Mini Stroke...three years later

The word "mini" implies small, and could cause others to assume that it's no big deal.  Even I figured it was no big deal while I was trying to continue life as if nothing had happened.  It was mini and therefore NO BIG DEAL, right?

I look back on it all now and wonder how the heck I made it through the year I had two that I'm aware of.  I didn't know anything about them.  My cardiologist didn't educate me other than to say I had to live stress free.  She is so adorable and her delivery so wonderful that even I had no idea how serious mini strokes were and are.  Honestly, if you have to receive bad news, that lady is the one to give it because 1: ADORABLE and 2: The way she gives the news is done in a positive manner and no one can begrudge someone who thinks of the positive aspects of any situation at hand.  

I have since been educated.  By treating myself as a science project I have been able step back and look at everything that happened before and then after (also having a doctor who listens and explains is very beneficial).  It's funny, while a person is experiencing trauma, they may not consider the trauma that dramatic until later when it dawns on them that it was a terrible thing.  

Even now it still seems that I was depressed and my situation at work was so awful I would go home sobbing...which brought on the second mini stroke.  

Let's look at this in parts.

Part One

Physical ailments abounded; arthritis was just starting to kick in, my lower back and pelvis hurt so bad I could barely walk, the doctor I was seeing at the time wasn't listening to me, my heart had to be monitored, and so on.  Enter mini stroke number one.

I had no idea it had happened, or rather, that I was having a mini stroke.  I mentioned some issues with my doctor but again...not actively listening was the name of her game.

After about six months or so, I was walking to work every day, eating better and generally feeling good about everything. However there were some issues with memory, recall and that weird staring off into space thing.  Let's not forget that when I spoke, words were rearranged or couldn't be remembered.

I ended up being promoted at work to a new job that I thought I really wanted.  The supervisor was one I had worked with before and I knew it would be a challenge, but if we look at in a good way....she had knowledge and I would benefit from that knowledge.

Part Two

Turns out that my memory had holes, and this supervisor was meaner than a rattlesnake trying to avoid the ice cream truck.  I couldn't remember rules and regulations like I used to and even after reading the same one over and over, my comprehension had gone way down.  With enough practice and patience from others I would have done just fine.  The supervisor had other ideas and threatened me daily with losing my job.  DAILY.  Enter mini stroke number two.

During this time I had found a new medical provider.  She is a major in the US ARMY.  A tight little package that is squared away when it comes to her patients.  I liked her immediately.  She could see things were wrong with me and started a list of things she wanted done.  All the fun was had after that.  MRIs, heart sonograms, kidney sonograms, X-rays, medication adjustments and an introduction to the cutest and most wonderful cardiologist on the planet.  Things were getting done.

It's been a few years since all of that happened.  I still have some anger issues related to the strokes, confusion, sometimes I can't remember five minutes ago but it comes back eventually and the depression is a fist fight when it hits.  I'm talking about this today because it is so important for all of you to know that this IS serious.  Mini strokes are not a little incident.  Take care of yourself, get those check ups.  I care that you are here!

Since it's snowing today, get your fuzzy blanket, some hot tea/coffee/cocoa, hug a loved one and then plant yourself in your favorite stitchy spot and get busy stitching!

Until next time.....KEEP ON STITCHIN'!