I became dizzy Sunday afternoon. No problem. It will be fine tomorrow when I need to go to work. I woke up Monday and when I slowly stood up, my knees buckled and I fell right back onto the bed. There was NO WAY I could go to school. As a teacher, I have to actually be able to walk around the room, manage behaviors, and teach! When you can't even stand up, you can't be productive as a teacher...full stop.
As you can see, this is not a fun experience at all!
Now, where it's still claustrophobic, the mask directly over your face is gone. So much easier!
So that was my chaotic three days. Along with a heart monitor, I came home with a walker and purchased a shower chair. I officially feel MUCH, MUCH older than I am.
So Monday I stayed home, and monitored what was happening, praying it would get better so that I could go to school on Tuesday. I began creating lesson plans, just in case I would need them, but HOPING I wouldn't. My speech became a little slurry, which was different. The symptom that scared me the most was that I couldn't read the words on a medicine box, or the directions on how to cook something. I'm near sighted (can't see far), but I didn't go from that to needing bifocals overnight! Writing wasn't blurry, but fuzzy and completely unreadable.
Tuesday morning it was no better. Figures. Why not? I already have so many issues, what's one more? It was time to go the Instacare. A friend took me. I had no idea how Instacare could help me, but the symptoms weren't going away. Maybe there was something they could give me. Well, what was supposed to be an hour appointment turned into a 3 day fiasco.
After doing the regular initial tests, "squeeze my fingers", "push against my legs", ext. The doctor had me stand up, keep my legs together, and put arms up to my side. I began swaying, quite a bit. The doctor suggested I go to the hospital because they don't have the ability to perform a CT scan. He was worried that I might have had a mini stroke. Say WHAT? A mini stroke?
Well, why not. I had breast cancer at 44. Let's just add mini stroke at 47 to the ever growing list of health issues I've had to deal with my entire life.
The purpose of a CT scan is to detect diseases, infections, tumors, and internal injuries, or to guide biopsies and surgeries.
So the doctor calls the ER, because the Instacare doesn't have that equipment, let's them know we're on our way and off we go to the Riverton Hospital where I've had countless surgeries and physical therapy for back problems!
I check in and they grab a wheel chair for me because the room I'm going to is quite a long walk. In the end, I was very grateful for the wheel chair. It took a while for the doctor to come in because, we're in a hospital! I have the CT scan done, and, surprise; it shows nothing. It can't see my cerebellum, which is what they needed, making it impossible to determine if I've had a mini stroke or not. So this test was POINTLESS. Let's just say I hit my yearly deductible the moment I had that stupid test done. It was at this point that the doctor tells me to immediately go up to the main hospital where they can do an MRI, and I'll be checking in. She also told me that I can't go home first to grab a few essentials since they're getting a room for me now and will only hold it for so long. I can go by ambulance (NO THANK YOU), or Nick can take me. I'll take door number 2, thank you. She was also sure to tell me that I should've gone to the ER the minute I felt these symptoms. Umm...these were normal symptoms, you moron! Some people just shouldn't be doctors.
So Nick left work to come and get me since my awesome friend had been with me since about 9AM and by this time it was about 4PM!
Symptoms of a mini stroke are very similar to those of a full on stroke, which include:
- Weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body (NO)
- Confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech (NO)
- Sudden vision problems; blindness or double vision (YES)
- Dizziness, loss of balance, or difficulty walking (YES)
Apparently these are also a warning signs for a full blown stroke, so this explains the urgency to go straight to the hospital. The part that irritates me is that none of this was said to me while I was in ANY of the hospitals. I was just told "mini stroke".
Once inside my hospital room and in the stupid hospital gown, I sat down and got ready for the long haul. IV's are put in and many vials of blood are taken to be sent to the lab. The nurses were very kind. I was told that I needed an MRI to help determine what was happening. I reminded them that I have two metal devices, one inside my brain, and the other in my chest that help with my seizures. I can't have the MRI until those are turned off. Needless to say, I was NOT happy about them turning these off, but since it was for a good cause, okay. My Neurologist had already gone home for the day, along with the few people who could turn these off, so the MRI would have to wait until the next day (Wednesday). I was FINALLY told that I could eat and drink. Riverton hospital wouldn't let me in the event that surgery was necessary. And with that, Tuesday ended.
As many of you know, hospital beds suck. I haven't been overnight in a hospital for over 10 years when my initial RNS device was implanted into my skull. I can tell you that in those 10 years, the beds haven't improved or become any more comfortable! It's also difficult to sleep through the night since the nurses have to come in and check your vitals every two hours. They always feel bad about it, but oh well.
Wednesday was a waiting game for someone to come and turn off my devices so that I could have an MRI done. It was ridiculous. I was still dizzy, but not as bad as the previous days. I had an ultrasound of my heart done, since they still wanted to make sure I hadn't had a stroke.
It took until almost 1PM for my devices to be turned off. We then had to make sure there would be someone at the hospital who could get them turned back on after the MRI. I was told that there was a doctor who could help. A few more hours pass with us again, waiting. I had asked the nurses to please give me some Valium before the MRI since I was a little more nervous about the test with the devices in my body. They gave it to me, and off I went.
There is one positive that has come from this: MRI machines have changed for the better. It's always been a very claustrophobic event. This is a picture of an older machine. The mask over your head makes this even more nerve wracking. Somehow, I've always been able to sleep through these.
As you can see, this is not a fun experience at all!
Now, where it's still claustrophobic, the mask directly over your face is gone. So much easier!
Then we needed to wait for the Radiologist and Doctor to look over the MRI to let us know what in the world was going on. When you are sitting in an uncomfortable hospital bed, having to order room service, (which actually wasn't that bad), and just wanting to go home, the wait takes forever.
Finally, the doctor came in. She tells us that I have what looks like a cerebral tumor. Apparently it was on my last MRI in 2016 and she wants me to have another MRI, but this time with contrast, where a dye is pumped into me through my IV and will give the doctor a better look at my veins, tissues, and any inflammation I may have. I was told that the second MRI would be that night, but it wasn't. That was the end of Wednesday.
The second MRI was right at 8AM Thursday morning. I was stunned that it was so early. Thankfully, it showed that there wasn't a tumor. It's just a mass that hasn't grown and isn't doing anything. Nick calls it a planet without a name! So thankfully, no new brain issues!
A physical therapist came in to see me and learn a little more about my situation. She told me something disturbing. I was told that one of two things could happen. I could be sent to a facility for three weeks where I would live and have physical therapy 3 to 4 hours a day. The other option would be for me to go home and then participate in physical therapy. The "head" physical therapist would be making that decision after he met with me. I had been pretty good mentally through the past two days, but when she told me this, as soon as she left the room, I completely lost it! I just started crying. Suddenly I felt like I was a 90 year woman who couldn't do anything by herself, and was being sent off to a home (I apologize if that offends anyone).
Later that day, the head therapist came to see me. Using a walker, because there was no way I was doing it on my own, we walked down the hallways to a set of stairs, like the emergency stair well. After questioning me, they discovered there are stairs in my house, so I was taught a new way of walking down and up the stairs. I did pretty well, especially with the help of the walker. I was told that I could go home, which was the greatest thing to hear! We talked to the doctor and decided to lower one of my medications. There has been a long standing theory that my meds may be too high.
So what was the official diagnosis for me: Vestibular Migraine. This phrase sounded so familiar to me, and I couldn't figure out why. Talking to my sister today, I was reminded why. I was diagnosed with this YEARS ago by my headache doctor, and I even went to physical therapy for it! It's unfortunate that I had to spend 3 days in the hospital on "stroke watch" just to be diagnosed with something I've already dealt with!
What are vestibular migraines:
A neurological condition causing recurrent vertigo, dizziness, or imbalance, often without a severe headache. It is a common cause of episodic vertigo, affecting the inner ear's balance system. Symptoms, which can last from minutes to days, include nausea, sensitivity to light/sound, and motion sickness.
The last thing that was needed was 90 minutes of a combination of Benadryl and Magnesium to be pumped through my IV. During that time a representative for a company named Boston Scientific Cardiac Diagnostics came in to talk to us. Apparently I was leaving the hospital with a heart monitor, even though the ultrasound of my heart was just fine and there was no sign of a stroke. Absolutely ridiculous. I realize that this is the hospital covering their butts just in case, but I will have to wear this monitor for 30 days. It has a "phone" with it that will monitor everything. It's waterproof, which is good, but it can't be more than 30 feet away from me to gather the information, so it will be inside my pants pocket. Both the phone and the device need to be charged, so the part on my chest actually comes off. One day into this and I can tell this "phone" doesn't hold a charge very well. It's also in a ridiculous place.
I'm now off work the next week, and the week after that is Spring Break. As of now, I'll return to school on April 6th. I already miss my kids so much! Wednesday, they did a "Where is Mrs. Toale?" paragraph, and apparently without any help, they said I was in Florida at a Star Wars Convention! Oh, how I wish. That is hysterical!
Thanks to everyone who has helped us out since Tuesday. You are so appreciated!
HERE'S AN UPDATE:
Well, turns out I didn't even need to use the walker, or the shower chair, which is WONDERFUL! I have physical therapy I'm starting to help with my balance, and I have an appointment tomorrow with my migraine doctor to find out if I can qualify for a shot that you give yourself once a month to help take away vestibular migraine symptoms. That would be INCREDIBLE!
Once again, thanks to everyone who helped me out. Never in a million years did I think I'd have to rely on people this much. Thank you for all that you've done!
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