Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Finishing The Tale

Within five minutes of the first symptoms appearing, they either vanished or greatly diminished. The Internet told us that that occured when a person had experienced a mini-stroke, a warning or precursor of more and greater fun to come later. The Internet can be very useful or send you down a totally wrong path. In my case, it turned out to be the latter.

Due to the seriousness of the situation, and the fact that my doctor told me to just wait at the hospital and he would get there as soon as he could, we decided to call Abraham at work. Neither one of us knew how to explain to the unfriendly staff at the hospital why we were there. Abraham's boss (who is also a friend of ours) let him leave to meet us at the hospital to interpret for us until the doctor got there. It is only a few blocks from his work to the hospital.

A digression about Abraham. He's the dude we met in Huatulco with his lovely girlfriend who has since had to return to Texas for work. They moved to Isla shortly after we returned here from our trip in August. Abraham has turned into a good friend and rents one of the extra rooms upstairs from us. He is a Godsend. Especially now when we need help around the place so badly. Within 5 weeks of starting his job at Bamboo Restaurant on Hidalgo, he has already been promoted to head waiter. He is a very responsible and competent young man. If you are on the island, stop into Bamboo for dinner and ask for him as your waiter. Tell him you are a friend of mine and I bet you'll get a free drink! (girls, he is very easy on the eyes too!)

By the time we found a parking spot and made our way over to the hospital, Abraham was already outside and came rushing up to meet us. We hadn't told him much on the phone. We brought him up to speed and were standing there talking when I spied my doctor hurrying down the street. I was concerned because I had never seen him moving so fast. And he had on shoes. When he comes to the house, he arrives on his Harley, barefoot. He is a very progressive, outlaw type doctor, but knows his stuff and I trust him. We sent Abraham back to work with a promise to call later and went into the hospital and followed Dr to an examining room.

He examined me, including a lot of eye stuff and eye/hand coordination tests. We were both amazed to find out that my blood pressure had dropped to 125/80! Good news indeed. After he finished examining me, Dr sat back and said "You have not had a stroke." More good news! What had happened though was that I had had an attack of hypertensive retinopathy. Basically, this is a collapse of blood vessels in your eye caused when one experiences prolonged periods of high blood pressure. A side effect I guess. It can be serious and cause major vision problems, depending upon the severity.

I was told to make an appointment with an opthomologist as soon as possible. Which I will do. I was also given a shot of steroids to protect and coat my nerves from further damage. This was given in the butt. I am usually not a reactor to shots. They just don't bother me. Neither does have a needle stuck in my arm to give blood. But this one was probably the most painful shot I have ever gotten. I swear she just came running at me so she could get enough force to push that needle in all the way to the bone! Man, it hurt.

So, for now, I am fine. A bit of a cloudy, residue like headache and my left eye feels just a bit too large for the socket, but fine.

Thanks for listening. I appreciate it. I am left wishing, though, that I had that crystal ball to see what is next. Cuz I know there is going to be something else. It comes in threes, doesn't it.

15 comments:

Steve Cotton said...

Or, sometimes, the trouble just stops. We'll take that option for you.

Billie Mercer said...

We sometimes wish for a crystal ball here at our house too but on the other hand, I think it is better to live each day to the fullest.

lisa said...

Take care of yourself and many wishes that every thing turns out good!

Life's a Beach! said...

If your B.P. was 125/80 when you were in that frightful situation, it most definitely HAS dropped! And that is excellent news. I meant to tell you awhile back that when I first started taking lisinopril for my high blood pressure, it took weeks to adjust. I felt dizzy, tired, and spent most afternoons on the couch. I'd wake up at night with the heart racing. And my B.P. was way low. Then I adjusted and it's been near normal ever since on the medication.

Now you just have to go onward and upward with the heart tests! So glad it was not a stroke!

Mike Nickell and Cynthia Johnson said...

Ouch! We're glad to hear you're doing better.

Jonna said...

Good news about the BP! I think you should think of this as the turnaround, when things start getting better. I do worry about you out on that island though.

Anonymous said...

Might not be a bad idea to have a Plan B (Escape Plan) set up and in order just in case the unwanted should rear it's ugly head again .... remember the Boy Scout Motto.... and I'm SURE you've been a Boy Scout .....

This would include a drop-everything-and-head-to-the-States plan .... you have been living your life planning for the unexpected contingency (damned attorneys) .... well, this is what that was all about.

O Robert

Anonymous said...

Steroid shots HURT, that's why they do them in the butt. Glad to read your BP has come down and I'm with Joanna I think this is the turnaround point. Hang in there! Judy

Chunk Foster said...

Glad to hear you are doing better. Sounds like you should go for a swim and RELAX.

BlueSky said...

This is great news, continue to keep careful watch on all your symptoms. I wish I had a crystal ball too sometimes, but then again, would you really want to know? As far as the 3rd thing, well, that's easy, your healing process!!! :)

Jackie said...

Whew! I agree with Steve about taking the trouble just stops option.

Sue said...

Glad it wasn't a stroke, but sounds like a tough time right now. If you need the name of an ophthamologist, let me know - I went to one recommended by my doctor in Cancun and I was very impressed with him. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Life's a Beach, I can certainly relate to that trouble with Lisinopril. Thought I was dying until it got regulated.

Now you....gringo in paradise....for heavens sake...go sit somewhere and look at that sea and fuggetabout it. I'd give anything to be there right now...I'm sure my blood pressure would drop right away.

Roanoke, Virignia.....34 degrees

Anonymous said...

Pay real close attention to the eye issue also-I had a blood vessel rupture in the rear of my eye-similar symptoms-would have lost my eye if it hadn't been for a pioneering retinal specialist in Boston. Took an 8 hour & a 5 hour operation, but at least I still have an eye, even if I am legally blind in that eye. Best of luck to you.

Anonymous said...

Blessings coming your way!

Linda
IC