Day 14

While waiting for the other test results, we got a setback; a small stroke. But a quick remedy.

They had rushed Melissa in for stroke symptoms. But a brain angeogram showed no major occlusion, there is some minor blockage/impact (right parietal distal MCA branch) beyond the reach of the grabbers. There was also another heart-pain scare (that turned out to be muscle cramp). But she was very interactive and communicative the entire day.

ℹ️ Info

Created: 2023-03-03

2023-03-03 (Friday) - stroke, angeogram, heart scare, and a lot of Melissa's personality.

Stroke

Driving in they call me and tell me she had a stroke, and they are doing a brain angeogram. This little Eagle Scout is trying to earn all her Merit Badges in a visit. If you're going to have a clot, the Neurology Ward of Houston Methodist is the place to do it (while on blood thinners, with a watchman device in place). I got there as they started, and 30 minutes later she was in recovery. They said no major occlusion, but they were looking at addressing some minor stuff further down (smaller vessels).

I was commuting in when they called. But I'd seen that they'd thrown an MRI w/Contrast on her expected procedures. So I thought for a second that was the hubub, then I caught what else was going on. I know she had DVT's in her arms and was concerned about clots - but I thought those go to lungs and PE (Pulmonary Embolisms). I talked to one of the Neurosurgeons and she said I was exactly right. Also when they were doing other stuff, they were asking about her history, and I was clarifying what had happened to her before getting there, and while there. And the nurse was like, "I wish I had an advocate like you", and asking about my medical background. I just pay attention when it's my wife. They did say there was occlusion in the right parietal distal MCA branch, but it wasn't something they could fix. That to me sounds like a stroke. I couldn't tell if the "stroke" was a recent event, or they're talking about Istemich stoke due to the CPR (Hypoxia). Later, I figured out they think that it was a new event that just happened -- but I still think this happened earlier, and someone just caught it late. I asked anesthesiologist why they did this now? He didn't realize I was her husband, because they were asking me medical questions at the time (and I'm terminology competent enough to answer them), so he replied "that she was acting very classically stroked out" (she has the head rocking, lifting her arms and not her hands, and her speech has gotten louder but she over enunciates and sounds stroke/MS like). To them this manifested more today than yesterday. But I thought I'd seen those symptoms (in milder form) for days, it was more like they just noticed.

Great interaction today

While in recovery (and later) she was chatty cathy again. Great interactions. Click for the disccussions

Her: Did I have a heart attack or stroke? Me: Baby you got around-the-world. You had a heart attack, but lack of oxygen during CPR, means it's like a stroke, and we're going to have some rewiring/retraining to fix it. That's why you're foggy, and having problems speaking. Her: Fuck. Me: But we're going to do rehab to get all that back. Her: How long's that gonna take? Me: Julie (Used to be a Stroke Nurse) said you'll be amazed on the progress in a month. Her: I'll believe that when I see it. Her: How long have I been here? Me: 2 weeks. Her: Fuck. How long has my Mom been here? Me: 1 week. Her: Did you pay for her flight? Me: No she got that, but I got her Hotel room. I think she thinks she's paying, but only paying for incidentals. Her: Good job! Me: Debi is thinking of flying out and visiting. Probably when you're in rehab or coming home. Her: Awww. That would be great. (The same kind of reaction when I name people that have been asking about her, or checking in with. Cousin Simin in Germany, Gayle her coworker, Ayla, her Brothers, various tenants that asked, and just going through the list). It makes her happy naming people that have been thinking of her. She gets context of them immediately, and will ask relevant questions about them.

False Alarm While in Recovery (and the discussions above) she complained about pain in her chest. I let them know, and that started a scramble for an EKG, and a response. But while they were responding, she said the pain moved to her back. And I reached under her, and started pulling / pressuring on the knotts in her back. To "That's it, harder". To which I replied, "Any harder, and I'm coming through the other side". After about 10 minutes, the pain went from a 3 or 4 to, "You got it, it's all better".

Visit Jennifer Manning and Diane. Diane re-introduced herself as the person who introduced Melissa to the Running Club where she had the heart attack. I said, "So it's your fault she's in here?"... and for about 2 beats I think I flummoxed Diane, before she got that I was pulling her leg (with the help of Jennifer saying I'm snarky/sarcastic). I smiled and pointed out if it wasn't for her, Melissa might have dropped somewhere without such great healthcare around. They had great conversations with Melissa, and she was much more interactive. But by 3:30pm and talking most of the day she was getting tired and a little harder to understand. (Which isn't always easy).

Other stuff

She always asks about the cat, chores, it's hard because of her speech issues, lots of frustration because her brain is faster than her mouth. But she's in there and very interactive.

She was talking with her Mom and mentioned, "We're still going to Ireland in Summer, right? You're going to kiss the Blarney Stone". (This is a trip she started planning a month or so ago).

She said she couldn't see again... but then I turned the flashlight on the cell phone and she could see the light. I think it's more that her optic nerve/etc., is still working, but her brain doesn't want to use the brain power to handle the imaging. I told her that was something we think/hope will get better.

She mutters things like "My Body Betrays me"... and things that let you know she fully gets what's going on

She was trying to pull out the Oxygen tube that was in her nose (because of the "pain in her chest/back"). And I was stopping her hands. She wouldn't leave it alone. So she reached out with her tongue and hooked it over the tube and pulled it out. I quipped, "Holy shit, how long have you had a prehensiled tongue? You've been holding out on me!" And she laughed.

Vick and Rich visited later -- and she was engaged. She was also scared of how large her room/space is. (This is a symtom of where she had her stroke). But they got to see and interact with her. And she mentioned that she's gonna be slower at playing Dominoes (something she loves).

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