Roto Rooter #14

The angioplasty was needed for two reasons:

1. They needed to remove the clots in my brain - otherwise pressure would continue to grow.

I had already had seizures and flat lined once.

2. I was paralyzed on both sides of my body.

The first attempt on my right side was successful, relieved pressure on the brain. Left side still paralyzed.
Second attempt on left side gave me partial recovery on my left side.

(Keep in mind - since I remember being loaded into the ambulance for the second visit -

I have NO MEMORIES OF ANY OF THIS

I have a 5 day gap in my memory covering most of these events. This is true to this day.

However my wife has very clear memories, and will never forget what happened. We live Provinces away from our family and at the time our boys were about 4 and 2. My youngest spent most of his time during this strapped to the front of his mother as she dealt with all of this.

My 5 day coma #13

While i was knocked out in a coma... my wife had to make one of the most difficult decisions of our lives.

well, it was basically when the they needed to do the roto rooter thingy into my brain(angioplasty)
- it was like a million to one chance that it might work, otherwise i was gonna die.

(Strangely enough, the odds of some one getting this, at my age with my history, was also a million to one.)

The wheels really start to come off. #12

I had a rough night. I had been momentarily confused about where I was and then wanted a doctor.

When my wife arrived she was shown to my bed that was now in the stretcher bay and I was shaking profusely babbling and not coherent. After a few minutes I was apparently able to recognize her and I asked for water. I wanted a LOT of water.

Moments after I got the water I returned to babbling. The nurses said that it was time for me to go for his MRI so she visited briefly for a few minutes. I was speaking to her through clenched teeth and was still trembling and shaking all over. I was very sick but still no one had any concrete answer as to what was going on.

She spoke to the doctor. He explained that he had some hunches:
• suspected that a small tear was bleeding in William’s neck, • tiny clots that need time to develop and show on the CT scans • or the possible onset of MS.

During my MRI I had a seizure. The test needed to be aborted and I was brought back to the emergency department.

My wife heard commotion behind the curtain but could not see what was going on.

The nurse informed her about the seizure in the MRI and now needs a breathing tube to protect his airway.

As soon as the breathing tube was in I returned to the MRI.






They then moved me up to the ICU and the doctor explained to my wife that I had had two large clots in the veins that carry blood away from the brain. With this blockage, my brain could not equalize it's pressure, causing the headaches, and forcing against my optical nerves.

I was to be moved to another hospital that was better equipped to handle this. My condition was very grave. All arrangements and been made and I was being prepared for immediate transfer.

Back in the hospital again #11

When I arrived back at the hospital there seemed to be some confusion about what the deal was and my history.

The communication (so I am told, remember at this point my memory disappears.) between ambulance and the doctors was not very clear and it took almost 2 hrs. for me to get the IV that prevented me from me from getting pain killers for the pain.

My co worker from last night was there with me trying to cover my eyes, and helping me with a cold cloth. Other people from from work were waiting for me in chairs outside of the ER.

I was basically in a deep sleep like state, however I was able to automatically communicate with the doctors ( medication, who i was etc.) I received a spinal tap around 2:00 and was able to talk to my wife however it did require a lot of effort.

The doctor was asking about my recent health, had I experienced mood changes etc. She explained that i had missed a lot of work over the last two weeks which was very unusual, and insisted that something be done as she was not going to be taking me home again until I was fixed.

It was at this time that the trouble with movement on my left hand side. The slur showed up in my sleep when my wife headed home. She was worried about the possibility of a stroke- but nothing had shown up yet.

Time for lumbar punch #2

During this time I was unaware of family winging it's way out to me. My father in law had been talking with my wife and realized that he needed to be here.

My brother had also called to see if they should also come out- the recommendation was that they should get out as soon as possible.

Ongoing observation, testing and treatment. #10

While in the CAT scan, I believed that i was being tested to be part of a religious cult in the desert who refused to give me water.


On the way back down - one of the doctors bitched out the attendant who was bring me back for using the "wrong" elevator" -when he informed her that the regular one was out of service, I offered to her that we could take the stairs.

Ambulance ride back to hospital #9

I regret that i wasn't conscious for the hospital ride back at Code 3. Apparently from what I am told we went screaming, lights and sirens on this trip.

They may have also "split the sheets {term from when I was in the fire department - basically when the cars you come upon do not move over, you go around them by utilizing the on coming traffic lane. Most vehicles seeing an emergency vehicle coming at them tend to move over.}

My wife did not choose to ask if she could play with the siren on this trip.

Released from hospital first time - condition at home #8

When I was picked up by my co-worker from the wheel chair in the lobby. I staggered out to his car with my Percocet in my pocket to go ride out my "Migraine" he helped me into is car as i assured him I was doing ok.

When we pulled up to the house, I thanked him for the ride and was proceeding to get out. I tried to brush off his offer of help to the door, but he insisted.

Unfortunately, he's a smaller guy than me and as I walked I pulled us both down into the snow and ice (always got that around here), I joked that i might of done better myself, but I also stumbled through the doorway and made it up about 3 steps before crashing at the top.

The next little bit is a blur, i remember taking the percocet and then crawling actross the floor on my hands and knees to get on the couch to pass out again.

Fortunately for me I didn't have to worry about myself as I passed out on the couch, for everyone else - it was hell.

I don't remember my son saying goodbye to me when he went to daycare that morning.

I do remember my wife telling me that she had called the ambulance to bring me back to the hospital.
I being the nice guy that I am, though I would be courteous and go to the bathroom before they showed to make their lives easier.

Next thing I remember is some one yelling at me to help them get me out of the small toilet cuz they could not get in there to grab me. I woke up when the cold air hit me out side as they loaded me into the ambulance,

( Side note I usually look after the sidewalks etc around the house. Since I felt so crappy I had allowed a 36" ice berm to form at the end of the side walk which the 4 fireman and 2 ambulance guys had to carry me over bitchin the whole way - at least i didn't go out like Elvis)

Original intake - Day Two #7

At some point after my wife left I started to get mobile, I remember waking up and sitting up on the gurney I was at in the hallway.

They gave me a tray and I started to eat some food- I remember the strawberry ice cream.

(funny side bar, as I was sitting there this old guy was wheeled past me to be eventually end up further down the hall, yelled out at me "They promised no more hall way medicine!")

As I am sitting there I saw two visitors, first was doctor S. he was very surprised to see me as he was one of the original doctors who admitted me some 14 hours earlier.

The second visitor was my GI doc - he was visiting another patient and just happened to be cutting through the ER. He asked me exactly what was going on - I couldn't tell him - he said that I should ensure to see an neurologist - I wasn't sure if I had already or not- but told him when I was done eating they were sending me home.

I had apparently been mobile and reasonably stable so it was time to go.

They gave me Percocet for the headache I still had.

I called and said that I was coming home, my wife had called my co worker to pick me up as our kids were already in bed.

As I was waving good bye i got tangled in my feet and hit the floor. They asked if I was OK and I said it was probably "just the laces in my boots."

They were nice enough to put me in a wheelchair and had a janitor push me out towards the door.

Hospital treatment - up to release #6

Meeting Doctor Dave....

I was given fluids and medication for the headache. A short while later I was seen by a doctor who listened intently to what was going on. An exam and EKG were performed and nothing showed as abnormal at the time.

The symptoms were puzzling, but because of previous Prednisone use to treat Ulcerative colitis, it was determined that I was having an adrenal crisis. The doctor explained to my wife that I would spend the night in the emergency room for observation and may have a CT scan in the morning.

My wife had to leave to look after our children, so she I left and told me I would return in the morning.

She returned the next morning where I told here I was going for a CAT scan and they were going to try to give me something to eat. My wife took my son who was strapped in his babyTrekker© and went for something to eat herself. I was unable to keep my food down, could not stand without getting dizzy and was unable to maneuver the cloth i had to tidy up.

dizziness and nausea continued all afternoon until later that night.

My wife had to go home to feed the kids and get them to bed.

Hospital intake - observation #5

First kick at the CAT. My previous condition of U/C actually managed to get me kicked up the the front of the line.

I was able to get taken into the back right away. They found me a room with a multitude of patients that came through during my stay. ( This is where the part where things get a little confusing for me- most of this is in bits and flashes)

I had a lady who was complaining about how bad her migraine was (I win) another person who was in an irritable bowel attack (I also win). The nice part was that when ever a doctor would come in to look at the other patients they would ask "why are the lights off?" and then flip the big overhead fluorescents and it would almost cause me to pass out.

Patient presents with these symptoms... #4

• Migraine Headaches for 2 weeks, ( Wanted to be a tough guy I guess, kept going to work, even took trip.)

• Disorientation - drove 2 hours in wrong direction before turning around, while on trip
• Easy to anger.

• Photo phobia ( Had to have all lights off at home, family trying to stay out of the way in the dark.

• Could not stand the smell of chocolate. ( made nauseous)

• Vomiting.

Pre-existing conditions #3

• I had been suffering through a severe case of Ulcereative colitis for about 5 years. Cramps, severe diarrhea, pain
- on the plus side it helped me lose almost 6o pounds (Lose weight Now! Ask me How)

• Patient has been only hospitalized once previously for Quinsy and had his tonsils removed.

Currently taking Dicetal, Pentasa, and iron.

Allergic to penicillin.

Patient has been in relationship for 12 years with the same person.

Symptoms and Warning Signs #2

It all kinda started off with some severe migraines...

I was scheduled to go to Apple™ to go for repair certification. on the flight there I could feel the headaches getting worse as the plane climbed, and didn't relieve itself until I felt us descend into Toronto.

Once there I managed to work through the headache and get my luggage, rental car, and got the car out on the 401 heading toward Markham.

As i was driving along in new territory. I was constantly referring to the map that was given to me by the rental agent. I was looking at the exit numbers and was noticing that the numbers didn't match.

As i had been driving for a long time and was starting to get hungry as it was approaching midnight. I decided to pull off into the next exit to get some drive thru and consult the map a little better. This exit took me into Guelph (!) {

Home of the Sleeman Brewery, beautiful building, check it out if your are in the area. }

This is when I realized i was going in the wrong direction, and had been for TWO HOURS.

I turned the car around and started to head towards my awaiting hotel.

When I arrived at the hotel, the clerk was confused about the reservation, and claimed he had no record for me. ( At this point, I was going to punch him out- or go sleep in the car.)

He was finally able to find the paperwork - and i went to my room leaving a wake up call for seven as I was not sure what time the classes started later that morning.

I called my wife who was bothered by the fact that I drove two hours in the wrong direction before looking where I was, she told me I sounded funny, but I just blew her off saying I was just so tired.


Apple

With a killer headache, I dragged my self over to the Apple™ training center where I and another student was told there was NO CLASS.

@Q%$#@^#@^!!!!!!!!!

Apple™ had originally scheduled this class, and I had put my request through the company's channels.

What I later found out was that the request was never made, nor was it paid for.

Since I was not registered in the class- they never sent an email to me telling me that the class had been rescheduled.

Two planes tickets, car rental, hotel room and meals all wasted - but probably saved my life.






I actually left work on a number of occasions to go rest at home. Apparently in the dark - at one time the rest of my family had to sit in the dark except for the TV when I was home.

It got the kids conditioned so bad that when I was in the hospital, they would follow their grandfather around telling him that he couldn't have the lights on and would shut them off.

I can remember one occasion where I was in the bedroom resting with the door closed, and I heard the fridge door open and saw the light travel across the bottom of the door and I made me pass out.

What it's all about...#1

The purpose of this is to share some of my experiences that I had gone through during this event.

I will try to do them a chronologically as possible.

Of course some stuff may get entered sooner if it is more important. Or i just remember it.

What is it? go here wikipedia