As one or two of my regular chums-cum-followers will already know, on Thursday, I woke up only to fall over the furniture and get carted off to the hospital in an ambulance. The nice Irish doctor reckoned the unsteadiness was down to my having a large, hard deposit of wax in my right ear and sent me away. Back home I had a doze and woke to the right side of my face going numb and my left leg feeling strangely warm. GP's called the ambulance this time and off I went again with twos and blues going at every roundabout. In for tests. I had a CT scan in the late afternoon and was asked to stay overnight to have an MRI scan the next day, which I duly did. Woken every hour (except one never sleeps in hospital until basically wrecked!
But, although all I could get were brown sandwiches on Thursday, my Friday was peppered with the usual excellent food from The Queen Elizabeth's own kitchens, until, at 1 o'clock I got an MRI scan.
Ye Gods what a weird experience that is. It's like being inside the works bit of Doctor Who's TARDIS. The noises are truly strange, the proximity of well, pretty much everything is frightening, but I shut my eyes and went into a semi-trance. It lasted for maybe 25 minutes and the report was that what they thought the CT showed as a clot was, in fact, clear. A discharge letter was typed and off home again. None the wiser, really. The general concensus was that I'd had a TIA, what some call a mini-stroke.
I'm left with the same numbness, slightly reduced and a right arm that sometimes goes a bit lazy and silly, restored by pulling it around and tensing it against itself. Today, my ears were syringed and I'm waiting for that to ease the some time dizziness and instability.
I have today done some work on my model of Vanity, the Victorian cutter I once lived on, so I've used my bandsaw, having installed its new blade and glued new sections of keel in to the frames and the structure is now rigid. But, I remain tired and my back easily aches these days.
I went to the no-nonsense quack at our practice and he confirmed that any remaining effects of a TIA can last for 4-6 weeks before going. He confirmed that my new non-smoking status (well, 6 months actually) is excellent, as is the attempt to eat healthily and remain active and that my current meds. are all suitable. So "carry on Hoskins" seems to be the phrase of moment.
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Glad to hear you are OK Martin, you had me scared for a mo.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say I was exactly OK, Chris, just yet, but many thanks for your comment.. Fingers crossed, eh?
ReplyDeleteKeep safe and look after yourself. Thank fcuk for the NHS looking after you, I spent two days in a US hospital and came home with a bill for $10,000.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't bear thinking about, Tim.
ReplyDeleteHad near the same thing happen in '07 'cept many more tests (if his insurance will pay, we do it--even if its no way applicable) No lasting after effects mate, MRI is unnerving first time, you did exactly the right thing. I have had a half dozen or so--trying to find a brain up there, i think. Now you know what to expect and the machine won't eat you for lunch so if you have to have another--much less up setting. Stay with us pal !
ReplyDeleteHerb K
Currently, Herb, my right arm is acting like I DID have a stroke in that every 5 minutes it goes a bit lazy and has a dull ache like a mild cramp. If I manipulate it with my other arm it stops ...for 5 minutes. This is making sleep very difficult. I don't know what is happening and what the Hell to do with it, but as long as that happens I will not be driving. I'd even stop myself from doing so! The MRI was just a big surprise, not a problem. More tedious than anything to worry about.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the side effects will ease in good time, and good to hear that our NHS is doing fine work in looking after you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm glad to hear that your at work building stuff, just be carefull around the bandsaw please!
I'm always very careful around the bandsaw, Paul! Today, I will have a bash at using handtools. (Triumph Spitfire hardtop).
ReplyDeleteHope you make a full recovery
ReplyDeleteThanks, James. Feeling a bit better after a week.
ReplyDeleteJust seen this...my internet has been off for over a week due to BT. I hope you have a full recovery and that things go well for you, what an unexpected and unpleasant surprise. Good to hear that your enthusiasm for tinkering with models is undimmed anyway. All the best and take care,
ReplyDeleteIain
Thanks, Iain. Yes, it was a surprise, but I'm keeping things going in the workshop. Cheers.
ReplyDelete