I’m not looking for sympathy, I’m just sharing. As I sit here and type, I find myself at a loss for words. I am so blessed right now. Just when we think all is going so wrong, something happens and it makes us realize how everything is going so right. It may not be going the way that we planned but it’s going accordingly.
On April 15th, I had a stroke but at the time, I didn’t know that. I was in my car and I was backing out of a parking spot and I hit a wall. The only thing I remember is having to use the bathroom and where I was parked, I wasn’t going to make it to the bathroom. I started feeling hot so I rolled down my window. There was a lady on her balcony and she was talking to me. Lucky for me that her dog heard my car hit a wall and started barking. She asked me if I was ok? I told her that I was but she was like no you’re not and advised me on not trying to drive off because that’s exactly what I was trying to do. I’m sure she thought I was drunk because that’s exactly what I sounded like. She asked me what door did I live in and I told her who my dad was and someone went to go get him.
When my dad got to my car he kept asking me what was wrong and I told him nothing and that I had to use the bathroom. By this time, I did but not all the way. As he was helping me out of my car, I fell right through his arms(it was at this point that I had the stroke) and my head hit the pavement HARD!! My dad eventually called 911 but became irate when the ambulance didn’t get there fast enough.
When I get the hospital, they only did an ekg and treated the cut above and below my eye. I was released that same day. It wasn’t until the next day that I went back because my head was killing me. This is the day that I got the catscan, which showed that I had a hole in my brain, which triggered the dr. to request that I get an MRI done. After getting the MRI done, the neurologist called and left a message that I accidently erased but I called her back and that is when she told me that I had a slight stroke. HUH? I know needed another catscan. Also at this point I’m crazy because now strokes are another symptom of the corona virus and now I’m thinking that ok sooo now… So the catscan doesn’t answer any questions and so she diagnosis me with RCVS(Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome-when the vessels in the brain bleed or cause strokes. The good thing about this is that it can be treated.) But even with that that wasn’t valid reason for the stroke because I didn’t have headache; however, I do have an autoimmune disease which could be a factor.
After the catscan, the neurologist wanted me to reach out to the doctor that I see for my autoimmune disease. The both of these doctors requested that I have some bloodwork done. At this point, I didn’t think that I had that much blood to give but I did. Bloodwork came back good for the neurologist but not so good for my autoimmune disease doctor not soo much.
Oh let’s not forget, I’ve also seen a cardiologist just to make sure that the stroke wasn’t heart related…it’s not.
How am I doing in the meantime? I’m doing good. I’ve gotten enough rest that my body needed. When I talk, I can hear myself starting to slur. I’m a lil uncomfortable being around my mom. Not in a bad way. She’s my mom and I know she’s concerned so now she watches me extra close. But all in all I feel good. Still kinda wondering why this happened? Never thought that something like this would happen to me. I know it’s possible but you never think that it will but it did. I’m grateful that it wasn’t as bad as most strokes where most people have to go through rehabilitation.
Again, I’m not looking or sympathy, I’m just sharing my story.
Arnittress Dowdy 