Thursday, July 23, 2020

Going to the ER yesterday was the smartest thing I've done lately, because....

"Because why, Ray?"

Because, while there, I confessed to the ER doctor that I'd stupidly smart-mouthed the neurologist when he first called me about follow-up, and I said,

"I'm afraid I've totally burnt my bridges with him, and I was immediately sorry, but that was after I walked away from the smoke and flames..." The ER doctor said, "I like someone with spirit - and I can fix that for you!" And he did!

This morning, I got a call from the neurologist. He asked me how I'm feeling today. I said, "Much better, thanks, and how may I help you?" He said, "I have a few questions about your left hand..." and then he went on to ask those. I answered everything (politely, this time) and we had a nice friendly chat. He said his wife works here in our management office. (It's a small world, Kiddies) And so I had to tell him about the place, and how this was the place everyone wanted to live when it was first completed in the 1970s, and I first arrived here in 1981, while it was still the jewel of North Vancouver...

He said, "Getting back to your hand, based on the two scans being the same, I'm not even sure that what you had the first time on June 9th was even a real stroke. There's a percentage of restriction in that carotid artery, but I'm not sure we should do something about it. I'd like you to come in for a nerve test which 
will tell us a lot more about how it is now and even how it was then, and after that, we can make a better decision." I mentioned that my specialist had spoken to me about possibly putting a stent into that right carotid artery to keep it open, and that you and I should talk about it. He said, "I'm not sure a stent is the way we ought to go just yet. Let's do that nerve test first, and it's quite possible you won't need surgery for a stent. I'll try to squeeze you into the schedule in a few weeks, and someone will call you with the details." I thanked him for calling, and we wished each other a nice day.

So, the outlook seems to have improved amazingly overnight, and it really is possible to "unburn a bridge" if you're lucky, and do it the right way, and have a little help from your friends.  Or, as I'd put it, "There's always more than one way to skin a cat." 

2 comments:

  1. Good for you.

    Is your temper harder to control recently? If so, maybe it could be connected to the event, whatever that was, that's been known to happen, I'm told.

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  2. I think my temper being harder to control recently is mostly due to the "cabin fever" of not being able to get out as much lately. Hopefully, that will change soon.


    gyip

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