My First Post

This is my first time with a Blog - so forgive all the mistakes I will make, and feel free to give advice at any time (Tim!).  And Greg would tell you I am the Queen of run on sentences, too many comas, hyphens and exclamation points - oh well right now he has to count on me to type!!

If you're reading this,you know Greg has suffered a stroke, and want to be updated.  As is the way of the age we are living in - a blog seemed to be the easiest way to do this!!!

First, a big thanks to everyone for their prayers and good thoughts - we know they are helping already.  Also, to those of you who have already picked up the slack - Big Big Thanks.

So here's what happened.
Monday night Greg was feeling wiped out, no headache, no blurred vision, no nausea, just tired.  When we got up Tuesday am to get Cosmo off to school, he noticed his right side was weak.  But Greg Being Greg he wanted to get Cos off to school before he said anything.  After he told me, I did notice the right side of his mouth was droopy a bit.  So he got himself dressed, tied his shoes and we left for Christ Hospital.

If you want good service at an ER - just tell them you're having a stroke!!  We were quickly escorted to the cardiac room and about 6 or 7 people including a doctor went to work on him.  His blood pressure was a little high (228/121), but his heart was great!  They did a CAT scan to make sure there weren't any bleeds, which there weren't, an echo cardiogram and checked his  carotid arteries which were also fine.

 So that was most of Tuesday, we got to his room and stared at each other (OK he slept and I stared at him).

Wednesday brought a day of disappointment and waiting.  Greg woke at 3 am (it is a hospital) with no use of his right arm and more drooping of his face, and a little less control of his right leg.  The doctor was concerned and called for a neurology consult.

The Speech Pathologist visited and said she isn't worried about recovery of his mouth - she told him he just needs to talk a lot to exercise it.  We both found that funny!!  I'm going to get a good romance novel and have him read it to me.

Physical Therapy came at 6:00pm and did an evaluation of his leg.  Although he can walk, when on a long walk his leg began to fatigue and his foot dropped and he ran into things with it!!  She was pleased but recommended in house rehab.

The Neurologist came about 7:00pm and showed us his MRI which was fascinating and Greg asked for his own CD!  He showed us the stroke sight and explained a lot of things, something about a sprinkler and not lowering his BP to fast.  The scan also showed some signs of previous small strokes (YUCK).  He really didn't have a lot to say - but will keep watching him.

So here we are on Thursday!!  Overnight he stayed the same, he still freaks people out when they take his blood pressure.  And we hope to see Dr. Chadwell his internist this morning, to see what our next steps will be.

Occupational Therapy was here already this morning.  Molly is a cute little pregnant lady - and she is supposed to catch him if he falls!!  She was pleased with his shoulder control and gave him some homework!!  She is also recommending in house rehab, so if all the stars line up - he will move down to the second floor sometime in the next week for intensive therapy.  At this point they are all in agreement that he can't move home yet - the stairs, the shower on the second floor, the dogs, the wife  -it all adds up to a crazy life!!

Sorry that today's post is so long, I will try to update daily and keep things shorter!!  Again thanks for all the great thoughts - keep them coming, we need them!!