Sitting alone in the late night darkness of a hospital room is scary. Especially when so much is uncertain and serious. That's where I am physically and emotionally.
Tuesday I posted a vow that I made to myself on Monday evening, and later on Tuesday I shared when seemed to be a confirmation of the vow. Then came a complete halt to life as I was living it or planning to live it. Yet, the abrupt events seemed another confirmation.
I am still typing left-handed only and still trying to grasp some things, but I've had some email questions about my situation. A simple post is easier on the hand and mind that many email responses. I'll give a time line of what's up. I can only type in brief intervals and began this post on Friday night while still in the hospital, but I'm not certain when it will be completed and posted.
- Very late Tuesday night while working at the computer I apparently blacked out. I awoke later with no idea of time or how long I was out. When I reached for the computer mouse to close my photo editing program, I couldn't. I could not move my right arm. My hand was non-functional, wrist dropped, hand drawn, curled. Paralyzed.
- Because of my family history of cardiovascular disease and my own risk factors, my doctor admitted me to the hospital stroke unit. I had more scans, xrays, brain and neck MRIs, blood work, IV's and pokes and prods than I knew existed. Wednesday and all night I waited to hear from doctors, as several had to read scans and tests, confer and then explain to me what they had found.
- On Thursday morning added to my medical roster were a neurologist, a neurosurgeon, a cardiologist, a vascular surgeon, and an occupational therapist.
- Late Thursday morning the doctors came to report. My brain MRI is clear with no sign of a stroke. I have an artery which feeds my left shoulder and arm (not the paralyzed side) that is significantly blocked (stenosis). Almost no pulse in my left wrist. I will need cardiac catheterization and a stent. That blockage is stealing blood from the right side of my brain, but was not the cause of my paralysis. I probably blacked out due to a lessened blood flow to my brain, which was not an actual stroke. The stent has not yet been scheduled due to other issues to resolve first.
- I also had a echo-cardiogram which showed a strong healthy heart, no abnormalities. Good heart, good brain. Good.
- I have long known that my fifth cervical disc was deteriorating and that recently it is progressing more rapidly. Another genetic gift. It's a chronic pain eased somewhat with therapy, exercise and stretching. The fourth and sixth cervical vertebrae have become involved. It is a combination of those discs having become seriously inflamed and compressed which is causing the right side weakness in my shoulder, no ability to use my arm and no hand grip. That probably occurred as a result of my neck position while I was unconscious. I am on a steroid which is reducing the inflammation and giving back arm movement and some hand grip. It could relapse once the steroid is discontinued and then other options, possible surgery, will be investigated. I cannot remain on steroids for extended periods. Occupational therapy will continue.
- My radial nerve, which controls the use of my fingers, backward flexion and certain rotation and side to side movement of my wrist has been damaged. This was due to the position in which I remained propped on the lower portion of my arm while unconscious. It may or my not be reversible damage. If not reversed on its own within the week, the neurosurgeon will do a nerve study to determine if it can be reversed with surgery. I have a hand-wrist brace/support.
- During scan of my carotid arteries (main arteries in neck feeding the brain) a lump was noted on my thyroid, as a general view of the thyroid can be seen within the same scan.
- Having cleared me of the possibility of stroke and addressed the neurological issues, I am moved from the stroke unit to the oncology floor. They suspect thyroid cancer.
- Friday morning I am scheduled for a thyroid sonogram and injection of radioactive isotopes to enhance a series xrays of my thyroid. These are completed, and I wait some more.
- Friday afternoon my doctor tells me there is more than one nodule, the endocrinologist and oncologist must review the sonogram and xrays.
- Blood is drawn for further thyroid tests. I can go home Saturday morning continuing current medications and occupational therapy. I will have an appointment scheduled to meet with the endocrinologist and a biopsy after the tests are reviewed in depth and, if necessary, meet with the oncologist.
It is now Saturday, and I am home...waiting. It feels good to be home. I am thrilled to be able to hug my family, and the phrase "slurping life" has become an even stronger motto for me.
Thank you for your thoughts, hugs and prayers. They mean much more than my words could ever express.
Blessings to you and yours.
**Apologies for typos and poor grammar, sentence structure. One armed and half-brained stinks. *smile*
