!

Take heed of the warning and listen to your doctor so you don't have it happen again!

[DFW]

49. I just missed by dumb luck

For me it was bye bye red meat, cheese, ice cream, butter, and shellfish.

Not a stroke, but same symptoms: clogged arteries.

I got the cardiologist's admonition: if it tastes good, spit it out.

Fear not, you can/will adjust.

[JanMichael]

50. I'm glad you're ok!

Stay that way too. By the way I've nearly cut cholesterol completely out of my diet and I had a test today to see the results. Well I get the results tomorrow. It was in the low 200's, I wonder what I'll score now?

Keep getting better.

[Warren Stupidity]

51. Yikes!

Hang in there. Shit. Cripes. That is scary. Lipitor good, but you really do have to get your blood tested regularly and google COQ10 and consider taking it as a supplement along with the lipitor after of course discussing this with your doctor who will groan and roll his/her eyes and then agree that it can't do any harm and might prevent some of the more hideous possible side effects of statins.

And don't you dare check out on us.

[unhappycamper]

53. It happens.

We're all getting old. I collapsed in my kitchen a few months ago. Ended up in the hospital for a few days.

File it under the 'Shit Happens' category.

Yes, I missed you.

[TahitiNut]

113. Well, "getting old" is the alternative I've chosen so far.

I prefer looking at grass from the green side - so far. :silly:

[rocktivity]

54. But can you type?

And are you taking low-dose aspirin?

:evilgrin:
rocknation

[TahitiNut]

93. They 'prescribe' the standard 325 mg. aspirin. (I'm a pretty big fella.)

Lots of meds should be dosed according to body size, afaik.

I'm making (and correcting) a lot of typos ... but maybe no more than normal. Hard to tell. :shrug:

[libnnc]

55. Holee fuck

Glad you're okay. DAMN...was that frightening or what?

Shit like that scares the hell out of me. :scared:

Take care of thyself.

[scarletwoman]

56. Well, I sure as hell WOULD miss you if your absence became permanent!

Wasn't online much yesterday, so I didn't realize that you hadn't been around.

I'm really glad you posted about this, you've performed a great public service -- seriously! You've no doubt alerted a number of us to be more proactive about our health.

Anyway, be well! DU without TahitiNut is utterly unthinkable and absolutely unacceptable!

:loveya:
sw

p.s. -- You reminded me to take my aspirin, something I'm supposed to do daily, but I tend to forget all too often. Thanks!

[shraby]

57. Been there, only I was totally paralyzed on

my right side off and on. It was just like it didn't exist then it would come back. Fortunately it came back and stayed. Good luck to you..I got blood pressure meds and and aspirin a day. It's a pretty scary event.

[TahitiNut]

100. It was a shock to find myself unable to wipe my own butt.

I actually had to go "southpaw" and it wasn't easy. I think that was the most depressing - all kinds of thoughts hit me on that one. The right side of my body dropped to about 10% ... almost useless and only able to move grossly with no finer motor control and about the same level of strength loss.

[shraby]

170. I didn't even have that when half of me went dead.

I couldn't even breath right. This was a year ago and I notice my voice is funny..doesn't sound the same to me. That seems to be the only long term effect that I've noticed. I have an extensive genealogy website I maintain and add to for this county and seem to be able to do it okay..remember where stuff is to add to it.

[mmonk]

59. Whew.

Glad you're back. Do what the doctor says. I've often wondered what a stroke is like. My mom had a few when she was alive. Then she went through rehab and regained strength. But she never described what it was like.

[OzarkDem]

60. Wow! Glad you're feeling ok now

That is scary! Take care.

[Dr Fate]

61. Jesus- please take care of yourself. Get well soon! n/t

n/t

[DesertRat]

62. Take good care

:hug:

[DesertRat]

63. Take good care

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

64. !!!! You're having strokes and my dad is having heart troubles. :^( What a bad week

I hope you will be ok. :hug:

[FloridaJudy]

65. I'm so glad you're okay.

That would have scared the fertilizer out of me - as it should.

Please take care of yourself! If it makes you feel better, my MIL had several TIAs in her sixties, but by following the doctor's recommendations she lived several more decades without further problems.

[alfredo]

66. Getting old is not for wimps.

Glad you are OK.

I have a friend who had a severe stroke. He can't talk, but he can sing. Go figure.

[spanone]

67. damn, take good care TN....

miss you my ass........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl: ........:hi: :rofl:

[LeftishBrit]

68. OMG- hope you're feeling better now!

That must have been a shock. Do please look after yourself!

[tularetom]

70. That clean up yer habits stuff is no fun

I'd ask ya speicifically which ones you have to clean up but I'm afraid I wouldn't like the answer. Probably some a the same ones I have. Anyway, I didn't miss you but I sure would if you were gone for any length of time so take care of yourself.

:yourock:

[TahitiNut]

305. Well, that Scarlett O'Hara thing I've been doing ("I'll think about that tomorrow") ...

... has caught up to me. So, it's diet, exercise, aspirin ... or, as my late uncle said: "Clean Living and Self-Denial." He got that "religion" at about my age and lived for another 24 years, dying at 88 years old last January.

I'm a "good American" so I haven't been too good on the "self-denial" thing. So, it's lose weight and clean it up. I'll probably start drinking again ... but only a glass of red wine about 4-5 days each week. My "fast food" will probably eliminate any beef and grease ... opting for Subway more often. Soups ... I'll have to learn to make my own, I guess. Onion, garlic, tomatoes ... healthy (and YUMMY) stuff. It'll be tougher here in Michigan to get good produce ... but fruits and veggies will be a larger part of my diet. I'll have to switch back to drinking lemonade/orange-juice instead of grabbing a Vernor's. (All the HFCS can't be doing me any good.)

[JeffR]

71. Good God!

Take care of yourself.

[SeattleGirl]

72. Good grief!

I'm glad you're okay enough to laugh now, but please do what the doc tells you to do!

[salin]

73. I now have something else to be thankful for this Thanksgiving

That we still have Tahiti Nut around to kick around ;-) Seriously, take care of yourself, and I am so glad that you sought immediate help. :loveya:

[Eurobabe]

74. TAHITI I!!!! OMG!! HUGS!!!

:hug: :hug: :hug:

Jeez man, stay safe, and get well soon, now I am going to worry about you!! -48%er

[Mike03]

76. You are in my thoughts and best wishes

Can you tell us if you had any risk factors?

Strokes are very scary--my grandmother suffered a series of ministrokes that eventually paralyzed her. Yet others recover very well from them due to the brain's amazing elasticity and resilience, which was not well understood until very recently.

I'm so glad you are back with us and posting. What you are sharing is so valuable. Everyone wishes you the best, I know!

[TahitiNut]

115. It seems cholesterol and weight are my two most relevant risk factors.

Mild hypertension comes third. My carotid is clear, lungs are clear, heart shows no abnormalities, don't drink, and diabetes hasn't been diagnosed.

[Mike03]

117. Well, I'm just so happy you are back here at DU

Strokes do run in my family, so I am somewhat concerned about this issue.

The main thing is that you are safe and back here with us, and I'm just so happy that the strokes were manageable...

You take care!!! I'm so happy you are here with us!!

[Mike03]

122. Massive Hugs to you!

:pals:

[Mike03]

123. Massive Hugs to you!

:pals:

[NMDemDist2]

77. Holy SHIT!!!

so glad it was minor and you're home already

:hug:

[madokie]

79. Right now all I want to do is give you a Hug

Brother and me

[TahitiNut]

354. I feel it, bro. Much appreciated!

:hug:

[stranger81]

80. good lord, TahitiNut -- glad to hear you're OK, and take care of yourself. [n/t]

[WritersBlock]

81. How frightening that must have been for you.

Here's wishing you a speedy recovery; hope the meds & habit changes keep it from happening again.


WB

[razors edge]

83. Best wishes TN,

We would all miss you.

[bear425]

85. Glad you made it okay! Now, you must make the changes.

Ask your doc about Flax seed oil capsules; it's really made a difference in my cholesterol.

Take care of yourself and stick around here!

[Gold Metal Flake]

86. Best wishes for much less of that sort of bullshit!

World, don't be messin' with the real good Progressives! Feel better, friend.

[Forkboy]

87. Scary stuff...very glad you're ok.

Definitely take care of yourself.

[proud patriot]

88. MIKE

Big huge hug :hug:

Come back to Cali and get your Medical Mary Jane Card .

:loveya:

[TahitiNut]

110. Gads, Trish ... don't I wish!

:hug: :loveya:

[proud patriot]

161. You better take care of yourself

You are loved my friend

[TahitiNut]

339. Backatcha, luv.

Meeting you and your dad that day was a TRUE highlight ... I really felt "connected" and make no joke (nor wish to offend) when I say I felt a real kinship with you and him. Our similar experiences at the academies and similar values sure provide a rarely common baseline. That day in the city was truly special to me - because of you and some other DUers there. (Cassandra, Karen, Willy, you, your dad, arcane ... special people, indeed. "Real" peeps.)

[MzShellG]

90. Take care of yourself, TahitiNut......

DU needs you. And so do your friends and family. I'm just 33 and had a reality check once I took myself off of my BP meds. My BP spiked to 200/135 over 6 months when I felt I was having a heart attack/stroke and went to the ER. Now I dont miss day from taking my med. One feels nearly invincible until facing a life threatening situation like that.

Edited for spelling.

[Individualist]

91. Glad you're okay and that it wasn't any worse, TahitiNut

For what it's worth, I've been taking Lipitor for years and have had no problems with it. Hang in there!

...and yes, I missed you. :)

[NNN0LHI]

Hell yes I missed you

I am really glad that you are still here with us. Don't know what I would do without you at DU.

Take care of yourself.

Don

[TahitiNut]

129. Thanks, Don.

Us DU old-timers gotta keep it real. :pals:

[tblue37]

92. I had a TIA back in July of 2005. It is incredibly scary.

Actually, my neurosurgeon believes that it was a mild "real" stroke, not exactly a TIA. A TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) doesn't leave permanent effects, though it otherwise functions like a stroke. But since I have some residual weakness on the right side, the side affected by the stroke, the neurosurgeon says that they didn't do the total stroke work-up in the ER, so they probably missed something.

The fact that you have had two TIAs so close together means you are at heightened risk--very heightened--for a "real" stroke, the kind that does permanent damage, not just temporary damage.

One good thing about a mild "real" stroke or a TIA--having them shows you what it feels like when you have them, so you are less likely to ignore it if you have a stroke later. Some of the early symptoms are not clear, because it can feel like a moment of weakness, dizziness, or confusion. At first you don't even realize that your speech is garbled. I first realized that I might be having a stroke when I tried to make a phone call and couldn't use my right hand to hold the phone or dial it. Then when I managed to dial it with my left hand, I couldn't speak clearly enough to make myself understood to the doctor I had called. (I am a college level English teacher. I usually have no trouble speaking clearly!)

Someone posted a list of stroke warning signs here a few weeks ago. Here is the original post:

My friend sent this to me and encouraged me to post it and spread the
word. I agreed. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save
some folks.

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured
everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just
tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up
and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid
went about enjoying herself the rest of the afternoon. Ingrid's husband
called later saying that his wife had been taken to the hospital and
passed away. She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to
identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some stroke
victims don't die, they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within three
hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke . . . totally. He said the
trick was having a stroke recognized, diagnosed and then getting the
patient medically cared for within three hours, which is tough.

**RECOGNIZING A STROKE:

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps.


Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately,
the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer
severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a
stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple
questions:

**S *Ask the individual to SMILE**.
**T *Ask the person to TALK**, to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE. (Coherently)**
**R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS**.

**NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out
their tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the
other, that is also an indication of a stroke**.

If he or she has trouble with any one of these tasks, call 911
immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to ten
people, you can bet at least one life will be saved.*

I now keep the list posted where I can easily see it--and so can anyone who is in my apartment.

[TahitiNut]

126. Good info. Corresponds to my experience. I guess it'd be most accurate ...

... to say I had two strokes ... with no (known) permanent damage sufficent to be detectible. I would have passed the 'Smile' test, I think(!), but fail the 'Talk' and 'Raise arms' tests. I WAS able to call 911 ... barely ... and announce "I'm having a stroke." They asked some questions and I had difficulty answering them - address, open door, etc. I'm a caregiver for my mother (who's able to dress and bathe), who was sleeping in at the time, but SHE'S damned near useless in such events. She freezes ... and then thinks about getting dressed, washing up, etc. She has a very self-centered world-view and her brain seems to go into "what do I need to do to get ready?" mode. Unfortunately, that programming is very deep and prolonged - and she apparently doesn't know how (or when) to call 911. (That's why I'm the caregiver.)

[Mike03]

136. This post is really helpful

Some of the symptoms of stroke are similar to the symptoms of other things, including low blood pressure and thyroid disorders.

I'm bookmarking this thread because of the very good, heartfelt and helpful postings.

[flashl]

94. Missed you. Hope you get better soon. n/t

[Gregorian]

96. Oh no. Please be well.

It's like we're more than a forum. You know what I mean. So please, tell your body to behave itself.

That's an order. :)

And remember, the best part of this ordeal is to come. Take your pick- impeachment or tribunal. Give that some thought, and you should begin to feel perky.

[lumberjack_jeff]

99. Stop that shit. Right now.

get well soon.

[Canuckistanian]

101. Whoa. Glad you caught it in time

And we're definitely glad to have you back so soon.

Some aren't.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

103. Hopes and good thoughts, TahitiNut

My Mom had several TIA's, and let's say I have seen what happens when patients decide what pills they feel like taking, and the consequences.

Please don't make that mistake, I beseech you. Be well and take care of yourself my friend :hug:

[blm]

104. Warm hugs sent your way......

oh won't you stay............just a lot longer.........

[blondeatlast]

105. Ah, sweetie--I had a TIA about 2 years ago, right after my mom died.

It's good to be alive--and boy, did that thing make me realize it.

Take care and if you want to chat about things, let me know. :hug:

[Pastiche423]

106. So happy to see you back here!

What naughty things do you have to give up? Hope it's not much.

[WinkyDink]

108. Welcome back---now take care!

[The Magistrate]

109. Glad To Hear You Are All Right, My Friend!

Two in one day sounds pretty spectacular: you will have a hard time topping that in future....

[TahitiNut]

135. Perhaps it's that "May I have another, sir?" training I got.

School paddlings, military academy, fraternity, basic training ... I've been a glutton for punishment it seems at times.

I have to admit, two was two too many. :scared:

[The Magistrate]

293. Hopefully, Sir, You Have Gotten It Out Of Your System Now

"If at first you don't succeed, quit, quit at once."

[Skidmore]

111. TN, glad to hear that you are back home and

survived the poking and prodding. Now what habits are you cleaning up?

Seriously, stay well. We love ya here, you know!

[Pithlet]

112. That must have been scary.

I'm glad you're home and it sounds like you're doing well. Take care of yourself :hug:

[Stinky The Clown]

118. Did anyone miss you?

What a question! You betcher ass you were missed.

Man ....... take good care.

[mzmolly]

119. Sheesh! Take care of yourself bub.

:hug:

[bleever]

120. Jeez, man,

Shuster's on TV talking about Bush's involvement in lying about the Plame leak, and I can't pay attention til I wish you well.

Take good care of yourself, okay?

[TahitiNut]

132. Ol' Scotty seems to have done hisself good.

He never was quite as conniving as Ari or as smoothly Kool-Aid as Snowjob. (Or as much of a vacuous 'bot as Dana.)

[sandnsea]

121. No laptop in the ICU??

:)

I am so glad you're doing okay. The place wouldn't be the same without you. Lots of us are having to make these diet changes so you will have lots of company!

[CrispyQ]

124. A speedy recovery to you.

You're always missed when you're not here! :hug:

[stirlingsliver]

125. Be VERY Careful With Lipitor

Lipitor can do MAJOR damage to a some people's liver.

Be certain to have your doctor check your liver function tests.

If they start going up, ask your doctor to give you a prescription for something else.

[TahitiNut]

308. Yes ... I'm quite skeptical about the efficacy of Lipitor for me.

I've looked at the "stroke prevention" studies and they're hardly that promising, imho. For MY particular situation, it might be contraindicated - for economic and personal reasons if nothing else.

[Green Mountain Dem]

321. Took Lipitor for 1 yr....

lowered my cholesterol destroyed my muscles! Could not walk and was in wheelchair for couple of mos and damage is not reversible! Please stop taking if you notice ANY muscle pain, especially in calves and tell your DR. If you do continue to take Lipitor you must take a supplement called CO Q10 as Lipitor (or any other statin drug) will completely deplete your body's own source of CO Q10.

[stevedeshazer]

128. DON'T DIE ON ME or become incapacitated

I need your perspective.

Really, I count on it.

Seriously, I'm begging you.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

I appreciate your humor regarding your own mentality; but fuck all if you die.

I will be totally pissed off.

:)

[goforit]

130. OMG!!! Thank God you're OK!!! But please follow your Doc's instructions!!!

You need to also get a Blood Pressure device at Walgreens and take your Blood pressure daily. Alot of strokes are due to
high blood pressures. Your BP should be 140/80 or less. Take a journal of them daily. Then, if by chance you have the
worst headache of your life you call 911 and hightail yourself to the emergency room. The sooner you get yourself to the ER
the faster recovery and faster preventative damage to brain and heart can be given. You should also carry a thorough medical
history and medication history with you in your wallet 24/7. Go to walgreens and get a medical bracelet to state your TIA conditions.

This is serious and should be taken seriously!!!!
Don't mess around!!!

[renate]

131. so glad it was a ding-ding-ding warning and not an OMG OMG OMG

Take good care of yourself! :hug:

[ourbluenation]

133. DAYUMM! Take your meds and clean up those "habits".

:hug:

[Gormy Cuss]

134. Dude, you weren't here? Series?

Hey, good thing you called 911. Better to know about it now when the TIAs were minor.

[marmar]

137. Get well soon....

Glad you're fine.

[Megahurtz]

138. Yikes TahitiNut!

Hope you're okay :hug:

I always thought that was something that happened to "Old People"
and I know you're not that old. Gotta clean up those arteries I guess.
Jeez, I guess it could happen to anyone! :scared:

[charlie]

139. Aiyiyi

Next time I see that word, I hope it's backstrokes. In Tahiti.

You're one of the best souls I have the pleasure to know. I'm sooo relieved to see you back in form, cheeky as ever :hi:

[Beetwasher]

140. SHIT!!! FUCK!! BRO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take care of yourself, man, or I might have to kick your ass! Seriously...You're a rare breed, friend!

[TahitiNut]

295. Aye-aye, sir. (grin)

Thank you, bro'! Backatcha. Let my experience serve AT LEAST as a warning to others ... and let's see if I can be a "model" of responding to the reveille.

[Neecy]

141. I did!

Omigod...please take care of yourself and keep us posted on your progress. This is scary stuff but it sounds like you're handling it with your usual aplomb.

[DeepModem Mom]

142. Take care of yourself, TahitiNut -- and be well.

[Skittles]

144. TAHITINUT!!!!!!!!!!!

DO AS THEY SAY OR I WILL KICK YOUR ASS!!!!!!

[hlthe2b]

145. Did we miss you? Of course we did!

It sounds like we came very close--way TOO close and we can not afford to lose such a DU institution, got it?! Good on you for doing the right things, getting your bad self to the phone, 911, hospital and LISTENING to what they had to tell you! So, how's your follow through, hmmm?

We'll be here to hound you.

Scary, I know, but thank heavens you caught it early and you are back to your self! Take care TahitiNut. And we MEAN it!

[devilgrrl]

146. I'm sorry, I hope you're okay...

and I apologize for everything. :blush:

[TahitiNut]

306. Shirley you jest.

:evilgrin:


:rofl: S'OK ... I've gotten worse. :hug:

[devilgrrl]

311. Thanks.

And no, I do not jest, I mean that sincerely.

Here's to your health. :toast:

:-)

[TahitiNut]

319. Thank you. I MUST say I've always appreciated passion.

It's apathy that annoys me more. My best (female) friend has more passion and tenacity than any three people I've ever met ... and often to a 'fault.' She's a "white hat" -- keenly alert to things that're "unfair" like a pre-teen. Our relationship is very special (not FWB) because it's based on a mutual love and respect for the WHOLE person that we each are. Both she and I have gotten in "trouble" for "tilting at windmills" ... letting our valor be without discretion. Like me, she's not made the best choices in her SO's - going for the libido more than the integrity. So ... I respect passion. Truly.

[devilgrrl]

332. Just so you know. I've always enjoyed your posts.

I have come to believe that you are truly genuine and honest. Despite our fracas, really think that we're basically on the same page.

Please do have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

:hug:


p.s. I will never piss you off again.

[TahitiNut]

336. (grin) Well, if we don't piss off someone ..

... we just ain't trying hard enough. :evilgrin: It's all about caring. :hug:

FWIW, I've been called "the poster boy for 'honest to a fault.'" Twenty years ago, a top national PI attorney even asked me whether I was always such a white hat and crusader rabbit or whether it was a mid-life thing. (It wasn't complimentary.) I didn't have a good answer.
:silly: :crazy:

I can't possibly describe how important I think Paul Wellstone's advice is - "Never separate the lives you live from the words you speak." For me, there's just no better parenting than to say that to your kids - and then model it. It's not new, but it's far too rare, imho. We really and truly lost a precious national treasure when Wellstone died - an honest politician! Imagine! Skepticism is healthy. Cynicism is just armor for a fragile psyche - we really don't need it.

[RB TexLa]

147. Take care, glad you made it through them

:hi:

[Rex]

148. Shit TahitiNut!

:(

[xchrom]

149. i'm so glad you are ok! --

please take care -- and do what your doctors tell you.

[fishwax]

150. Glad you're okay, TahitiNut

:wow:

[JuniperLea]

151. You are one of the smartest people at DU!! Please take care!

Damn. I'm so sorry to hear you have to clean up your act too...

Keep posting! Dammit! Now I'm going to be worried!

[rucky]

152. Sweet Jesus!

I hope you're still insane. :P

[shadowknows69]

153. Sorry getting to this thread late

glad you're ok TH. Please be well. Positive thoughts coming your way.

[TahitiNut]

351. The positive thoughts are received loud and clear.

It's quite humbling to see all of the terrific, affirmative, wonderfully generous responses to my little episode (yes, very important to me directly but small in the larger scheme of things).

It'd be REALLY nice if each and every DUer in this thread could see themselves as valuable and powerful as I'm seeing y'all. We're ALL essential to this world ... it's why we're here, irrespective of our personal sectarian beliefs or absence thereof.

It was almost 15 years ago when I first heard the best 'vision statement' I'd ever heard: "I want to be the person my dog sees in me." (I thought that was a perfect aspiration. Still do.)

Well, all I can say is: ARF!! (wagging my tail)

:silly:

[shadowknows69]

353. I don't know why my brain made me type TH instead of TN

I know full well you're a Nut and not a Hut. Please forgive.

[symbolman]

154. Put the Cheeseburger down, and move away from it!!

MAN, I am SO glad you're okay my friend.. The DU wouldn't be the Same without you, seriously..

While this subject may sound a little crass, especially since we're talking about the OTHER end of the Body, the Brain, I'm going to approach it anyway.. No one has brought up Stool Softeners- while the other Meds are made to order, you don't want to blow any gaskets by Straining either.

My stepdad was coughing AND straining on the john when The Big One hit him, doc said he was dead before he hit the floor. He blocked the damn door with his body, and not being a small man kept the door from opening at all...

If I have to go out in some fashion, other than smacking a chopper into the side of a mountain in Alaska, being dead before I hit the floor works for me, but not the shitter scene :)

I guess I'm rambling, but care, and in this round about way trying to convince you to take it easy on that colon while you're at it :)

And goddamnit, DO what they've told you, we need you here.. Otherwise, I'll have to pour the finest bottle of Scotch over your grave.. After running it through my kidneys first, of course :)

Be well, friend

[TahitiNut]

357. When he was my age now, my father "shuffled of the mortal coil" in the way he'd want to.

He was sitting at the bar of his local VFW, imbibing his favorite malt/hops beverage, and, gallantly leaning over to light the cigarette of some woman, had a massive coronary and was dead before he hit the floor.

I'm fairly vigilant regarding my 'movements' ... and take care to keep 'em from being anything close to blocked or impacted. I just recently had the porcelain throne replaced with a new one - elongated bowl, padded seat, and extra height. It makes a BIG difference to have 'room' for one's anatomical dimensions and not have to sit with one's knees at one's chin. (It's chair height.) I'm a believer in function before form in such thngs.

That's a problem with our culture ... we don't talk about our bowel movements enough. :evilgrin:

[symbolman]

385. Well no wonder you had the strokes

sitting up there near Vallhalla on the Throne and descending to quickly :)

Sorry to hear about your dad, my stepfather's demise was something I'd looked forward to for many years. He was an abusive bastard (beat up my mom a few time til I threatened to drill him with his own guns at age ten if he ever did it again), so a Geogr Harrison once remarked, "we were quite prepared for that eventuality" :)

Reminds me of that Creedence song, "I'll be glad when you're dead, you Rascal, you.." :)

Keep posting into the next century, it's perfectly fine with me :)

[Blue_In_AK]

155. Please take care of yourself, TahitiNut...

This is serious business.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

156. Another member of the aspirin and Lipitor brotherhood, huh?

I had a similar, but much milder, experience about a year and a half ago. The worst part for me was getting used to the damned "floaters" which took months to leave.

But, (for me, at least), having the grim reaper whisper in one's ear (again) does put things like what's important in life in a somewhat different perspective. Sort of like a reminder that the ride is going to end one of these days so pay attention to the daily magic-show while you still can.

So, take the damn pills and stick around, and don't miss a moment. After all, you don't want to miss the last act in the play.

And, besides, you're one of the few contributing to the magic show that I pay attention to.

The best reason for living is life.

[TahitiNut]

193. The floaters in my left eye had me worrying all weekend.

Then, Monday morning, the Great Spirit said "So, you think that's something to worry about?" They sure are annoying - like globs of black lint on the lens of a movie projector, dancing on the screen wherever I look. The opthalmologists assure me the floaters and the strokes are unrelated - but I'm not convinced. Too coincidental.

[La Coliniere]

304. Floaters suck!

Hey TahitiNut, I'm really glad you're ok and I for one would miss your very rational and insightful understandings of our present political predicament.
When I was 17 yrs. old I woke up one morning, looked out the window and saw out of both eyes, for the first time those "globs of black lint on the lens of a movie projector, dancing on the screen wherever I" looked. I was scared shitless, and to make matters worse, I had just finished reading "Death Be Not Proud". I was totally convinced that I had a terminal brain tumor! For 6 months I walked around in a state of extreme anxiety, waiting for the condition to get worse. Finally unable to endure the stress, I told my parents what I was experiencing and they rushed me to the nearest emergency room. Alas, it wasn't a brain tumor but simply "floaters", a chronic condition which I've learned to live with for the next 36 years of my life. The floating strands of what actually look like cells have worsened over the years, but I've learned to live with them. My ophthalmologist and retinal specialist, who I see annually, said that there is now a procedure where the vitreous humor inside the eye is drained and replaced, getting rid the the floaters forever. Learning to live with these annoying eye cobwebs was difficult, but I can see through them and there are times when I forget that they're there. When they first appeared I was a normal athletic teen with no history of any kind of health problems besides being incredibly myopic. Now at 53 the only health problem I have (or am aware of) is chronic indigestion (which I attribute to having to live through our present national nightmare). For me, a stroke didn't produce the floaters, but I'm not saying there isn't a relationship between strokes and floaters. Just be prepared to put up with them, they'll be around for a while.
Take care of yourself, please! Happy Thanksgiving fellow traveler and scuba diver!

[TahitiNut]

312. It's when such things occur that I'm reminded how we keep each other ignorant of so many things.

We (as a society) just don't inform younger folks enough - WITHOUT using it as a "scare tactic" - about the maladies we'll confront in our lives. Far too often younger folks feel like it's a "blame game" or "scare tactic" to control their behavior ... due to the way in which we 'inform' them in an "or else" fashion. We really need to do better, I think. As it is, we develop a resistance/aversion to the only way such information is presented - like the "you'll shoot your eye out" threat in the "Christmas Story." At the same time, when such maladies befall us, the same societal ("blame the victim") attitudes serve to inhibit discussion and even seek care. I sure don't know the answer, but I see the dynamics all to clearly.

When the 'floaters' appeared last Friday ... I was freaked out inside. I was having near-nightmares and trying to look on the bright-side of the worst-case scenario - that my right eye is OK. It was a relief to have the ophthalmologist alleviate my concern that it was a case of a progressive retinopathy (e.g. "retinal detachment").

[knitter4democracy]

157. How scary! Make sure a neurologist looks you over well, too.

There might be some other issues that you'll find as time goes on from those.

Eek. :hug:

[TahitiNut]

191. The neurologists were all over me. It was quite alarming.

If there were no other reason, getting the attention of so many doctors - and being a "tour site" for the interns and med school students - as well as having so many nurses, aides, and technicians be so nice to me, a dirty old man - just that alone would have me thinking I was on death's door.

[knitter4democracy]

266. Man, when they sic everyone on you, you know you're "interesting."

Interesting to them usually means more medicine and more tests. Ugh.

I hope you're feeling better today. :hug:

[TahitiNut]

302. It might be that I make the "mistake" of being a jokester and tease.

It's my way of "whistling past the graveyard" ... but I gotta say I started getting a bit testy/grumpy after about 30 hours and VERY little rest.

When they took me in for the MRI, there was a gaggle of newbie aides getting "familiarized" with that department ... all young and good-looking in their fresh new scrubs. Since I was the fat old man sitting in the plastic wheelchair in their midst, I had to look around - and counted 8-10 very cute young gals and only 2 guys. So ... I had to reach out to the guys and shake their hands ... congratulating them on selecting such a vocation that let them be outnumbered by so many young lovelies. While I didn't get TOO leeringly specific, it was clear they caught on ... and it caused chuckles through the group. Clearly, a "patient" can get away with saying things that an employee wouldn't - so, of course, I took advantage of it.

If I can't have fun, I'm just not trying.

[knitter4democracy]

326. You made their day, I'm sure.

Hubby always loves the funny patients who try to keep their sense of humor in the midst of all the nastiness. Everyone does. I think it also makes them remember you and make sure you get the best care. :)

Don't you hate all that, though? I sure do. *sigh* There's something amazingly dehumanizing about the hospital. Hubby doesn't see it, but he's the internist who works there. It's harder for the patients.

[TahitiNut]

334. Yep. The "system" is dehumanizing ... which makes it even more necessary to make it human.

Monday night, after they checked me in - to a private room, no less(!!) - they brought in a saline IV and plugged it into the shunt on my left arm inner elbow. I tried (HARD) to warn them that the IV shunt WAS NOT good enough (I know IV's pretty well) but my warnings weren't heeded. (I have 'buried' blood vessels so it's tough to give me a decent shunt.)

The next morning, after the 7am shift change ... I pointed out the MARKED swelling above and below my left elbow and told them that I was right and the saline was obviously infusing into my tissue rather than reaching my bloodstream. They finally believed me.

The idea that a patient is an idiot is just too embedded. It was also VERY clear to me that the choice to put me on a saline IV (no glucose) was a procedural precaution only (i.e. in case of a 'code') and not a medical necessity ... since I was drinking and peeing OK and I wasn't in shock or anything.

Knowing that the SYSTEM is dehumanizing is never a good reason to abuse the people who're required to follow it, though. The folks responsible for the 'SYSTEM' are usually those least involved in direct contact with the patient. (And "systems" are my professional forte - so I know I see it better than most.)

[knitter4democracy]

346. I hate IVs. Grrr. And they always try to get one in.

*sigh* I have a 50/50 chance of them getting it right the first time. I've lost track of all the sticks I've had, and I hate them.

Yeah, the IV is purely for the "in case" situation, not for you, really. And they rarely do listen to a patient the first time, don't they? Even when Hubby is right there, and they know he's a doctor, they never listen to me the first time. Ticks me off. Like I don't live in my own body and know what's what. Grr.

Hubby hates the system most days. He often finds many procedures getting in the way between him and his patients. Very upsetting. Nurses get the worst flack, and they often are the people trying to make it all better for the patient as best they can. I've had bad nurses, true, but the vast majority have been wonderful and just as frustrated as I at all the paperwork and system requirements that make their jobs harder.

[Missy Vixen]

159. TahitiNut, please take care of yourself

You're too important to too many of us to have this happen again. I'm so grateful that it sounds like there was minimal damage.

Here's to the doctors and nurses who knew exactly what to do, and did it.

:hug:
Julie

[fed-up]

160. glad you are back-my mom had a TIA, 3 days later massive stroke-if Costco and her Bingo

cashier had noticed that she had signed her 1st husband's name to her checks and told her, she may have had more info to give the doctor when she went in for the TIA-as it was they sent her home saying the numbness/tingling in her finger was probably from her drinking history (15 years prior)

I found the checks about a month after the massive stroke

I hope you have friends that can check up on you for the next few weeks.

A neighbor had a moderate stroke a few months ago, he said he was completely unable to move to the phone to call for help and that after he came to it still took him awhile to be able to reach the phone



A few months ago while someone was massaging the back of my neck really deep, I lost speech for about a minute-it was all garbley in my head, I was aware that I was trying to speak, but couldn't make any words come out-scared me and I still haven't told doc as I keep forgetting...the pain in my neck always seems to take priority

take care and do follow the docs directions-:)

[TahitiNut]

202. Sometimes the medical 'professionals' piss me off.

Alcohol and tobacco ... both give some of them handy wastebaskets to throw a diagnosis into. Alcohol especially seems to cause them to stop looking and stop treating ... as though it's not worth their time. (I saw this with my mother's case and she was a long ways from being a life-long alcoholic - just too much in her latter years.)

When I was being quizzed for my "history" a few even seemed disappointed to the point of skepticism when I said I stopped drinking 16-17 years ago -- for depression, not abuse -- and hadn't had more than ten glasses of wine in all that time. (I figure a glass of wine once a year or less doesn't contradict the fact that I "stopped drinking" - but I could see them become alert to the suspicion I was a closet drinker in denial or something.)

What I find even more disturbing is that they seem to stop diagnosing altogether when, in the history, they note EToH or smoking ... and the cause then becomes assumed. It sure doesn't seem to facilitate diagnosis sometimes - or efficacious treatment.

[Solly Mack]

163. Damn, TN.

Do take care of yourself!!

[blogslut]

164. Glad you were able to come home

Take care of yourself. :)

[LWolf]

165. Glad to hear you got it taken care of

in time to prevent future events. Stick with the habit cleanup!

I'm doing some habit-cleanup of my own, having been diagnosed with type II diabetes this summer.

Today my grandson asked me, "Is there ANYTHING you're allowed to eat anymore?" We'd been talking about Thanksgiving dinner, most of which will be off of my table. I said, "Well, not much." :(

[EVDebs]

166. Do you have health insurance ? A friend had a mini stroke and he doesn't

I sure hope the bills aren't too high.

[TahitiNut]

195. THERE'S the $50,000 question. Nope. Zip.

There's no way I can afford to pay for those two days. No insurance, fixed (SocSec) income, and assets wiped out years ago - my economic boat sank to the bottom when I had to move back to care for my mother.

The hospital financial department called me and said they'd be send a person my way who'd facilitate an application for some state aid program. It's going to be an interesting experience ... trying to pay for the medications will be a challenge. I can afford the aspirin, but not much more.

[OzarkDem]

294. Talk to your doctor

he may be able to get you enrolled in a patient assistance program w/ the pharma companies, so you can get your meds free or for a small copay. The doc has to help you apply.

Pharma company PAP's are usually the best deal out there if you can get enrolled.

[EVDebs]

338. I'll pray for you, TahitiNut. In meantime I'm working for Edward's plan

I'd prefer DK's but Edwards has a better shot. The profit motive has sooo screwn the system up.

[TahitiNut]

341. Edwards' plan is my second choice as well.

I (sadly) share the belief that the pharma/insurance lobbies are too strong to get DK's plan enacted - even though it's REALLY the only real solution. Edwards' plan, AFTER it's negotiated and compromised, might not solve anything. There's not much question in my mind that Clinton's and Obama's don't really solve anything - ESPECIALLY after they're gamed even more.

[EVDebs]

356. Be positive. Edward's plan would have govt plans competing against ins co plans

With the insurance co's high overhead vs. govt plan (read Medicare for all with 3% overhead), the insurance co plans are destined to fail in the free market they champion ! Some things the govt was meant to do. The old system of entire non-profit insurance companies, hospitals, research, needs to come back.

[JVS]

167. I hope you recover well

[OnyxCollie]

169. Get well soon, TahitiNut. nt

[graywarrior]

171. Man, take care of yourself, will ya?

We need you here.

[CitizenLeft]

172. I may have a low word count, but I've been around a long time...

...and I'd miss you if you weren't around. Take care of yourself.

And that's advice I should be taking myself. My blood pressure is sky-high, and I know it (last time I took it myself after buying a good blood pressure monitor with my Flexcard, and it was 166/100). I don't take care of myself at all - in fact, tonight I had Chinese, and last night it was McDonald's (*smacks self*) I do take Maxide, occasionally, but my heart beats fast and hard enough to scare me, especially in the last week. And I'm not insured right now. So I'm going to take some aspirin everyday, too... hadn't thought of that. Hopefully it'll hold me over until I get some sense (and stop my bad habits, LOL), or get a job that has affordable insurance.

And back in 2003, my Mom had a TIA that lasted 2 hours, too, but I had no idea what was happening because she was 83, and slightly dehydrated at that moment, so the temporary disorientation from the dehydration masked what was happening. There were no lasting effects, and she was in the hospital for 10 days getting tests, nothing came up at all. All they would say was "TIA." So I guess you can have those long ones without lasting damage.

Please take care, DU wouldn't be the same without you.

[Pachamama]

173. Wow....I'm so glad you lived to tell it and walk out of the hospital....

Take good care of yourself TahitiNut! :hug:

Glad your okay....and don't have anymore strokes, you hear? :hi:

[Chovexani]

174. Hey, take care of yourself

Ya hear? :hug:

[Time for change]

175. Glad you're ok

I assume that your blood pressure was ok, otherwise they would have said something about that?

[KoKo]

176. Sorely MIssed...welcome back...

:hug:

[RainDog]

177. Glad to see you here!!

and glad you're doing better. interesting description of a stroke. sounds sort of like bell's palsy, something that's been bothering Amy Goodman lately.

:toast:

to your health! (tho maybe you're not allowed to do that anymore?)

[Odin2005]

178. Jesus Christ. That heavens you are all right!!!

:grouphug:

[Cha]

180. You better clean up your act, ya

big Nut!~ I've read some things about side effects from lipitor so be careful of that stuff, too. :hug:

I don't want to freak you out but this comes under the heading of Know Your Pharma..
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2004/01/31/lipitor_the_human_cost.htm

[notadmblnd]

181. Just lipitor and asprin, no plavix?

Did they check for blockages in your neck? Is that scheduled in the future? What about blood pressure medicine? Man, I want details. and yes, I always miss you.

[TahitiNut]

197. Ultrasound of the carotids was clean and clear. BP meds are to come.

AFAIK, Plavix is most often for heart attacks due to obstructed arteries on the heart muscle. My step-sister just had the "perfect heart attack" (no muscle damage) a couple of weeks ago and she's on Plavix - she had two stints put in, too. No bypass - which is a change from a few years ago. Stints + Plavix apparently is now preferred for the level of obstruction she's got. She's got the challenge of losing weight, too ... 125#. That's hard work.

[emilyg]

182. I missed you. Get well.

[fortyfeetunder]

183. Although unexpected, it's something to be thankful for

You are back among us! Take care of yourself!!!

:hug:

[Batgirl]

184. Since you are a caregiver

it's likely you've been putting your own needs on the back burner, not taking care of yourself.
(Not meaning to sound like a scold.) I hope you have good doctors and you are able to follow their advice and keep yourself healthy.

[babylonsister]

185. Hey, buddy! Did you know you

were so popular?! DUers are so GREAT! as are you. I thought "I" knew, but I guess I wasn't alone! :party:

[TahitiNut]

199. This thread is stunning, quite frankly ... and VERY humbling.

I tried to keep it light ... I SURE don't want to have a "pity party" ... and I sure don't let myself "go there." I'm feeling "fine" and, while I really do know I have some habits to change, don't pretend that my little hospital sojourn amounts to a hill of beans compared to the terrible suffering many are facing. I've known that being 75# overweight and going back to a "Michigan diet" from a "California diet" was going to catch up to me sooner or later. Food shopping (gorceries and restaurants) here sure doesn't offer the abundance of healthy choices I had in California. I miss Jamba Juice and Fresh Choice and Sweet Tomatoes and the fresh produce at Safeway. Produce sections around here are kinda depressing - unless I go "up scale." Pricey.

This is an AWESOME community ... generous and tough. That's not a bad parlay.

[babylonsister]

201. This is a celebration, not a

'pity party'. I have options to eat and do try. I will just say that I've been 'on' Lipotor for awhie. I go to the doc 2X a year, to get my tests and prescriptions that I might need. I'm 51 yo for a few more months. Keep tabs on yourself, please, though I guess that's the ticket now.

[bluesmail]

186. to be trapped inside your own brain

and not knowing so. You've made a remarkable recovery. Cheers!

[Maat]

187. Our positive thoughts (and prayers) are with you!

Take care of yourself!

[LibertyorDeath]

188. Shit good to hear it wasn't a major

Take good care of yourself take an Aspirin daily 160mg

my Wife is a Cardio tech with 25 years experience

Eat better, take your Aspirin daily, Exercise more

and hope for the best. So says DR. Liberty

We Don't Wanna Lose Ya....

Get well....

Cheers....:hug:

[Horse with no Name]

189. Oh nut

I'm so sorry. That had to be scary for you.
Take care of yourself and I am glad you got such immediate help.
I missed you.:hug:

[kentuck]

190. 'Nut...I hope you are doing better...

Make sure you follow orders.

[NNN0LHI]

330. I have been concerned about you too kentuck

Haven't seen you posting lately. One of my favorite DUers. I was getting ready to send out a search team. I hope things are going well for you.

Take care and see you later.

Don

[Lydia Leftcoast]

192. Wow, glad you're still here to post

:hug:

[TygrBright]

194. TN-- I allus look fer yer posts in a thread.

I know I'll get a nod or a snigger or a "WTF?!?" outta them. So, yeh. I'd miss ya. Don't go away, now, hear?

Eat fruits and veggies. Walk a lot. Do that stuff the doctor sez.

And keep posting.

hopefully,
Bright

[tekisui]

196. My thoughts are with you.

I never know where you'll pop up, so I didn't know to miss you yet.

Be well.

[seabeyond]

198. So I wonder ... did anyone miss me?

:eyes:

lol

wow, to your post. oooosh, so scary. and now here you sit. interesting. glad you were so specific on your experience. glad you are out and hopefully doing better. just a send you on your way is kinda scary

[NanceGreggs]

200. Wow!!!

I guess I can't top THAT one in a "Hey, guess what happened to me today?" thread!

Glad to hear you're okay!

[nadinbrzezinski]

203. Good god, TIA's are no joke

did they also prescribe anit coagulants and will they do some other tests?

(Yes, apart of the baby aspirin)

And my mom told me today that my dad (he is 83) had one of them on Sunday, but dad being dad... they are just now finally getting to the docts and tests.

:eyes: there are days

take care and good to still have you around with all your capacities

Oh and watch it, I am sure they gave you the standard lecture as to how a TIA can precede the real deal

[TahitiNut]

209. Yep ... I'm loaded down with reading materials and brochures.

Saves me the trouble of printing it off the net, I guess. :silly: :dunce:

No anticoagulents, afaik. They discussed something called "TPA" (Tissue Plasminogen Activator?) which is used to treat more serious (ischemic) strokes at the outset ... but my recovery made it unnecessary and there are some number of bad outcomes. The ER doctor called it the "brain saver." (I'm glad it wasn't necessary.)

http://neuroland.com/cvd/stroke_tpa.htm
http://www.stroke-site.org/guidelines/tpa_guidelines.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

217. Yes, TPA saves brains by disolving the clot... literally

the bad outcomes come when you have a bleed and you can't stop it since it changes that chemistry

Good that they didn't need to use it

And if they had, you might still be in the hospital

It saves hearts as well.

Memories, we were one of the first Ambulance Services in the world that used it in the field...

Now stay on your best behavior, you have no idea how lucky you are.

[RamboLiberal]

204. Man that is SCARY! Stay well TahitiNut - take care of yourself! n/t

[Bright Eyes]

207. My grandmother had the same thing happen about a year

and a half ago. She's doing well, so hopefully you will too!

[David Zephyr]

210. TahitiNut, please keep us updated. I'm worried about you.

I'm not sure if I read where you were on statins prior to this or not. Were you?

Please take Librechik's advise about the CoQ10. It also help with the cognitive downsides from the statins as I have learned the hard way.

I feel like I can call you my friend as I feel like I know you so well and love reading your posts and your comments here, so I am bothered that this has happened to you and am so proud of you for calling for help as you did and not letting pride get in the way.

Your 200-220 readings would make a lot of people jealous.

Throw away all the salt in your house if you haven't done so already. It is poison. There are wonderful salt substitutes. Keep away from fast foods and even eating out where sodium is always in high supply.

And do please keep us updated.

:hug:

[TahitiNut]

218. I've not been taking any meds ... other than Ibuprofen (~2000mg) for my sciatica.

I've been taking one aspirin a day irregularly for some time, most recently about 4 times/week ... when I remember. I guess I'll be remembering more often now. I'm quite leery of statins and the studies for Lipitor aren't that persuasive for ischemic strokes. Apparently, the reduction in a follow-on ischemic stroke is offset by an increase in hemorrhagic strokes.

[Swamp Rat]

211. .

:hug:

[Blue_Tires]

212. very tough thing to deal with

my dad is in the hospital as we speak (suffered stroke last monday)

[TahitiNut]

219. I'm sorry to hear that, BT ... here's wishing him a good recovery.

:hug:

[Laelth]

213. Yikes!

I'm glad to hear that it wasn't worse. Had it been, I am sure I would have missed you.

Good health!

:patriot:

-Laelth

[windbreeze]

214. That is just plain scary....and...could happen to any of us....

TAKE CARE....glad to see you are back and apparently feeling....uhhhhh, like your old self???? Follow doc's orders now, you hear????wb

[Truth2Tell]

215. Be Well Nut!

All the best from here.. :hug:

[Kurovski]

216. Fortunately we only missed you for a short period.

Whew! :hug:

Follow doc's orders, TN. Please do.

[LeftCoast]

220. Glad to hear you're OK, TN!

That's a very scary experience to go through!

Be well, buddy!

[dailykoff]

221. Yes we missed you!

Glad you made it back! :hi:

[JCMach1]

222. welcome back! and get yourself healthy!

[Cleita]

223. Sorry to hear that.

It's not the end of the world though. I had two and didn't even know I had them. They showed up on an MRI that was done for an inner ear problem. Well, you will get well acquainted with the gym. I know I did. It takes care of the balance problem.

Those TIAs are warnings to take a look at your diet and life style and to make some changes. Take care of yourself. You would be missed very much here.

[pacalo]

226. You're one of my favorite posters, Tahiti, so, please take care!

I've always been struck by your intelligence & wit. Didn't know you had a secret admirer, did you?

:hug:

[emlev]

227. Take good care, TahitiNut! This is a big deal! n/t

[donheld]

230. I'm glad It wasn't any worse than it was

Here's wishing you better days :toast:

[wiley]

231. Keep exercising your brain,dude. We all love you.

[NorthernSpy]

232. scary!

:hug:


Don't slack off on the aspirin! We need you here. And that stuff really does work.

[mogster]

233. Hope you're okay

Speedy recovery, TahitiNut! Your sense of humour hasn't suffered any damage, for sure :-)

[underpants]

234. Good luck

sorry to hear that.

[MadHound]

235. Glad to know that you're doing OK.

So now that you've had your brush with mortality are you going to clean up your habits? 'Cause we want you around for a long while:hi:

Take care of yourself and don't do anything stessful for a couple of days.

[Midlodemocrat]

236. Please, TN, please. Take care of yourself. TIAs are no joke.

:hug:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

237. (((((((((TahitiNut))))))))! Please take care of yourself!!!

:hug:

[TahitiNut]

316. I gotta.

I'm the only one who'll take the job. :rofl:

[intheflow]

238. OMG, TN! Take care of yourself!

You're far too young to have had a stroke! (Well, maybe not, my 42-year-old cousin just had one.) Whatever habits need to be cleaned up, best get at it. DU would not be the same place without you! :hug: :hi:

[TahitiNut]

329. Thank you, luv!!

:hug: Somewhere inside I've got that inner child that refuses to leave home. Sometimes (s)he's a PITA - but (s)he keeps things in perspective. (I say "(s)he" because it's entirely possible she's a tomboy.)

[smoogatz]

239. Take care, TN.

Take that aspirin every day and you'll live forever. A glass of red wine every day, too (see, this arterial health thing isn't all bad!).

[BrklynLiberal]

240. Wow! So glad you are ok....and still posting.

Take good care of yourself now!! You hear????

[Alter Ego]

241. Did you also get

injected, selected, dejected and inspected?

And did they send ye over to that bench that says "Group W"?


Just kidding. Good to know you're okay--a woman I worked with died on her birthday of a massive stroke a few weeks ago, so it's even more poignant.

[elaineb]

242. Positive thoughts and prayers for your good health, TN

I've wanted to PM you a hundred times, if only to tell that you're one of my favorite DU'ers (probably because our opinions are 99% in sync!). Anyway, hugs from a fellow DU'er you may never meet but who has great affection for you nevertheless. Take care good of yourself, you Nutnick!

[sellitman]

243. Welcome back.

Many are not as lucky. Please take care of yourself.

We need your voice.

[Senator]

244. Back in time for a new impeachment push anyway

The only thing medical I'd suggest (strongly) is that you have at least 2 independent measures of any carotid artery blockage -- and to repeat both measures after 6 months. Those "percent blocked" opinions are well worth having confirmed (or not).

And if you haven't already, stop listening to Republicans entirely. There is no useful information in anything they say. Politicians, commentators, friends, the lot. Use the mute. Read past the quote. Hold up the hand. Cold turkey.

Worst "habit" there is.

---

[Octafish]

245. Thanks for calling 9-11, TahitiNut.

When it comes to TIA, getting to the ER on the double means all the difference in the world.

Love you, Man. Get better real soon!

[Le Taz Hot]

246. TN!!!!!

I can't even believe this! Are you OK???? You are absolutely my favorite DUer! PLEASE PLEASE take care of yourself.

Sending hugs, kisses and good vibes your way.

LTH

[Renew Deal]

247. Please be well.

I would miss you. :pals:

[nightrain]

249. Best wishes on what sounds scary....

So sorry to hear about your TIAs. Keep us posted about your efforts to "clean up your habits".

[ProfessorGAC]

250. We Always Miss Ya, Nut!

Hey, take those meds and take care of yourself. We can't lose you 'round these parts.
The Professor

[TahitiNut]

324. Thank you, my good friend.

:pals:

[mdmc]

251. peace and low stress to you bro

thoughts and prayers comin your way my friend.

[DemExpat]

252. Damn! Shocked to hear this, TN!

SO glad to hear you recovered and have a plan to prevent this from happening again!

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

DemEx

[Kajsa]

254. TahitiNut, please take care of yourself!

My mom had a stroke over a year ago,
this is serious stuff, guy!

Is there anyone who can help you right now?

Take it easy and please follow the doctor's
instructions.
You are one of my favorite people here so yes,
you were missed and we want you around for
a long time.
;-)

:pals:

[blueraven95]

256. geez

:hug:

feel better soon!

[SidDithers]

257. Be well, TahitNut....

take care of yourself. Take your meds.

:hi:

Sid

[NoFederales]

258. Be diligent and take the meds!

NoFederales

[northernsoul]

259. Be well!

n/t

[NuttyFluffers]

260. glad to hear you're OK now!

:hug:

and don't go be making a habit of this neither, y'hear? twice in one day, worrying us all sick, and coming on over laughing like you won the lottery... you best don't think i can't see that smile in the corner of your mouth! shoo! git! gone go raise my blood pressure with all those e-motey-cons 'n lawd help me what else, likes you got some damn bluebird on yo shouldah! ... shoot.

:rant: :spank:

[KansDem]

261. Take care, and do what the doctor says!

Yeah, I know, a lot of them are younger than we are now, but still, do what they say!

And welcome to the Lipitor Club! :party:

[1monster]

262. You might also want check out taking Niacin and Vitamin D. Both are

clinically proven to help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Niacin dialates blood vessels and helps keep them flexible.

I'm not sure what it is that Vitamin D does to prevent those, but it also shows promise in preventing the onset of diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis...

[DFW]

286. Niacin also raises HDL levels

They put me on that as well as the Lipitor.

The combination, along with my reluctantly (but strictly) adhering to a
no-cheese, no-egg, no-red meat diet, has reduced my LDL (bad cholesterol)
from 150 to 62.

I'm still alive and kicking, although my plane could always crash tomorrow, and
make the whole thing an exercise in futility!

[TahitiNut]

379. I'm definitely going to try that. It looks like 100mg of slow-release Niacin (B-3) might be right.

It's OTC and fits with the Aspirin (take 30 minutes before) and ibuprofen I take for my sciatica. Niacin is recommended for most classes of hyperlipidemia, and ALL classes where statins are an option. It may not be strictly "what the doctor ordered" but I've gotta be comfortable with my own care. I'm not sanguine about statins.

[DFW]

384. The Lipitor for me had to do with heart vessels

So it might be different. I have low blood pressure for someone my age.
It's usually 115-70, which is sorta low for a 50-something, and I didn't
feel much of anything. When I went in for a "just in case," the cardiologist
freaked right out, told me to get to a cardiac clinic, do not pass go, do not
spend the night at home, but RIGHT NOW, and it turned out he was right. I had
2 forward coronary arteries 99% blocked, and I was a heart attack waiting to happen,
and probably before the evening news. So, I lucked out, but since he is the one who
saved my life in the first place, if he says take Lipitor, I take it. Luckily, I don't
suffer side effects from it. Some do, and have to go off it in search of another
statin. The treatment for strokes is another category altogether, so I'd listen to
whatever specialists treated you for them. One killed my mom 5 years back, so I have
a healthy respect for them, too.

[TahitiNut]

307. Good idea. Vitamin D helps metabolize calcium ...

... so it'd tend to reduce the calcium in the blood vessels associated with arteriosclorosis, I guess. :shrug:

[Oilwellian]

263. I'm glad you're ok TN

Please take care. :hug:

[yardwork]

264. Good for you for calling 911!

I'm so glad that you are posting here and doing ok.

Plus, you have no idea how many lives you may have saved with this thread. My mother - a healthcare professional - had a major stroke and didn't recognize the symptoms. She went to work - IN A HOSPITAL - without telling anyone that she couldn't see very well and felt dizzy and weak.

It took her several days to actually bring this to the attention of others. When she was finally diagnosed, it was too late to do anything. She had to retire immediately. Fortunately, she is doing ok, but she takes coumadin and has to be monitored carefully.

Hugs to you, TahitiNut, and be well.

:grouphug:

[Joanne98]

265. Oh no! I'm glad you're okay!

[sybylla]

267. Glad to know you're back and doing well

My sister-in-law had a stroke 13 months ago at the age of 52. It came with intense headaches and numbness on one side. They didn't call 911 but went to see her doctor who swore up and down it wasn't a stroke. She had no family history so it couldn't be a stroke. It was just a headache and she should go home and take painkillers.

A day and a half-later the headache was so intense her husband called 911 and finally she got the treatment she needed. At the time they expected she would have about a 95% recovery of her paralyzed side. She says now that she believes she is at 95% or better but it took months of intensive therapy. Needless to say, they are suing the doctor and the clinic she worked at for damages caused by the woman's flip diagnosis and refusal to even investigate the possibility of a stroke even though my sister-in-law had all the symptoms. If it had been treated right away, her stroke doctor believes she would have had much more immediate recovery of her numb side and less or even no permanent damage.

Knowing that, I'm so glad you're back and thrilled you found caregivers that took your symptoms seriously.


On edit: watch for side effects of Lipitor. My mom took that a couple of years ago and after about a month on the drug she could hardly move. Every muscle in her body hurt so badly that she couldn't sleep and would wake up in the morning feeling like she'd fallen down three flights of stairs. She thought she was going to have to quit work - didn't know what was the matter with her. Turns out, after we finally convinced her to ask her doctor about the drug's side effects, that it was an unusual side effect of taking Lipitor. Doctor took her off of it and in a couple of days she was back to her old self.

Now she's taking a new cholesterol medicine for the first time since she quit Lipitor and is starting to have the same side effects.

I'm not saying this will happen to you. Just make sure you know all the potential problems with the drugs you take and watch for them.

[AikidoSoul]

366. She needs to take COQ10 -- Lipitor strips it from the body. COQ10 is in

every cell of the body and is especially important for heart and brain functioning.

The trouble with many drugs is that the side effects can be harmful. Most docs do not even
warn about the COQ10 stripping problem. Your body suffers without it.

Lipitor can also stress the liver, although I do believe that regular liver testing is
necessary when taking this drug.

[cooolandrew]

268. Booze and cigarettes are our worst enemies in the health stakes. nt really

[oasis]

269. Take care, TahitiNut, you've got a lot of livin' to do.

:thumbsup:

[Poll_Blind]

270. Wow! Hey I am glad you're OK!

Kudos to you for keeping it together and calling 911 under the cirucmstances! Don't be a dick and stop taking your medication nomatter how good you might feel at (whatever) time in the future! I know too many people who arbitrarily stop taking their meds (usually because they're fed up with the side effects and forgot how serious the initial condition was) and get into trouble.

You're one of the few of the old guard left here who still posts things I find iformative and thoughtful! Take good care of yourself!

PB

[donsu]

271. oh TahitiNut please be careful, I would miss you greatly

read you every day

wishing you well and sending love

[johnaries]

272. Thank GOD it wasn't worse! Take care of yourself!

I guess that's what they mean by "wake-up call". Glad to have you back! Please stick around.

[in_cog_ni_to]

273. Oh, TahitiNut...I am so glad you're alright! Are they going to do any surgery

? I am guessing the arteries weren't blocked to the extent you need surgery? Just meds?

Baby aspirins...81mg? I think? That's what my husband takes...has for years and Cod Liver Oil and he has clean, clean arteries (he also smokes). He loves Cod Liver Oil! Can you imagine?:puke::puke::puke: Maybe you could add CLO to your new health program? Just plug your nose...the stuff SUCKS!;) I think Bayer now makes a low mg aspirin for adults, but you probably already know that (I haven't read the thread).:)

I'm thrilled you're Okay. What would DU be without you?

[TahitiNut]

376. Nope. No surgery. Just lifestyle changes and meds. Aspirin most important.

Cod Liver Oil? Yikes! I remember that stuff when I was a kid. (It was the all-purpose dose for kids in the 40s and early 50s.) Yechh. Well ... maybe I should try it again. Tastes change and the body has this funny way of making stuff that we need in our diet taste better.

The written prescription is pretty clear: "AsA 325mg PO daily (OTC)" (AsA is Acetylsalicylic acid.) :dunce:
Funny ... they just COULDN'T write "Aspirin" :rofl:

I'm also considering taking 100mg of slow-release Niacin (B-3) daily. It may be more efficacious - particularly with CoQ10. Adverse effects of niacin are precluded by one ibuprofen daily and/or a 325mg aspiring 30 minutes before the niacin. Since that's consistent with my needs, it sounds reasonable. No harm. No foul.

[tomp]

274. very best wishes for a long and happy life.

take excellent care of yourself, for our sake, at least.

[govegan]

275. First and foremost, be well and take care

Please consider the concern with which I offer my best wishes, and I want to offer some advice that the medical establishment will in all probability not mention to you.

First, they will never tell you that no disease, malady, infirmity or degenerative condition has ever been identified that has anything to do with not having animal products in the diet. They will not tell you that the expensive medications and procedures that are their great revenue producers are essentially not necessary in the long run for the vast majority.

If you have some free time, I suggest you check out http://www.drmcdougall.com/

My neighbor just recently retired from a position as the head chef of a upscale dining establishment in Western Washington. I spoke with him the day after his best friend passed from this life due to a sudden heart attack. He, along with his wife who is a health care professional, has viewed two sets that I loaned to him of the McDougall lectures. They both within a few weeks have gone totally vegan in their diets, and they are sharing the news of the already experienced increase in their vitality.

If you have a chance, look into some of the McDougall newsletters archived on his web site. Get your hands on some of his dvd lectures. You will be pleasantly surprised. The McDougall's Medicine set of lectures would probably be the best starting point, as my neighbor was most deeply affected by that set. The McDougall approach is not all or nothing, but the more you do the more you will gain. Many medical professionals will advise you to disregard the truth, just like the political establishment does on other issues. Just like you do on political issues, remember to think for yourself and get all the info that you can.

All the best!!!

[WillyT]

276. Well I Sure Am Glad You're OK Nut !!!

Please take care of yourself, and let me know about that "cleaning up of habits" thingy!

:evilgrin::grouphug::evilgrin:

[TahitiNut]

331. Diet, exercise, aspirin ...

... "falling off the wagon" and indulging in a glass of red wine (no more!) with meals, and indulging less in the occasional tobacco inhalent and maybe a little bit more of the weed (since it's been maybe a year since my last toke). Gotta lose this "extra person" weight and get more veggies and fruit.

You see, it's ALL about being deprived of my California lifestyle - I definitely blame Michigan. :evilgrin:

:grouphug:

[JDPriestly]

277. TahitiNut, Take Care.

[wicket]

278. So sorry to hear that!!!

Be well :hug:

[The Backlash Cometh]

279. Get better, fast!

And thanks for the info.

[Summer93]

280. Glad you are back TahitiNut

This is not on the list of fun things to do!

I appreciate all the information that is running through this thread.

My Mom had a stroke. She was living alone at the time (and working full time at age 76) and SHE walked next door to her neighbor and pantomimed that she could not talk. She was taken to the hospital where they gave her a spoonful of applesauce to test whether she could swallow. She could not - she aspirated the applesauce which caused pneumonia, etc.

My Mother-in-law had a stroke a year later with the same symptoms.

Last year my younger brother had a TIA. He seems to have recovered quite well. No more garbled speech.

I am paying attention.

Thanks,
Hugs,

[malaise]

281. Glad you're OK

Get some rest.:grouphug:

[lovuian]

282. We missed ya

yes we did

[countingbluecars]

283. Oh my,

take care of yourself.

[mod mom]

284. Wishing you good health from now on!

[Phillycat]

287. Well, shit!

Glad you're okay!

[mamameow]

288. stroke or tia???

sorry but you had two tia's---transient ischemic attacks. these are partial closing off of blood to the brain. a stroke is a complete shut down of blood to brain from the artery that has plaque. the fact you do not have any residual symptoms (i am assuming this since you do not mention any) also indicates tia's not stroke. somewhere you have slowing of blood to the brain. do not know how old you are but if young, look for other things that can cause this, like a recent very bad bruising, severe migraines etc. read dr mcdougall's books and dr dean ornish on how to reverse cardio-vascular disease. also look at dr gabe mirkin's website (he is larry king's cardio doctor). just some info from a retired consultant life insurance underwriter. remember, 50% of doctors graduated in the bottom half of their class, some at the bottom!!!! take charge of your health and research, research, question, question!!!!!

[Blaze Diem]

290. Explains why its been so quiet around here! Do take care friend.

Bless you & be safe & well.
Happy DU Holidays.
ya, we missed you.

[bearfan454]

291. You need PLAVIX

I had a mini stroke 4 years ago. Plavix is a blood thinner. NO SALT also and you'll be okay.

[ninkasi]

292. Take care

Please take care of yourself. We can not afford to lose you. I'm glad you're ok now, so just folow the doctor's orders. Sending :hug: your way.

[sazemisery]

297. Just a note of caution and concern

My husband was on Lipitor for some time and took supplements for the muscle spasms. There are other cholesterol meds that do not degenerate your muscle mass. DISCUSS this with your doctor. Mr. sazemisery is now on Wellchol and one other cholesterol med and his muscle spasms have all but disappeared.

Healing vibes are being sent to you from all over DUland.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

298. You're very, very lucky.

My friend's mother complained of similar symptoms at work and went to lay down in the back room rather than "make a fuss." Four hours later when her daughter-inlaw couldn't wake her they called an ambulance. She never woke up again. She was only 48 years old.

I'm glad you were smart enough to seek help and I really appreciate you're posting your experience here so other will know what the signs are.

Take extra special care of yourself and I bet you'll be around to keep this place interesting for decades to come. :)

[TahitiNut]

327. It's a little like riding a bicycle ... I didn't know how it'd feel by reading ... BUT ...

... there was NO MISTAKING it even though I was surprised at how it felt. It took me about 20-30 seconds to figure it out. I was (sorta) reminded about how a real earthquake feels (which is also something you can't know until you feel it) ... that there was a loss of equilibrium and a kind of "world gone crazy" puzzlement.

Also like a real earthquake (i.e one greater than 6.0 - e.g. Loma Prieta), it's not something I need to experience more than once (or especially twice!).

Thanks for the supportive words! :hug:

[Tab]

303. I'm very glad you're okay, but I have to wonder...

You had two TIAs in the space of 24 hours and they let you go home?

I believe you, but I'm wondering, and I say this because my dad died of multiple TIAs, and my brother spent weeks in the hospital from a single cerebral hemmorhage (not a stroke, it was caused by an injury, but same net effect) but they let you go home after one day?

A small one, maybe, but two of these would make me wonder... I'm not a doctor (although I was pre-med once) but I can tell a pattern when I see one.

I guess what I'm saying isn't that I think you're saying something wrong, I'm thinking you might want to be checking out a different care facility. For your own long-term health.

Anyway, that's scary shit, no matter what degree it is. It reminds you that you're mortal. I had once what I thought was a heart attack, and once again what another person thought was my having a heart attack - neither were true (thankfully) but they do make you seriously rethink your mortality and your supposed level of health.

Nevertheless, sounds like you're up and functional, so count yourself very lucky.

[TahitiNut]

381. I'm fairly confident they did a decent job.

Not only did I get the attention of several residents in neurology ... and the FULL battery of tests (chest X-ray, MRI, CAT scan, echo-cardiogram, EKGs, etc.), the senior staff neurologist visited me Monday night at MIDNIGHT(!) and entered announcing "I'm Dr. ____ and I'm the doctor who diagnosed your STROKE." She was emphatic and peremptory.

Well, that sounded a bit strange to me ... as well as her visit at midnight. But it seems clear in retrospect that they must've had a team meeting for diagnosis and case review (possibly because I had the SECOND stroke/TIA in their ER care?) and there might've been some disagreement. She was somewhat abrupt and VERY no-nonsense, putting me through the full range of push/pull/squeeze/feel/walk/coordination tests. She took yet another medical history and when I hesitated regarding whether I'd had any alcohol since I 'quit,' she got very impatient and probing. I, of course, in my inimitable fashion, was trying to be ACCURATE and guesstimate whether I'd had closer to 4-5 or 10-11 glasses of wine in the last 17 years. She, of course, was alert to the typical dissembling of an alcoholic. Funny that she never ascertained the REASON I quit drinking - which was because of the DEPRESSANT effects and not alcohol abuse.

It gets clearer to me that there was some disagreement since the last thing that happened on Tuesday was a visit from the full 4-person resident neurology team of physicians. Sans attending. They did one MORE battery of physical tests ... bilateral squeeze/push/pull/lift/drop/eye movement/finger coordination/balance/heel-walk/toe-walk/line-walk/etc. When they completed that to their (and my) satisfaction, apparently as one last check, they released me. So... it only makes sense that there was some disagreement of the staff and residents with the senior attending ... and some CYA was called for.

All I can say is that if it takes a disagreement for that much examination, even though it can be a PITA, then let there be more disagreements. The release says "TIA, HTN, Hyperlipidemia" I can live with that (quite literally).

[Tab]

383. If you're confident, and they let you go, that's great.

And this is life-changing, or can be. Go forth and be healthy.

[havocmom]

309. Thankful you are doing better

Do take care. We would be so much poorer should you have a prolonged absence

Yes, I missed you. Was waiting for a smart ass retort that never came. :hug:

[TahitiNut]

349. Moi? "Smart ass retort"? MOI?

Ubetcha. :evilgrin: If'n I gotta be an ass, I'll do my very best to be a smart'un. (Hopefully pointing to SOME wothwhile perspective, too.)

:rofl:

:hug: :hug:

[saracat]

313. Bless you.Get well soon and take care of yourself.

[bbgrunt]

315. damn!! So sorry you had to go through that--but so

happy it wasn't more serious!! You, TN, are greatly loved around here and would be grievously missed. Be well, friend.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

317. So, did they do any carotid ultrasound or MRI angiography to look for blockages in your carotid

arteries? That might need surgery to remove or bypass?

Good luck and take care of yourself - your brain is the most precious organ you've got!

[TahitiNut]

323. My carotids are clear and unobstructed, per the ultrasound.

The echocardiogram and EKG indicated no ventricular abnormalities ... not "throwing plaque." The CAT scan and MRI yielded a relatively clean bill ... noting the blood vessels in my brain are a bit more open/expanded than others. Whether that's 'normal' for me or the result of hypertension, they couldn't say without a medical history showing something else in the past. Chest X-Ray (and stethoscope) indicates clear lungs.

Essentially ... they've settled for cholesterol in lieu of calling it idiopathic.

[avrdream]

328. I don't know.

The way you write, I suspect that your bigger brain blood vessels are because you use your brain more than the average stroke patient! :D

Seems to me that you got out of that hospital pretty damned fast. Just about didn't have time to miss you, mate.

[SharonRB]

320. Glad you're okay, TahitiNut

Sounds pretty scary to me.

[bobthedrummer]

322. Sounds very familiar to me TN, take care n/t

[redqueen]

335. So glad you're okay!

:hug:

I'm not so glad to hear they fiddlefarted around till you had another one... :grr:

[TahitiNut]

337. Well, until they could determine it was ischemic and not hemorrhagic ...

... they really couldn't risk Warfarin or another thinner. I was in the midst of taking a morning aspirin when I had the first stroke. I suspect that might've been the best thing I did that morning. (Other than call 911.) Since I was recovering ... enough to walk (instead of ride) to the eye clinic and back (a fairly long trek in the huge hospital that's Beaumont) ... they were probably best advised to monitor and "do no harm," I think.

[redqueen]

340. Oh... okay.

:hug:

I'm also glad you took that aspirin!

[Just-plain-Kathy]

342. I'm glad you're still with us TahitiNut!

Were there any warnings? How did you feel yesterday?

Please take care of yourself!

[TahitiNut]

350. Nope... no warnings that I can recall. Quite a Monday morning surprise.

Yesterday, after a night with only 3 hours sleep, I was tired but restless (in both senses of the word).

I'm treating myself a little gingerly today ... after a good night's rest ... moving a bit more slowly and deliberately and paying atttention to how the 'body' feels. I guess it could be characterized as 'vigilance' ... more careful than usual. (It's kinda like being in Nam again ... always a bit more alert in the aftermath of an attack.)

[Taverner]

344. Take care, dude

[saskatoon]

345. Love ya

and see here this wont do, we need you here so take your aspirin and stick around my friend, there are too few of us good guys to lose one. I'm not religious but I'm praying for you anyway---that ought to count!

[nam78_two]

347. I am really glad you are ok

I don't think we have ever actually talked, but I often enjoy your posts and you are a sort of institution around here you know :) :hi:.

[shaniqua6392]

348. I am so glad you are alright!

Please take good care of yourself. Thoughts and prayers go out to you. Have a good Thanksgiving!

[democrank]

352. Glad you`re here.

~PEACE~

[globalvillage]

355. Oh my goodness.

That's scary. Take care of yourself, Tahiti Nut.
So glad to hear you're OK.


:hug:

[baby_mouse]

358. AAAH!

My dad had one of them.

DON'T HAVE ANY MORE STROKES!

(((((TN)))))

[EVDebs]

360. Check out what Edwards will do on health care in order to get it for us all !

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3746974

[Hoof Hearted]

365. Stumping for your candidate on somebody's stroke thread is TACKY AS HELL n/t.

No really, it is.

[TahitiNut]

368. Let's give a little slack here ... EVDebs and I agreed regarding the health care proposal upthread.

While I definitely see your point and understand the sensibilities, we can't throw out babies with bathwater.

No matter WHO gets nominated, the health care MUST be a TOP priority ... and whatever gets us to single-payer more reliably is the best, imho. It's a question of getting through the MASSIVE entrenched interests that Big Pharma and BIG insurance hold onto.

We ALL have our favorite candidates ... but it doesn't mean we can't push a relevant issue in context. We need to be able to use such events as compass headings, I think.

It's very relevant to my situation that I can't afford health care and am uninsured ... until next June when I'm eligible for Medicare. It's a case study in falling through a MASSIVE crack ... too old (and too busy being a caregiver) to be employed and get benefits ... and too 'young' for Medicare.

If I have a fatal stroke before next June ... due to having difficulty with paying for care and/or meds ... it should, at the very least, be an example of how serious and immediate this is. How much sense does it make for a guy who served in Viet Nam, and who worked since he was 14, to fall into the crack due to a whistle-blower's unemployability and the need to be a caregiver for his mother?? Why should ANYONE who's in my position wish he'd run to Canada back in 1968 ... and remained there despite the amnesty in order to benefit from their health care system?? How's THAT for irony?

[scarletwoman]

370. Preach it, brother! Preach it! (nt)

[EVDebs]

371. Try READING the thread. We discussed lack of insurance earlier.

Sheeeesh. Post #166 and thereabouts.

[TahitiNut]

362. I just gotta say, THANK YOU, ALL! I'm humbled by the very generous and kind "group hug" here.

Over 360 posts and lots of recommends just blows me away!
ESPECIALLY since there's not a single "Name removed" post in the whole bunch!!! :evilgrin:
(Is that some sort of GD Forum record??) :rofl:

Really, guys ... you're a terrific community ... to argue with, to trade insults with, and to appreciate each and every INDIVIDUAL. DU is what we make of it ... and that's pretty damned good!

:grouphug: :loveya: :party:

[Flabbergasted]

363. Oh man. You are one of my favorites here. You better stay healthy.

[JackRiddler]

364. Get well & make a hundred!

Sounds like you've taken this thing very well - now stay good my man!

[AikidoSoul]

367. Am glad to hear that you are doing o.k.

be sure to take precautions when taking Lipitor... there are significant side effects.
You will need to replenish your COQ10 as Lipitor strips it.

If I get a stroke the first thing my doctor and spouse will do is get me into a
hyperbaric oxygen chamber. My neurologist believes these dramatically cut down on
the effects of stroke. If you run a search on "hyperbaric oxygen chamber" you will
get mixed results. Some doctors say it works wonderfully, but some medical organizations
claim that there still is not definitive proof that it has significant benefits.

I would rather get into one of these chambers as soon as possible because it causes the
body to oxygenate deeply and confers stunning healing effects in the brain and central
nervous system.

[TahitiNut]

369. Well, I'd rather go scuba diving.

:silly: If the 'treatment' was to jet down to the Caymans and immediately dive down to about 60-80' on a wall dive ... hell, I might actually TRY to have a stroke. (j/k) ((sorta))
:dunce:

[Bozita]

373. Too bad you're not in ... France?

Or was it Germany? The country in "Sicko" where the patient was prescribed a vacation to get him up to speed?

He got it.

Go get those fish oil pills.

[TahitiNut]

375. France has some very dedicated (and excellent) scuba divers.

They also have some very nice places to go diving ... Tahiti, for example. :party: :bounce:

Yep ... fish oil and sushi (yum!) ... it's GOOD thing I discovered I liked sushi. (Yuko touched my life pemanently.) Heck ... I even like Japanese veggies far better than what we USAers call veggies. Yum.

[ConsAreLiars]

378. The good news is that your early warning signs were benign. And, of course,

you know you have my best wishes and supportive vibes, for what that might be worth. (Not much, in practical terms, I suppose.) You are one of (fortunately) several posters on DU who I can count on to be worth reading and expect to be a teacher. Thank you.

(signed)
A fan

(edit the nearly inevitable typo that spell check ignores)

[HCE SuiGeneris]

382. I didn't miss you

but I sure as hell would if you don't knock that crap off. Be well and stick around ffs. We all need you.

:spank:

[clyrc]

386. I am glad you are ok.

Please take care of yourself. I don't post much any more, but I enjoy reading your posts whenever I see them.