WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 -- TIA

Transient Ischemic Attack

I'm going to back all of this up a little bit so that the chronology flows forward instead of backward. I hate reading books that are consistent flashbacks so I won't do that to my readers.

Last Wednesday morning began like every other morning. Just plain ol' boring normal. And then around ten as I was straightening up, and for once getting things in their proper places, I headed downstairs to put an extra tape dispenser in the secretary. Half way down the stairs my right arm went numb. I shook it out a little thinking -- what was I thinking? -- nothing. I went on into the sitting room and went to turn the key in the door of the secretary to lift it open. My fingers wouldn't work.

I am looking at my fingers and I know what they are supposed to be doing, only they're not doin' it. I can't make my fingers close around the key in order to turn it. And my hand is feeling very, very odd. I can feel it, but I can't feel it. This lasted a few seconds and then began to pass. I put the tape holder away. I flex my hand. I walk to the phone and call the doctors' office.

The women where I work are sort of 'family.' I was told to come right down to the office. I did. Well, I did eventually. It seemed to take Bill forever to get on shoes and shirt and gather his 'stuff.' On the way to the office my left arm started to feel odd. I know that the hand thing is a TIA. Some little part of my brain has been deprived of blood supply. I am scared. Shaky. Teary.

A very thorough examination -- my blood pressure is perfect, my heart rate is perfect, my strength is perfect, my sensory sensations are perfect, my coordination is perfect. The doctor is puzzled and orders blood tests and a CT scan -- NOW. Modern medicine is amazing. This intricate machine can see inside your head. Well, other body parts too, but the head is the focus for me. It takes all of three minutes of just lying still. A couple of hours later the doctor called me at home to say that the CT scan does not give us an answer. Well, that is good news and bad news.

The good news is that there was not anything significant -- like a bleed or a clot. The bad news is that we still need to know what happened. So more comprehensive blood work and a carotid ultrasound on Monday and I am put on a medication called Aggrenox which will keep the blood from forming clots.

But this is only Wednesday. The further good news is that I am okay and can get on with life. Great things are coming up in the next three days. God is good. Stay tuned.....