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The day that was yesterday

Wow. What a day yesterday was. Here’s what happened:

At around 4:45, my hand became numb and tingly. Because I’m a knowledgeable SLP, my first thought was “oh my gosh I’m having a stroke”. Although the numbness was my first (and only) symptom, it was so bizarre how my hand just all of a sudden lost feeling in it. About 5-7 minutes into the numbness sensation, it started traveling up my arm and reached about midway up my forearm. Due to my history of a PE and being on Amicar (a blood clotter) right now because of a lung bleed, pretty much the only option was to go to the ER. I called CF clinic, and they confirmed that I should head over there. The ER is the most disgusting place, especially in the middle of cold and flu season. They also apparently have never heard of CF protocol because I had to demand to be put back in a room immediately and for everyone who came in my room to be gowned, masked, and gloved. From the beginning to the end of the 5 hour ER stay, it was pretty disastrous. The ER is one of the least efficient places in the world. And I’m sure they hated me as a patient. Since it’s not my first rodeo in a hospital, I refused to let them do whatever they wanted at whatever pace they wanted. For instance, 4 different people tried to come into my room and start an IV on me, even though the doctor hadn’t ordered anything that would need an IV. When I questioned it, I got an incredibly rude and snarky response back. However, guess who left the ER without being stuck for an unnecessary IV? Oh yeah, that would be me. 

I had a head CT and MRI done, and there were no acute issues. However, I apparently have a tiny abnormality in my cerebellum that is evidence of a cerebellar stroke. I have zero symptoms of that, but it could have happened in childhood or when I had trouble coming out of a surgery. Regardless, it’s not recent event, and all seems fine.


We still don’t know what caused the random numbness, but for now, it appears ok. Having had a blood clot once is very hard mentally. Every single instance where my body doesn’t feel quite right, I worry that I’m forming another blood clot and that it’ll turn out much worse than the first one. I think this will get better with time—the less recent the blood clot, the less paranoid I will be. That is my hope, at least. I guess we will see. 

Comments

  1. TanviNovember 22, 2017 at 4:54 AM

    Hi Emily ,

    My name is Anuj Agarwal. I'm Founder of Feedspot.

    I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Blue-Eyed Breather has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 75 Cystic Fibrosis Blogs on the web.

    https://blog.feedspot.com/cystic_fibrosis_blogs/

    I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 75 Cystic Fibrosis Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!

    Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.

    Best,
    Anuj

    ReplyDelete

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