Pardon the interruption
December 9, 2008 | Knowing Christ,T. Suzanne Eller
I was sitting at my desk late Sunday night. Church was amazing. Richard and I arrived home. He needed to study for finals, so I settled in for an exciting game of computer spades while I waited for him to finish. There was an annoying glare on the screen. I kept moving it, trying to get rid of it. Then I realized I couldn’t quite see all of the card numbers. So I got up and turned off the light.
The glare was still there. But it had nothing to do with the screen.
I walked into our room and started getting ready for bed, thinking my eyes must have been tired. I slipped into the bathroom to wash my face. The left side of the mirror was a shimmer. I couldn’t see my left pupil. I could only see a pinhole of light where my eye should have been.
That’s when I realized that I just might be in trouble.
I don’t know why, but I took a few more minutes, trying to figure out if I was having some sort of weird vision problem, moving from one bathroom to the other, holding a hand over one eye –which changed nothing – to holding a hand over the other eye. Still no change. I closed my eyes.
Fireworks on the left side.
The word “stroke” flitted through my brain.
So I went to Richard and knelt down beside his chair. “Hey babe, something weird is happening,” I said. My thoughts were to let him know just in case something really bad happened in the next few minutes.
He grabbed my hands, pulled me to my feet, and said, “let’s go.”
It appears that I had a TIA, a mini-stroke. To a healthy, exercising, eat chicken and broccoli kind of girl, this is a surprise.
The good news. No after affects. No damage that we can see motor skills wise, language, cognitive, etc.
The bad news. Why did this happen? And will it happen again? So I am going to undergo some tests. I have suspicion, however, that a bone density med I just started a month ago might be the culprit. The warning I read, but didn’t think would have anything to do with me, says, “in rare cases, taking this can lead to death by stroke”.
I’ll take weight training and exercise and lots of Vitamin D, thank you very much. Toss the meds.
Your prayers are appreciated. It seems a little surreal. Strokes are what happen to old people, or those who have high blood pressure or medical challenges, right?
I’m at peace, happy, wrapped in His arms, but it’s also a little scary–especially for the family. I feel just as great as I did Sunday afternoon, but I want to be wise so I’m going to try to make sure that we get to the bottom of it.
As usual, the interruption makes me see what is important and what is not. God is. Family is. Friends are. Life…
definitely, I love life.
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I know we follow one another on Twitter and I just wanted to say after reading this that you have many prayers coming your way. What a very scary experience to have to deal with. You are blessed, and healed in the name of Jesus. This will NOT happen again. Hugz
December 9th, 2008 at 11:29 amHow incredibly scary. I’m so glad you caught it quickly and that there were no after effects. I’ll be praying. May the Lord continue to give you and the doctors wisdom, and may He surround you and your family with His peace and loving care.
What did they do to stop it from progressing? And your vision is back to normal?
Sorry for the questions – it’s a bad habit!
December 9th, 2008 at 11:39 amIt stopped on the way to the hospital, Tracy. My vision is great. Thanks for the questions.
December 9th, 2008 at 11:57 amPraying for you, a close friend of mine (male 45) had a very serious stroke a little over a month ago. He was out of town on business and fortunately it happened during the day because his co-workers recognized the symptoms and called 911 right away. He was being treated within 15 minutes and in surgery within the hour. If it had happened at night he would not have made it based on where the clot was in his brain. A lady at that same hospital on the same day died of a stroke very similar to his because she waited an hour and half to get to the hospital.
He is also very disciplined about what he eats and how much he exercises. A word to everyone, if you suspect something is wrong, DO NOT wait, get to a hospital right away, it may save your life.
Very glad you are doing well, love your work
December 9th, 2008 at 1:11 pmKarin
Suzie,
December 9th, 2008 at 4:04 pmYou’ll be in my prayers and thank you for writing the wonderful family article. If you need anything know we are a phone call away.
Darla
SUZIE…..
Praise GOD!!! I am so glad you were able to figure out something was happening to you.
Thank you dear Lord….for protecting Suzie!
I am very thankful that you are ok…yes, junk that medication NOW!
December 9th, 2008 at 7:27 pmYou are too young…..and too many of us are relying on you to stick around sister!
I’ll keep praying…..you watch it!
Suzie, so glad there have been no lasting effects. Hope the docs discover what’s going on and what should be done to make sure this doesn’t happen again. Blessings to you and your family!
December 9th, 2008 at 8:19 pmKeeping you in my prayers.
*hug*,
December 9th, 2008 at 11:15 pmDebbie
Suzanne, you are so in my prayers. I love you and if you need anything let me know. ShaRhonda
December 12th, 2008 at 6:34 pm