TYPE OF STROKE: ISCHEMIC STROKE
“Being a stroke survivor is like surviving an invisible earthquake — everything looks familiar as you pick up the pieces, but nothing feels the same, you carry grief and gratitude in the same heartbeat.” – Gar Moss
The Challenges: My First Stroke
February 27, 2023, I woke up feeling weird, my eyes blurry, distorted, and feeling out of place. My normal world had turned upside down into an abstract-painted nightmare. An overwhelmingly uncomfortable confusion had taken over my thoughts. My face felt frozen, my equilibrium was unbalanced, my speech was broken, and I had a foggy feeling something bad had happened. I was so confused about what to do. My first thought was not to call 911, it was to call my girlfriend Deanna to see if she had ideas about what I should do next. She sensed my urgency and told me she would come over right away. The next minute I was in her car, on my way to a local hospital ER. In the ER, I was quickly dispatched to a wheelchair and admitted with a quick diagnosis from the admitting doctor and nurse. They said I may have experienced a stroke or possible TIA (transient ischemic stroke) with complications from AFIB and diabetes. From there I was taken through a whirlwind of testing, x-rays, CAT scans and MRIs to check out my heart and brain situation. Later that day, I remember waking confused in my hospital room with a bank of monitors, tubes, and cords wrapped around my bed. It was a very long and exhausting day full of a half dozen medical consultations with specialists and doctors.
Second Stroke
Several hours later, we were finally getting somewhere with my diagnosis and treatment plan. I remember my neurologist was in the middle of testing my eyes, reflexes, and standing when suddenly, it happened again. My balance was off, I felt dizzy, and I almost fell over and blacked out. I felt strange and scared. The doctor noticed the right side of my face had drooped lower than before. I looked at myself in the hospital room mirror—I was stunned to see my face like that, for the first time since coming to the hospital. I felt so weird. I was in shock. They quickly strapped me in a gurney and wheeled me off for more testing, and I passed out. The next minute I woke in my room again, disoriented and confused. The nurse said I was stable but experienced a second, more powerful stroke. This was even more debilitating than the first one. It affected more of my motor functions, speech, vision, walking, arms, legs and hand movements, and for the first time, swallowing liquids, food and medication was a challenge.
I soon realized I had over six major health issues and challenges to overcome to beat the odds for stroke survival. Those challenges were: weight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, AFIB, and depression. In the beginning, I was not ready to take these things on in addition to having had multiple strokes. I was completely overwhelmed.
Recovery Solutions
What motivated me to keep going
I am very fortunate to have the best support system—my family, my kids, my girlfriend, my friends, my therapist, my doctors and nurses, and now my association with the great team of people with Champion the Challenges organization and the Pacific Stroke Association.
Psychologically, going through a stroke was probably the most depressing period of my life. I have gotten through multiple challenges in my 60+ years, including divorce, losing loved ones, shingles, unemployment, highly stressful jobs, and family issues, as most of us have. When the strokes happened, I was already dealing with my share of troubles. I really hit rock bottom with all parts of my life and health. Doctors warned me of the hardships I would go through trying to get healthy again. They warned me that the odds were stacked against me because I had let myself go. But something inside me said “NO” and gave me the courage to say, “I’m not going to give up” and “I want to be here, now.” I want to be here for myself, my kids, my family, my girlfriend, and my friends. There is too much to live for.
Stroke survival can be summed up in 3 words “Don’t give up”
For real, that’s the heart of it. Just keep trying – Gar Moss
After four days and three nights in the hospital, my stroke nightmare had stabilized. And I was going home with a whole new regimen of medications and PT therapy, scheduled appointments and medical procedures, and diet programs to manage to hopefully normalize my life. I was scared to death of losing my life. I came too close to not being here. I get sad when I think about that. To borrow a quote from Ram Das, a very wise soul: I want to “Be Here Now.”. I am more in the present than I have ever been in my life. I am glad I now see the value of life and am happy to be living life authentically and with better priorities than I ever have.
My Results
Going strong and not giving up
It’s been over three years since my strokes. I have successfully faced all my challenges head on since that time. My fears of stroke are behind me now that I have knocked off all my original health issues. I found that my biggest challenge was my “overthinking self”—the part of me that had doubt and very little self-worth. Thanks to my friends and family who suggested seeking therapy was not only essential to my health but to” not giving up.” Also, most important is to give yourself the time and the patience to work through mental and physical health issues.
During this time I worked through multiple hardships. I was able to reverse my diabetes with major changes to my diet, medications and exercise. Results included taking my out-of-control glucose readings from 14 down to an A1c of 6.5. (still working to get it under 6). I was able to fix the AFIB with an ablation surgery procedure. I lost over 50 lbs. by changing my diet, medications, and exercise routine. I now weigh less than I did in college. I reduced both my high blood pressure and high cholesterol to more manageable and sustainable levels with my new lifestyle. And with the help of great support and therapy, I have a healthy and happy attitude for life and what comes next! Many thanks to my family and friends and the great teams at CTC and PSA for all their resources and help. Don’t give up!
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