A Stroke of Luck

The day ended like the days that went by: uneventful, hot and ordinary. I arrived at home and did the same things I usually do upon getting home: prepare my dinner, wash the dishes, relax awhile with my pc games and read a few chapters of my latest Lisa Gardner novel. Just before midnight, I had my pre-bedtime shower and off to bed I went.

I woke up with a leg cramp and I shouted with the pain that went with it. Nanay hurried from the kitchen and massaged my left leg. My children woke up with the yell of pain that woke up the whole neighborhood as well, I think. Nanay suggested I call in sick so I can rest. Before lunchtime though I felt a numbness in the left part of my body and I have difficulty focusing on things. My head is about to burst with pain that I took 2 500 mg tablets of mefenamic acid just to alleviate the pain (still no luck, though). I felt nauseated as well. Oh gosh, is this what people feel during a stroke? Off to my cardiologist I went and she told me I needed to be hospitalized for the symptoms I felt. My blood pressure is elevated (what else is new?) and I got myself admitted. Anna was the one who stayed in the hospital to look after me.

After all the blood and urine tests: doctors diagnosed TIA (transient ischemic attack), also known as a mini-stroke. Not really a stroke but a preview of things to come. Morbid huh? I also have glucose intolerance which does not help the condition at all. During my entire hospital stay nurses pricked my fingers three times a day to check my blood sugar level. There was a time, the nursed pricked me four times that day because my blood sugar is elevated as well. I downed dozens of pills and capsules to regulate my blood sugar and blood pressure. And yet the numbness is still there. The day I was to be discharged, my cardiologist referred me to a neurologist to check what the numbness is all about. I am not really too keen on seeing a neurologist because he is not covered by my medical insurance and I have to shell out four hundred bucks for seeing the neuro. So after the discharge, I went about with my routine (although I still reported in sick at work because I still feel the numbness and I am always tired).

A week after though, I can't ignore the numbness anymore and the recurrent headache. Went to the neurologist and the doctor probed and poked me with his pen and reflex hammer, asked me to jump, to count, gave me some simple mathematical questions, and what-not. Guess what? I failed most of the exams. I don't have TIA, it's cerebral infarction and in layman's term: a mild stroke. Imagine, having a mild stroke at the ripe old age of 40.

I was not actually shocked but I felt scared. Such a morbid thought, I am now really aware that I might be gone from the world in just a matter of minutes, even seconds. I felt bad about my children, I owe it to them to be here for them, at least until they can go on their own ways.

The neurologist advised for a total lifestyle change, that is if I wanted not to suffer a really bad one (come to think of it, is there a "good" stroke?). I have three risks: hypertension, high cholesterol and my BMI which is classified as obese (oooh... is that the politically-correct term?). That will be a tall order for me. So does it mean goodbye crispy pata and chicharon for me? No more late nights. No more alcohol (I quit drinking a long time ago) and no more nicotine (I have never been a chain-smoker and besides the last cigarette stick I had was eons ago). The late nights, alcohol and nicotine I will gladly not do but the food??? That will be a trifle hard because I love food. But as Nanay loves to tell me: it's either I chose to live longer or eat all those cholesterol-rich foods. Of course, it's a longer life I will choose. I love my children so much and I wanted to be with them for a long time still.

God gave me a mild "reminder" and I hope there wouldn't be a "major" reprimand soon. I am still lucky and very blessed.