3/25/2010 The Stroke

9:05 pm We were just sitting there watching some random show. I got up to go to the kitchen for a Pepsi. 3 steps........
My vision swam, my knees got weak and I knew that if I didn't sit down, I was going out! 3steps back......
I more or less plopped back onto the couch....everything sounded 4 miles away.....I was cold but sweating profusely....I could not lift my left arm , "That's not right!" I thought to myself. Then the comic in me jumped up and said "It's not a very good left either!" I could lift my left leg but just barely. My wife was speaking to me but it sounded as if someone where crinkling a potato chip bag inside of my head. My tongue seemed to be swelling inside my mouth like a Ballpark frank on a hot grill. My speech was that of man who drank about 11 beers in about an hour.
My wife wanted to call 911...in my male stubbornness, I would not let her, because I knew it was going to go away. But the intelligent part of my brain knew that I was having a stroke. She kept patting my forehead with a damp cloth and I kept explaining to her that I could not go to the hospital. Too many people were depending on me at work the next day.
10:00... the numbness in my leg was going away. I could lift my arm, but not use my fingers. My speech was coming back slowly. One of the first things I said was "See! I told you it would go away" but in my head I heard " Theee! Ah thold oo it wuud doeway!" I knew I was in trouble. I could not let it show! Because I am a MAN!
and I have responsibilities.
10:30 pm...I could stand up. Feebly. I could drink out of a glass. No dribbles. My speech was down to the effects of a 6 pack. I talked my wife into letting me just go to bed and I would be alright in the morning. Some how,with the help of my hands and knees I made it up the stairs to bed.
11:30...I take a Valium to try to help me get to sleep...I don't feel too bad now...My leg works pretty good..My hand can actually grasp things now and my speech is novacainish.
By Midnight, I knew sleep was going to be next to impossible. because I was scared shit-less once my whole brain came back together and I got a real handle on what was happening to me.