Expecting to hear one thing and hearing another

I've tried to write this blog on more than one occasion.Finally after much thought here goes nothing.
On February 23rd I went to the Doctor.My blood pressure was high.165/101.I told the doctor that I did'nt feel well and he asked me what I wanted him to do?I replied"what do you think I ought to do"?The doctor said he doesnt treat patience for general medical.I asked if he felt i needed to go to the ER across the street?The doctor told me to go home a 60 mile drive and relax.By the time I got home my blood pressure was 178/111.I called my doctor and she said to come in immediately.I was cold,clammy,perspiring,numbness on my left side.I drove the 11 miles and almost crashed in to the guard rail.I made it to the doctors and the receptionist said "oh" and I was brought in immediately.The nurse started taking my blood pressure and assesing me.BP was 180/115 pulse was 107.The Doctor came in and she started assesing me.I told her about the numbness etc.She tested me for a stroke.I could'nt feel anything she did with spike roller needles etc.They called for a ambulance.The ambulances were busy and they had to send one from a neighboring community.They threw me on the gurney and took me to the ER.On the way the paramedic tried to start a IV.After 5 times of trying I told him to pull the ambulance over and try when we are not traveling down a highway at 70 MPH.They pulled over and the Paramedic still missed the vein.(As I told the paramedic "I Hvae thick skin and bad veins.My veins blow real easy".)I told them to just get me to the ER.We arrived at the ER and the ER doctor met me at the door and told me they were going to get me out of here asap because he didnt feel I was having a stroke.They could'nt life flight me out because of the bad weather.The transport ambulance showed up in 2 hours.I took the 75 mile ride to the lovely Napa Valley.I arrived about 21:30 and went directly to my room on the cardiac floor.I went through all the greetings and 100s of questions.Finally I got to sleep about 01:30.The lab came in about 05:30 to draw my blood.To say I was less than happy was a understatement.The nurse came in and said I would be undergoing numerous tests today.
They arrived at 08:00 to take me down for my tests.I had a x-ray of my chest,CT of my brain and last but not least a MRI of my brain.I was done at 11:30 just in time for lunch.WooHoo.I ate my lunch took a nap and watched TV and hung out the remainder of the day.
The next morning a lady came in about 8:00.She introduced herself and said she was a neurologist.My first thought was like what are you doing here.She asked me numerous questions,verbal tests and checked me for numbness.I am sitting here in the bed and she says they found white lesions on my brain and she is 95 percent sure I have Multiple Sclerosis.To say I was in shock was a understatement.I could here her talking but didnt undertstand what she was saying.The nurse came in immediately after the doctor left.She asked "if I was ok" I had tears in my eyes and told her yeah I was fine.She told me "they were starting Predazone IV to help stop the progression of the MS".I told the nurse I needed to call my family.The nurse left me alone to do so.I had to call my parents first.My dad needed to go to my wifes work and let her know of the diagnosis.
I called my mom and told her and she wanted to chat.I told my mom "I was in no mood and that dad needed to tell my wife in person".My dad called me back.My dad doesnt cry very often.He was crying when he called.I told him what I needed.He notified my wife and she called me about 12:30.We talked and I told her we would get through this.
14:00 in walked a Physical Therapist.Was I in for a rude shock.I tried to stand up and lost my balance and fell back on the bed.The PT helped me back up and we walked out of my room.I walked down the hall with my hand on the wall.I couldnt walk in a straight line and was very unstable.The PT said"welcome to MS".We both laughed.She said I would be "experiencing all kinds of stuff in the next few days".She also said "the simple things in life you took for granted were now going to become a struggle".How right she was.I was moved to the Acute Rehab Unit.I had my own room WooHoo.
The staff came in and assesed me.I was a mess.I had numbenss on left side,reduced strength on left side,short term memory loss,weakness in left leg and hand,speech and swallowing problems,I also had a delay of 3 to 4 seconds and my eyes dont track properly.I spenmt the next 8 days in Acute Rehab.The simplest of tasks now became very difficult.My stamina was gone and I was tired in about 10 minutes whether it was Physical or Mental exercises.
The staff kept reminding me that the MS diagnosis would hit me.I had been in good spirits and was dealing with the diagnosis.I had Physical Therapy,Speech Therapy,Occupational Therapy every day for 3 hours a day.After 8 days I was free from the hospital.
My dad came and picked me up from the Hospital.I left the hospital with a bunch of work orders and RX.I had made some progress but not a whole lot.Long slow road ahead of me.I almost fell getting into the car.I got in and my first request was human food.We went to my favorite pizza place.
The next day I recieved another reality check.I had to take my RX in for a cane and shower chair.I made all my appointments etc.I was exhausted after about 30 minutes and had to take a nap.
The next day I started outpatient rehab 2x a week 3 hours a day.To this day I still go to rehab.
I still suffer from left sided numbness,nerve pain,reduced feeling on my left side,weakness on my left side,delay of 3 to 4 seconds,no depth perception,eyes dont track properly,thick tongue,swallowing issues,short term memory loss on a daily basis.I had a follow up MRI Thursday and will see my Neurologist next Thrusday.We will decide on a drug regimen.I'm so looking forward to injecting myself daily,every other day or once weekly depending on the drug we decide.
My life has changed immensly.I can not work,I cant drive (I veer to the left).I have a new job title.Lead domestic engineer when I am having a good day.I have good days and bad days.If it is bad day I relax and hang out.I have to be able to attend PT.I have had to change the way I do daily tasks that I took for granted.I've learnd how to conserve my energy which is a big deal for people with MS.
When I'm not doing PT I am online doing research on MS and why one beer makes me so sick.I just had discovered Hop Hound beer while we were in Daytona.I had heard alcohol would make me ill and it did.Another lesson learned.
I also do reseach on what meds are out there and I spend a lot of time talking to people who have MS.Over all I take it one day at a time.A good day is a good day.A bad day can be very bad.
I have a positive attitude.I have a 4 year old son.I dont want him having to push me around in a wheel chair.This thought drives me when I am having a bad day.
I have been out in public twice where I needed to use my wheel chair.That was another reality check.I cant walk long distances.I use my cool vest when it is warm and I am outside.Sunblock doesnt work real well anymore.I burn easy when I wear shorts.LOL.
I love the people that make comments to me when I am riding on a electric cart at the grocery store.I tell them I'll trade you bodies for one day and that usually shuts them up.
The prognosis is TBD at this point.Depending how the drug regimen works.I have 4 choicesif the first fails.THe MS will never go away.The Doctors dont know what causes MS.They dont know if MS leads to other Neurological problems.A lot of unknowns.But I stay positive and take one day at a time.So now you know why I am on DCZ a lot lately and will be for the future.LOL.I can see Franklin cringing now.LOL.Thanks for reading.