Oh, good.

[apocalypsos]

My mom just called to tell me that on Sunday she had one of these.

She didn't do anything about it at the time, but now she has to go in for all sorts of tests and an MRI and whatnot and her doctor told her if it happens again to go to the emergency room.

My exact response was, "Boy, you're really carrying on that family tradition of falling apart at the seams early, aren't you?"

(Hey, if I don't crack jokes, I'm going to freak the fuck out.)

Comments

[wolfshark]

*hugs you* That sucks!

[poisontaster]

The Fiance had one of those three years ago. It was scary as fuck when it was happening, but he's been fine ever since and there's been no lasting effects. He's totally fine now.

*sends good thoughts*

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

You know what I think is my problem? It's her delivery every time she tells me about some new thing that's wrong with her.

Mom: Blah blah and then I bought this on sale, blah blah need to pick up groceries, blah blah and then I found out I have a malignant patch of skin cancer ...
Me: WHAT?!
Mom: Oh, don't worry, it's nothing, the doctor removed it and put me on stuff and now I'm perfectly fine. Anyway, your brother didn't clean his room yet and blah blah ...
Me: *headdesk*

I swear she does this to me on purpose.

[scary-being-me.livejournal.com]

*HUG*

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

My father-in-law had one of those (not the first, and not the last, unfortunately - he's 87) on Sunday as well. He seems to have pretty much recovered from this one. It's hard to tell since he's deaf at the moment - his only working eardrum was perforated (by an infection) and it hasn't healed yet, so his hearing aid isn't very effective. But he's currently following directions and not getting lost, so it seems he's more or less back to normal.

It's going to be an interesting Thanksgiving.

(And your mother's doctors are better than Dad's. Mom frantically called them on Sunday and they said, "Bring him in to see the nurse practitioner next week." Next time, they're calling an ambulance and going to a hospital.)

[florahart]

Yes, emergency room, but also, my grandma had series of these, like, when I was in college? maybe a little later. Early 90s-ish. She's still fine, living with my granddad independently, and writing rambling letters in cards to us (the rambling is not new. heh.). She's 88. So, yes, it's something to get looked at and all, but it's not immediate cause for alarm. Don't panic; just be sure other people who live in her house are aware of what that looks like. Because kinda likely, if she's having another one, she won't realize it's happening until it's done, or will fail to remember there's something she's supposed to do about it. Sort of like concussions that way, where you see a football player who clearly has no idea where or when he is, and is all "Put me back in, coach! I can go!"

[coolgrin.livejournal.com]

HUG>

[telaryn.livejournal.com]

This.

Chiming in to say that Mom had a series of those, with no lasting effects. None of them ever progressed to full-blown stroke territory. The key thing is to get it checked *immediately*.

Also, the medications they give people who have these are really effective. Doctors who deal with this have a good handle on how to keep it under control.

[pie-is-good.livejournal.com]

Um, I wish I could say I didn't know how much stuff like that sucks? I'm glad it was only a TIA -- hopefully nothing worse or permanent will happen. Make sure she gets to all the doctors she's supposed to.

But I'm sure she'll be fine with getting it checked out and everything.

♥

[wenchamok.livejournal.com]

A quick and dirty way to tell if someone's having a stroke (and this *might* work for TIAs, but I'm not sure) -- think FAST.

F is for face. Have the person smile at you. If one side droops, they might be having a stroke.
A is for arms. Have the person raise both arms straight out in front of them at shoulder height and hold them there for 15+ seconds. If one arm drags down, they might be having a stroke.
S is for speech. Have them repeat back to you a random combination of works. Peanut butter, computer, vertebrae, flag, water. If they can't, they might be having a stroke.
T is for time. If the person has any of the above three problems, it's time to get the hell to the hospital. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

[azurelunatic]

Woah.

[silveraspen]

Fingers crossed for you and your mom.

[poisontaster]

They totally do. It's a mom thing. They must take classes at the same time they do Lamaze.

[celli]

*hugs*