Thanks guys for the kind thoughts,it really means a lot.
The scariest part of this whole ordeal I guess, was when I arrived at the ER laying
on the bed and everybody trying to figure out what just happened.
The decision to start the use of tPA was probably the game changer for me.
tPA stands for tissue Plasminogen Activator, a strong “clot dissolving” medicine. Stroke occurs when an area of the brain is deprived of oxygen and nutrients because of a blocked blood vessel.
Well the IV of tPA started out pretty innocently as I was fully awake and aware during the whole process.
Now the gross part:
Then about 10 mins in or so I started 'retching' again (medical term for dry heaving),coughing up blood into the
hospital issue barf bag that resembles a giant condom.
At about the same time my lower extremities start shaking at first,then convulsing uncontrollably (like you see on a
medical tv show),I thought I was going to either fall off the bed or die. But that was the tPA doing it's thing.
The poor little nurse got pretty concerned (as did my wife who was nearby),she called the Neurosurgeon who
immediately had her stop the drip and flush out the remaining solution.
They said I probably got enough of the tPA (roughly 50-60%) to do some good,and that everybody reacts differently
to it (hence why I had to sign a waiver),but you only have a short window/time frame to use it (about 3-4 hrs.)
Within a few minutes things started to stabilize somewhat,then off to take some brain pics....to see where the clot wound up (left cerebellum)...and then up to ICU for more pokin' and prodin'!
Starting to get my speech back without too much slurring,and getting around pretty good with the use of
one my FIL's high dollar walkers...already thinking how could customize it with some hydrographics!