Tuesday evening my mom had what my grandma referred to as an 'episode'. My grandpa took her to the er at the hospital in my home town. The doc that saw her said her blood pressure was high (off the chart high), and that she was diabetic (without doing a chalk test, or any other type of test). He even did a chest xray and included in the chart 'chest xray shows no sign of stroke. (now I may not be a doctor, but damn well that strokes do not occur in one's chest!)
He made her an appointment with our family doctor, Dr. Derrick and sent her home from the er, all the while she's complaining with slurred speech about her arm not being able to move/be used/grip/etc. I tried to talk her into going on to Dr. Derrick but she said she was going to be okay and wait it out, that once her blood pressure and blood sugar levels were down, she'd be okay.

I spoke to her wed. morning around 530, I couldn't undestand a word she was saying it was slurred so much. It scared the snot out of me. I talked to my grandparents and they were still in belief that the doctor was right, even though I tried to convince them I thought she was having a stroke. Right before 11am wed. she was on the computer trying to type an im to me, but she couldn't hit the right keys, and was just sending strings of letters. It scared me. I called her, and while her speech was a little clearer she still sounded like the typical case stroke victim. I could understand better that her arm wasn't cooperating, and that it was numb. I tried to talk her into going on to Dr. Derrick but she said she was going to be okay and wait it out, that once her blood pressure and blood sugar levels were down, she'd be okay. I didn't speak to her anymore that day.

Wed. afternoon it was confirmed that she had a stroke, she was sent from the hopital local to her, after an afternoon of testing and confirmations, to north carolina baptist. I spoke to the doctors that were working with her on wed. and I explained how upset I was that the inital doctor sent her home in the midst of having a stroke....livid am I, and yes I am speaking to a lawyer about this, if nothing else I feel that this 'doctor' is putting the general public in danger. If he doesn't know where a stroke happens, he shouldn't be practicing medicine let alone in the ER.

Yesterday morning, I got up, and candy and I ran by my doctor's office for a quick check up, and then we went up to the hospital she is in. I spent all day yesterday with her, and am going back up there this morning, with candy again . She was improving well yesterday, her speech becoming more clear, and she is gaining capacity to move her right arm and to use it, first thing yesterday mornign she couldn't lcose her first to squeese my hand, but mid afternoon she had gained a pretty good grip. The good news is if she stays calm, and isn't nervous or upset or excited, and takes her speech slow, she can talk plain as day, but if she gets upset you can't understand her. I have spoken with both her main doctor there, and I have also talked with the nuerosurgeon that will be doing the surgery monday morning to clean out a clogged artery. What happened was a piece of the plaque in her artery broke away and landed on the left side of her brain, triggering the stroke. She was given a swallow eval test yesterday, and around 6 last night was allowed the first true solid food she had consumed since tuesday evening. Even though it was hospital food, she was really excited to have it. She does have a little bit of trouble swallowing thin liquids but the docs think that this will continue to improve as the days go.

Its been a draining scary experience, and its not over yet. Yesterday I could tell she was doing a lot better, because she was back to worrying about everyone else. She wanted to make sure i hadn't skipped my dr. appointment that was yesterday morning, which i didn't, and i'm okay and start BC at the end of my cycle (ina couple of days). she's upset because she won't get to see her mother for mother's day (unless i can get my grandma and grandpa to come down to the hospital...they are really odd when it ocmes to leaving the house and going places, but i think they will eventually). I think tomorrow I'm staying in charlotte and regrouping and taking care of some things down here, then Sir and I will go see my mom for mother's day and possibly go to wilkes to see my grandma. Then monday morning early I and if not Sir (because he's new to his current job, not sure if they will let him take time off), then candy will be going up with me, so we can be there during/after the surgery.

I'm leaving out the entire ordeal with the 'hospital case worker' who was completely rude while trying to get out information for the billing and such. Including her asking her doctor why she couldn't go home and come back monday for the surgery. I'm livid at her. THere was also a nurse that told me even though I am her daughter, and that she had given or my grandpa and written for her, written consent to keep me informed, and to answer my questions.....that the doctor would not speak with me until she told him he could.

I won't be at work until at the earliest tuesday, and no incase anyof you are wondering, its the least of my worries right now, and they can either work with me and understand or i can find a new job. end of story.

I am going to finish preparing for the day, and candy should be here momentarily. I'll update as I have time available.

~Nikki~