In the days and weeks leading up to the stroke, I had not noticed anything unusual or different in my routine; I have a blood pressure kit at home, and I take my blood pressure 2-3 times a week; my cholesterol was fine during my last blood test and so forth. 

I'm retired, and so I was at home that day...lucky me.  I had no pain whatsoever, and everything seemed to be normal.  Just an average day, in my mind. 

It was about lunchtime on May 23, 2012, when I sat down to have lunch at the breakfast bar at home.  I felt something heavy on top of me, and I started to sweat...so much so, that there were little puddles of sweat gathering on the breakfast bar.  There was no pain at this time...or any time, during this event, which was the start of the stroke.

All of a sudden, my imagination started to take hold, as I imagined, that a heavy fish net with the heavy rope fell on me and I was struggling to get out from under it.  This was my imagination playing tricks on me, because there was nothing on top of me! 

The more I struggled...the more I sweat, until the breakfast bar was loaded with sweat.  I couldn't stand up; I couldn't move to the left or to the right, either.  The telephone wall was about 8 feet away, but I couldn't get up to use it if I had to.  This was only about five minutes into the struggle, and my shirt was soaking wet...and I was scared to death, that something unusual was happing to me! 

I was right...as this was the beginning of a stroke, and I had no idea what to do.  All I knew is that I was getting crushed by this 'imaginary net' that was on top of me. Since I couldn't get up and go to the wall phone, I reached into my pocket (before it was too late) and brought up my cell phone and called 911. 

A few minutes later, there was a loud bang on the door.  It was the ambulance people, and boy, was I glad to hear from somebody!  Since I couldn't get up to answer the door, I yelled out, "I'm okay, and I can hear you...call maintance and they will let you in.  (I live in an apartment)  A minute or two later, the front door, was opened, and about six people came in.  My shirt was soaking wet, and the ambulance people tore it off of me. 

Because this was my first stroke (and, hopefully my last), I will share with the reader what happened that awful day.  I live in apartment on the 5th floor, so the ambulance people placed me a a gurney and off I went downstairs to the ambulance.  My next door neighbor happened to be sitting in the lobby that day, and she told me later, that I was white as a sheet when they took me out. 

The first day went something like this.  In the ambulance, I threw up for the first time...of 18 times I threw up over the first 24 hours.  When I got to the hospital, I couldn't stand up, so I coulddn't walk, either.  Over the next month, while I was in the hospital, I would have to learn how to walk all over again...just like a one year old baby.  During the stroke, my swallowing muscles were knocked out, and so I couldn't swallow, either.  The medical people ran a plastic tube (feeding tube) up my nose, and down to my stomach to feed and medicate me. 

When I got to the room, I had these awful hic-cups for several minutes...or so I thought.  The medical people told me that hic-cups come with the stroke, and there was nothing they could do for me to get rid of them.  This is hard to believe, but I had the hic-cups; night and day for over the next 8 days.  I'm taking day and night, and it's no wonder, I couldn't get any sleep.  If every hic-cup was at a 10 second interval, I suffered from about 2,000 hic-cups for the first 8 days I was in the hospital. 

After 8 days, the feeding tube was removed, and I was transferred across the street, to begin the physical rehab, that was necessary, so I could get back on my feet, etc.  Here, I spent about 6 hours a day learning to walk.  I was in a wheelchair, and when I was on a walker, the threapist or nurse, had a large white strap around me, so I wouldn;t off and fall into the rose bushes, etc.  The rest of the month was pretty much routine, so I won't waste the reader's time with this. 

ADVICE;  If it hadn't been for the cell phone, I would probably be writing this piece.  For those who have a cell phone, keep it with you at all times, even when you're asleep.  You MUST keep the phone in the same place every night.  Don't put it on one night stand one night and the other night stand the other night.  You have to be able to find the cell phone right away.  IF you play hide and go seek with your cell phone, it might cost you your life.

Make sure the cell phone is working.  I call a place every night before I go to bed, to make the cell is working.  I keep the cell phone in the SAME place every night...that way I can find it quickly.  I have a night-light on, so I can see where I'm going, should there be an emergency; I have a flashlight in the drawer next to my bed; my sandles are located next to the bed, so if I have to get out, I know where they are.  TEST your cell phone every night, to make sure it works.  A cell phone that doesn't work, is no good to you...

Brief summary:  Over the last year, I spent one month in the hospital in a wheelchair; when I was discharged, I was pushing a walker around for four months; and then I was on a cane, to help me get around.  A year later, I feel I am about 95% back to normal, but, as you might guess, I'm still pretty slow...but, I am grateful the damage was not what it could have been...take care...

P.S. Make sure that you keep that cell phone in the same place every night...a cell phone doesn't do you any good...if you can't find it. A wall phone doesn't mean donkey, if you can't get there...

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