My best girlfriend (back in Michigan) was 33 years old in 1988 when she had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Later, Patty described her symptoms - a headache all day and "You know I never get headaches, Sunny." Initially she thought the headache was from work stress. (A few months earlier, she received her law degree and joined a law firm.) Later in the evening, while watching TV with her fiance Patty experienced numbness in her legs. She decided to go to bed but doesn't remember much after this. According to her fiance, she collapsed at the foot of the bed. He called paramedics.
In the ER, doctors initially thought it from a cocaine overdose. She wasn't a user. Nevertheless, treatment was postponed until cocaine use was ruled out. She remained in a coma for three weeks.
After two years of physical and speech therapy, she was able to walk without a walker and speak with little difficulty. Seizures, which she usually experienced in the mornings ,was and is controlled by medication. The "stroke" affected her right side.
Today, she walks with a limp and has little use of her right arm and hand. She can no longer read a book (she was an avid reader) and has trouble "finding words." But at most times, I can finish her sentences since we've been "sisters" all these years. :-)
About 10 years ago, she was hired by a card shop, where she still works part time. She stocks cards in the slots with one hand and learned to use the cash register. And although her life changed in a split second and her fiance departed, Patty is happy. She's been healthy, considering.
What concerns me most, however, is that in the past 1 1/2 years, she's fallen. One time, breaking her foot and more recently, her leg. I'm hoping these are "just" accidents and not related to balance issues. I pray for her everyday.
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Pat,
My best girlfriend (back in Michigan) was 33 years old in 1988 when she had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Later, Patty described her symptoms - a headache all day and "You know I never get headaches, Sunny." Initially she thought the headache was from work stress. (A few months earlier, she received her law degree and joined a law firm.) Later in the evening, while watching TV with her fiance Patty experienced numbness in her legs. She decided to go to bed but doesn't remember much after this. According to her fiance, she collapsed at the foot of the bed. He called paramedics.
In the ER, doctors initially thought it from a cocaine overdose. She wasn't a user. Nevertheless, treatment was postponed until cocaine use was ruled out. She remained in a coma for three weeks.
After two years of physical and speech therapy, she was able to walk without a walker and speak with little difficulty. Seizures, which she usually experienced in the mornings ,was and is controlled by medication. The "stroke" affected her right side.
Today, she walks with a limp and has little use of her right arm and hand. She can no longer read a book (she was an avid reader) and has trouble "finding words." But at most times, I can finish her sentences since we've been "sisters" all these years. :-)
About 10 years ago, she was hired by a card shop, where she still works part time. She stocks cards in the slots with one hand and learned to use the cash register. And although her life changed in a split second and her fiance departed, Patty is happy. She's been healthy, considering.
What concerns me most, however, is that in the past 1 1/2 years, she's fallen. One time, breaking her foot and more recently, her leg. I'm hoping these are "just" accidents and not related to balance issues. I pray for her everyday.
April 27, 2010 - 1:12pmThis Comment
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