All,
Just thought I’d reach out to the guys I trust for advice about a lot!
Not such a good day last Monday.
Woke up, was ok for about 10 minutes then everything was spinning, could hardly stand, my wife called 911.
EMT’s Hauled me in, Doctors confirmed I had a stroke.
Speech was slurred, much better now. Gained strength back in my left side, they sent me home Thursday.
Lots of PT and appointments with the cardiologist and neurologist.
The only thing I have remaining is a bit of light headedness and a very slight balance issue.
Has anyone on here been through this?
Definitely an eye opener for me. Not that I drink and smoke everyday, I really don’t - just an occasional beer and a cigar.
Diet will change and shed some lbs……..not easy after hip replacements and everything always hurts.
I hate it, but won’t be at Belvidere this year. First year missed since…..I can’t remember?
Just a reminder to take care of yourselves everyone….this thing called life if pretty precious.

Wally.

I had a stroke scare the morning after my 58th birthday. Mine was very minor in nature....I had some typing issues, was light headed and similar things for a few days. I was fortunate.....no speech or physical issues. I saw a neurologist 2 or 3 times afterwards and basically have been cleared. Been over a year now and I seem to be 99.9%. However my family practice doctor reminds me of this history and the risk. I have lost about 10lbs....10 more to go and I should be at target. Also taking baby aspirin and Lipitor every day. I count my blessings this was not much worse. Best of luck in your recovery.

Joe

I have a co-worker that had one at 40. You need to know your risk factors. Blood pressure is the big one. It is the silent killer. You can have very high BP with no symptoms. Get up off the couch and walk once you are able. It doesn't matter how far you can walk at the beginning. Start with a short walk, then every week make it a little longer. Do it every day. My BP is way down now that I have been walking regularly. Good luck!

I had a mild stroke in my late 30's. Heavy drinker, smoker, etc. Cleaned up my act after that. For a while.

How many remember the commercials form the 60-70's that stated the above bolded statement?

My father died at 36 in 1960 from a heart attack. My brother who had not been to aDr. in probably 20+ years was rewarded with a SEVERE stroke at age 60. Pay attention to you're body, what it's telling you and see your Dr. at least once a year.
5 years ago I noticed i was having more and more difficulty breathing when exerting myself. When I had to stop while walking through Costco I made an appt. I had been seeing my Dr's on a regular basis, had 4 or so stents but kept smoking and hammering down the beers daily.
2days after the Appt. they went in to do another stent. Not so lucky this time It was Bypass time. 2 days later I went in on a priority basis. Things went sideways and I was intubated & IV'd with Propofol and Fentanyl for over 4 weeks. Another week in a long term care facility that fortunately became short term. 3 weeks of rehab and I was able to come home. Another 12-14 months shaking the side effects of the Propofol and Fentanyl and I was left with tremors that have rescinded but not completely.
Haven't had anything but Water, tea and milk liquid wise nor have I had a cigarette since.
Sorry for the length of this but hopefully it may help someone avoid the consequences of not seeing a Dr. regularly

Sorry to hear that. Strokes are scary things. My mom had one a couple weeks ago and is in rehab now. She's slowly starting to move her left side a bit more every time we visit.

Glad you had a good outcome.

Unless your doctor recommends against it, you really shouldn't have any problems going to the show. Hanging around a car show isn't much different than hanging around the house. Just don't over do it. Manage your activity level based on the heat and stay well hydrated (with WATER lol). Doing things you enjoy is good for your health.

Kevin

Thank you all for the kind words and stories with good or bad outcomes, it’s all a lesson learned for us.
I think I’ve been pretty fortunate as it’s been less than 2 weeks and I’m almost back to 95% (haven’t been 100% in years)
Going through physical therapy pretty good and I already see a difference in how I feel.
My blood pressure is regulated pretty good and keeping a close eye on heart beats/minute.
I’ve lost 15 pounds in this time and plan on losing more.
It’s definitely an eye opener and I hope anyone else reading these posts take note and take a little bit better care of themselves.
I pray everyone that’s told stories in this thread continues to heal!
I usually sell at the swap meet in Belvidere so that’s why I’ll probably skip this year, possibly pop over there on Sunday for the show, we’ll see how I’m feeling.
I’ll definitely miss Rhino, Eric and his crew of misfits, Scott digging stuff out of my truck for me as I’m unloading it….and for sure Roger, Diane and the whole CMC crew.
My Demon is almost complete…..I feel like I’ve been given a second chance - pic below.
Thank you again everyone.

Wally.

As I have gotten older it has been one thing after another with health related things. My best advice is stay on top of things. Don`t ignore anything.

Yes, selling can get exhausting.

And I'd think it would be easy to wrapped up in things and forget your limits.

One of my friends had a small stroke at 50, last year. She's fine now, but she was in the hospital for like a week and had to wait a while before she was allowed to drive again. I think her main issue was fine motor control on one side. She didn't lose consciousness or anything, didn't fall down, just felt a little off and one hand wouldn't respond.

Good looking Demon.

My daughter is a PA in an Emergency room just outside Detroit. Eveytime we talk she tells me about "a guy my age" (I'm 59) who came in for this or that but "didn't make it". Recently a "guy my age" was braodsided while riding his motorcycle. She said he came in. Very talkative. Leg chewed up like hamburger. The ER doctors couldn't find all the arteries to pinch them off fast enough and "he didn't make it".

We are all getting old. Glad you're still here.

And very glad to still be here.
Thanks for the compliment, I bought some stuff from you guys at the Indy show in March. Great dealing with you!
God bless your daughter for being a PA in an ER, They’re amazing!
I am so very thankful of everyone that cared for me - from the EMT’s that picked me up (it was cool, I was coherent enough to hear the say “We’re coming in Hot!)
everyone in the ER and the hospital I stayed at, they were so caring and complete with everything they did.
Thanks again everyone, please take care of yourselves!

Wally.

My sister never woke up after her second stroke. Her smoking and getting drunk was her priority.

Had a mini stroke at 57, Thanksgiving day I was down in the field tending a horse all of a sudden my eyes crossed and had to put hand over one eye to get back to house. When there i took 14 aspirins and 10 minutes later was fine. Went to dinner that day and next morning called my doctors office, they said get here immediately. Spent the weekend in the hospital home on Monday. ER doctor said where did I hear to take the aspirin, I said read it somewhere. He said it was very smart because it saved me from any damage other than the dead spot in my head. Like all said DON’T dismiss anything, you have no time to mess around. So far at 73 it’s ok just everything else is going to crap. lol

Holy crap Wally! My dad had 4 strokes and 3 heart attacks, so there is history in my family and me being in such fine shape, we could be twins! Sucks you are missing Belvidere, it won't be the same without you, but take care of yourself and you will be around for many more...

clotting strokes have harmed so many friends

there is also the danger of bleeding strokes, which disabled my mother beginning in 2006, when she was taking warfarin

my youngest brother is now taking Eliquis daily,
and is still working on equipment,
and complains the slightest nick will bleed 3 or 4 times as long as a nick would before.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/apixaban-oral-route/description/drg-20060729

How many here on moparts are taking any blood thinner?

I’ve always considered “Round” a shape!?
I’m seriously working on that now.
Down but not out.
Please tell all the gang hello.

how WELL i know this !!!
make sure a guy looks at his family history, noting health issues and the age they happened. pay attention to what the doc[s] say, and don't be afraid to get a second opinion.

I’m on Plavix since this began and 325mg/day aspirin.
Many older friends swear by the 81mg childrens aspirin/day.

Neurologist and Cardiologist appointments next Friday.
Feeling much better, still a bit of light headedness and fatigued easily.
Thanks again everyone.
I’ll keep the updates coming to possibly help others that do as I did and not take care of myself.

Wally.