Are You At Risk For A Stroke?

(Springfield, IL March 5, 2009) -  I awoke with a tingling in my right arm. It kind of felt like I might have slept on the arm the wrong way. The tingling went away after I sat and relaxed. Later I got out of my recliner and walked into the kitchen and the feeling came back again. I was not too concerned until the tingling traveled to my right lower leg. It was at this time I called my doctor. I explained the symptoms to him and he immediately told me to get to the hospital. “It sounds like you are having a Transient Ischemic Attack.” TIA is one of the many types of strokes.

I arrived at the hospital and after telling the emergency personal that I was possibly having a TIA the nurse immediately got me into a room where three additional nurses began to check my vital signs and started treatment. I was administered several types of medication. A doctor came in and began to ask questions. Blood pressure and other vital signs told the doctor that he needed to run tests. I was administered a CAT Scan and told that I would have to spend the night for additional tests to be done in the morning.

Rather then waiting for the next day a neurologist ordered a MRI so he could see if he could find anything. At about 3:00 a.m. Friday morning I was able to get to sleep. At about 9:00 a.m. the neurologist advised that he had found the problem. “You are a very lucky person.” He told me. “You have a very small even tiny, tiny blockage in the part of the brain that supplies blood to the right side of the body.”  He said I needed more exercise and to stay away from ‘fatty foods.’ I was given a prescription for ‘Lipitor’ for my Cholesterol and a blood thinner called ‘Plavix.’ All in all, I was very fortunate to have such good treatment. I wanted to share this with everyone, if you even suspect something wrong, something you have never felt before, seek medical help right away it could save your life or perhaps keep you from being crippled up for the rest of your life.