My VAD/stroke birthday came and went. Honestly, it didn’t plague my mind like it did last year. I did go out for tacos and drinks with the two people that were able to be physically present to help me through my stroke recovery. I thanked them and cried a bit and then we moved on and enjoyed the moments.
I am in such a good place since my VAD and strokes, but there are still so many times that I get fired-up about the people and situations that let me down during and after my VAD, strokes and recovery. Lately it’s been the doctors and nurses on my mind…
When I had my 4th stroke, I was experiencing weakness and fatigue, numbness in my left arm, a horrendous migraine that wouldn’t quit and overall confusion. I spoke with my primary physician the morning after these symptoms started. I told here all about everything I had been experiencing the weeks leading up to this moment: vertigo, nausea, dizzy spells, pain, vision issues, etc. Do you know what her deepest insight was for me?!…”You should get help for your alcohol dependency.”
“You should get help for your alcohol dependency.”
-Primary care physician-
I felt so defeated. It’s like she didn’t listen to a thing I had said and just focused on the fact that I do drink sometimes, even though I had explained to her that I was no longer able to drink alcohol due to these ‘episodes’ I had been experiencing.
A few days later, I walked into the Urgent Care facility. They sat me down and I ran down my symptoms with them…Guess what they said to me before they shuffled me out the door?!…”We can’t help you here”
“We can’t help you here.”
-Urgent care-
WTF?! Seriously?! And people wonder why it took me so long to take my symptoms seriously…No one else was, so why should I? The words going through my head and my collective healthcare system…”It’s probably nothing.”
“It’s probably nothing.”
-me and everyone-
This is why VAD is missed so much. I am a member of some support groups on Facebook and the amount of victims that get turned away in astounding. We know something is wrong, but so many medical professionals don’t believe that a 20, 30, 40 year old can possibly be experiencing a stroke or torn arteries. Awareness is key. This is such a rare diagnosis that it is missed a massive percentage of the time.
!!TIME LOST = BRAIN LOST!!
I gave it one more chance and wandered into the Emergency Room. I didn’t think they would take too much time helping me.
Thankfully, I got examined by this amazing nurse in the Emergency Room who had a hunch and got me a CT & CTA. She took me seriously and quite possibly saved me from my next stoke. I am lucky that I recovered so well, however, my strokes kept getting worse each time. The next one may have cost me the use of a limb or may have damaged my vision and balance permanently….And there is always the possibility that I would not have made it at all. Since the nurse at the ER found my VAD and due to the rarity of this conditions, she now says that I am on her “greatest hits reel” of rare findings in ER cases.
“Greatest Hits Reel”
-er nurse-