MY ISCHEMIC STROKE AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT MY BODY?

Before I had a stroke I kinda know what it is because my mother had multiple strokes before she died. I was only 18 years old when she had her first stroke and she was only 45 years old. She was not able to move her left arm and leg. I remembered she was in the hospital for a long time. When she came home from the hospital she was still weak and slow to move. I remembered how she tried to get better and how she fought to survive because of us.

Although I saw what stroke was, I really didn't understand what it was until I had my stroke.

I had ischemic stroke 1 year and 10 months ago.But I learn that all strokes are not created equal. I learn that there are 3 types of stroke. They are ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke and TIA ( Transient Ischemic Attack ) According to my google research, Ischemic stroke usually occurs when a blood clot or accumulation of fat in an artery causes a reduction in the blood flow in the brain .Hemorrhagic stroke is a rapture of a the blood vessels in the brain, that cause bleeding inside the brain.It is known to be most dangerous. And the last one is TIA or Transient Ischemic Attack is a blockage of the flow of the blood to the brain that last temporarily also known as the mini stroke.

All types have one thing in common, the loss of blood to part of the brain. Our brain cells used oxygen that's carried by the blood, so when stroke cuts the supply,some of the cells start to die.

Now that we learn that not all strokes are created equal, I would like to tell you about my ischemic stroke which is also known as the brain attack. The reason why I want to talk about my stroke because I want to raise awareness about it and hoping that in doing so I might save you or your love ones from having a stroke.

When I had my stroke on October 9,2018, I did not have any symptoms at all. I was hiking Diamond Head in Hawaii 8 months before my stroke.That's 9,000 feet above sea level and I didn't have trouble climbing the mountain. I thought I was healthy. Had a little problem with my blood pressure now and then but I thought it's because I'm working all the time and it's just stress from the job and life overall.I thought if I will rest and relax and blood pressure will go back to normal.

Then, this happened. My stroke was caused by a blood clot. It affects the brain and results in very distinctive symptoms that affects one side of the body that includes sudden weakness in the face,arm,leg and slurred speech. When stroke occurs, time is the essence in order to save cells and minimize brain damage. When my stroke happened, my son's presence of calmness despite the chaos saved my life. He knew immediately I had a stroke and called 911. Within 5 minutes the EMT came and rushed me to ER.After all blood works, MRI's, C T scan's and God knows what else, the doctors confirmed that I was having a stroke. You know what else save me? The drug called tPA which stands for Tissue Plasminogen Activator which at this moment is the only weapon available in the doctor's clot busting arsenal.FDA approved the drug for use in 1996. The drug is administered intravenously. It dissolves the clot so that blood can flow. Doctors said I was lucky because I was brought to the ER on time.

So, you see even though tPA is a doctor's major weapon, it is used only on 1 in 5 patients because patients do not arrive to the hospital on time. That's why I am talking about this because I want you all to know how important time is when you or someone you love is having a stroke.

I didn't know I was having a stroke because I was sleeping. But my guardian angel woke me up so I can call for help. But here are symptoms that you should watch for if you or someone you love is having a stroke. Depending on which part of the brain is affected and they can include things like: sudden numbness of face,arm, or leg and often just 1 side of the body,confusion,problem speaking or understanding others,dizziness,loss of balance or coordination or trouble walking and vision loss or double vision.

I also learn that people who have high blood pressure,heart disease,high cholesterol or diabetes are likely to have ischemic stroke like me. Also people who smoke,have a family history and have irregular heart beat.

Stroke can hit anyone, any time. It's important to know the signs and symptoms. And to call 911 and go see your doctor immediately if you think you are having a stroke. TIME is very important when you are having a stroke. Please if you have signs of any of these, call 911 right away even if you are not sure what it is.The sooner you get treated, the less likely you are to have long term effects.

This is me standing and walking without my cane. Life is challenging and difficult after my ischemic stroke. I have to relearn the basics like talking,eating, taking a shower, standing and walking. My life will never be back to how it's use to be. I'm learning to embrace the new version of me. It was hard at first but now I actually love the new me. I will tell you why in my next blog.