July 4, 2009

July 4, 2009

July 4, 2009 is a day I won’t forget.  The previous day, hubby and I  had attended a birthday party for a friend and had a wonderful time.  The following morning, I woke up and could barely swallow as my throat felt like it was closed shut, plus I had problems breathing.  Hubby took me to the emergency room, I was examined and was told I had high blood pressure, probably due to my throat infection.  I mentioned that the left side of my face to my chin and part way down my chest felt strange. I described it as when coming out of Novocaine where you scratch but you can’t feel it, that pins and needle feeling.   The doctor wasn’t concerned and gave me a prescription for my throat.  That afternoon, we went back since I couldn’t even swallow the pills and asked if something could be done as I couldn’t breath.  The doctor didn’t have the best bedside manner as he told me if I couldn’t breath, I’d be dead.   So for the next few days, I could barely move, my sweet hubby made me soup so I could at least try to get something in me.  Not getting any better, I went back to the emergency room and they did an EKG and I still had high blood pressure. Again I was told I would be fine, just a throat infection.  Two days later, when our family doctor came back from vacation, hubby took me there since I couldn’t swallow or eat at all.  He did blood work and gave me some other medication and told me since he was on call at the hospital, if I didn’t feel better be evening, to call him and get to the hospital.  I came right out and told him I wouldn’t be around by evening as I felt so bad, I could almost feel the life draining from me.

Well the medication he gave me actually worked and I was able to eat the next morning. My doctor called with the test results and it was determined I had a few mini strokes that had affected my throat and esophagus.  So all the time I had the high blood pressure and numb face, it wasn’t just a throat infection.

I was lucky that I only lost feeling on the left side of my throat and while it feels weird when I swallow, I’m glad that’s all it is.  My esophagus closes at times and I go into fits of coughing so bad I get to choking but I do self-help techniques of swallowing if I feel it coming on.  Sometimes it works, other times, I scare those around me and myself.

I learned the hard way by listening to a doctor who said it was nothing and I took him for his word. If you ever get a pins and needle feeling that doesn’t go away, please get it checked before it’s too late.   Hubby and I have been together almost 51 years and plan to be together for a lot longer!