Today
I Can Talk - Can You? Isn't That Wonderful?
by Pat Samples
Posted May 4, 2008 8:15 PM
Posted May 4, 2008 8:15 PM
Posted in
Last Saturday I couldn’t talk. I opened my mouth and sometimes the words wouldn’t take form. At other times what came out of my mouth was not what my mind set out to convey. It was a jarring experience, not having any control over my speech. I tried to call for help, but I couldn’t use the phone. I just looked at the handset and couldn’t get my fingers to punch the numbers. I couldn’t even remember anyone’s number to call. And I was drooling.
Everything I knew about having a stroke was happening to me, and I was terrified. I did finally get my son on the phone and he called 911. I was soon in the ER and my clothes were being cut off me as a dozen medical staff members scrambled around me, each doing their emergency functions.
And then it was over. The blood clot in my brain dissolved on its own, and I was back to normal. A TIA, they called it, for transient ischemic attack. It’s similar to a stroke but it’s brief and doesn’t leave lasting effects. But let me tell you it’s scary, and it sure got my attention.
What strikes me most about the experience now is how marvelously my body normally works on a day-by-day basis. When I think a thought and open my mouth to express it, the words I want to say come out. When I pick up a phone, I can make a call. I typically take such actions for granted, but less so now. I am once again caught in a state of awe at having a body that performs millions of complicated functions every second. I’m thankful today for my body. You may want to take a moment to appreciate your body too.
Author of The Secret Wisdom of a Woman's Body
Visit me at www.patsamples.com
Comments
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Posted May 15, 2008 6:02 AM
Skippy, thanks for mentioning about the symptoms. Yes, I too am wanting other people to know about the signs of a stroke or TIA. So I'll mention them here: one-sided weakness, numbness, or paralysis; blurred vision or loss of vision; inability to speak, trouble speaking or understanding; dizziness or loss of balance; sudden, severe headache. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should get help immediately. Call 911. If you get medical help within the first few hours, you are much more likely to avoid the devastating effects of a stroke. Do not ignore these symptoms. In some cases, they may only last a few minutes, but they are serious and may indicate a need for medication. Believe me, I don't say this lightly, as I have been a major resister to taking medication all my life. But having experienced a TIA (having the symptoms for a short period without serious brain damage), I now want all the help I can get to avoid having a stroke. People who have TIAs are at a very high risk of having more of them and of having a stroke. Please pay attention if you have these symptoms and the get the help you need right away.
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