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"Oh, No... Not Again!"
9 years ago
I underwent a delay in posting my material in Fur Affinity this past week, due to another in a series of personal medical episodes (since moving down to south Florida during the last years of the 20th Century).
It all began on Tuesday morning, December 6, 2016, when I woke up to a numbing sensation in my left arm and hand. At first, I'd thought I was sleeping (the night before) in an awkward position... but when the numbness persisted well into the afternoon, the 'red flags' were up!
With the aid of my brother Glenn, he drove me over to the Northwest Medical Center in Margate, where I'd reported the numbing sensation (which, by then, had lasted over ten hours), and figured that I was on the cusp of having a mini-stroke...
(The first time I had a major cardiovascular episode was in the Fall of 2001, when I'd suffered an angina attack. And on Thanksgiving, 2009, I had suffered a mini-stroke - when I'd lost control of the right side of my body.)
Long story short, the NMC took me in, and I went through a battery of tests (including an EKG, an MRI, a CAT scan, and numerous blood exams). Finally, surgeons implanted a stent in my heart, by way of the wrist of my right arm. (The first time I had a stent implanted was during the aforementioned angina attack - the angioplasty of which came by way of my groin, which is not a pretty picture, indeed.)
In total, I'd spent two days in a hospital bed, eating hospital food, and watching a limited amount of television (mainly "Hairspray Live!" - which was better than watching anything with Donald Trump)...
When I was finally released on Thursday, December 8, 2016, I was given a trio of prescribed meds, and two bits of friendly advice: (1) Try not to flex the right wrist for a week or two (until the incision heals completely), which is why you might not see any new art from me and my right 'drawing hand' (connected to said wrist) until Christmas; (2) Refrain from any heavy lifting - which includes taking out the bicycle (from my second-story condo) and carrying it down one flight of steps, for any rides. (Until then, I'll have to take a bus, walk, or ride in Glenn's Mini-Cooper.)
The important thing is, I didn't suffer a mini-stroke. The numbness had left my left arm, and my left hand is down to a slight tingle - which will hopefully go away shortly. For the time being, I'll reevaluate my diet (and try to eat foods with less sodium), consume items with low cholesterol, and consider alternate means of exercise (besides biking and walking). More importantly, I will attempt to take my prescribed pills (including blood thinners and cholesterol blockers) at the assigned days and time, during a proper regimen - so I can live a lot longer...
Keep in mind, my father Joaquin Martinez - who was a heavy cigarette smoker - passed away when he was 63. And I (a non-smoker throughout my entire life) am about to turn 63 in March, 2017. So, will I outlive my father? And, if so, how much longer will I survive? Only time will tell...
It all began on Tuesday morning, December 6, 2016, when I woke up to a numbing sensation in my left arm and hand. At first, I'd thought I was sleeping (the night before) in an awkward position... but when the numbness persisted well into the afternoon, the 'red flags' were up!
With the aid of my brother Glenn, he drove me over to the Northwest Medical Center in Margate, where I'd reported the numbing sensation (which, by then, had lasted over ten hours), and figured that I was on the cusp of having a mini-stroke...
(The first time I had a major cardiovascular episode was in the Fall of 2001, when I'd suffered an angina attack. And on Thanksgiving, 2009, I had suffered a mini-stroke - when I'd lost control of the right side of my body.)
Long story short, the NMC took me in, and I went through a battery of tests (including an EKG, an MRI, a CAT scan, and numerous blood exams). Finally, surgeons implanted a stent in my heart, by way of the wrist of my right arm. (The first time I had a stent implanted was during the aforementioned angina attack - the angioplasty of which came by way of my groin, which is not a pretty picture, indeed.)
In total, I'd spent two days in a hospital bed, eating hospital food, and watching a limited amount of television (mainly "Hairspray Live!" - which was better than watching anything with Donald Trump)...
When I was finally released on Thursday, December 8, 2016, I was given a trio of prescribed meds, and two bits of friendly advice: (1) Try not to flex the right wrist for a week or two (until the incision heals completely), which is why you might not see any new art from me and my right 'drawing hand' (connected to said wrist) until Christmas; (2) Refrain from any heavy lifting - which includes taking out the bicycle (from my second-story condo) and carrying it down one flight of steps, for any rides. (Until then, I'll have to take a bus, walk, or ride in Glenn's Mini-Cooper.)
The important thing is, I didn't suffer a mini-stroke. The numbness had left my left arm, and my left hand is down to a slight tingle - which will hopefully go away shortly. For the time being, I'll reevaluate my diet (and try to eat foods with less sodium), consume items with low cholesterol, and consider alternate means of exercise (besides biking and walking). More importantly, I will attempt to take my prescribed pills (including blood thinners and cholesterol blockers) at the assigned days and time, during a proper regimen - so I can live a lot longer...
Keep in mind, my father Joaquin Martinez - who was a heavy cigarette smoker - passed away when he was 63. And I (a non-smoker throughout my entire life) am about to turn 63 in March, 2017. So, will I outlive my father? And, if so, how much longer will I survive? Only time will tell...
--Lia
I hope the new year won't have any more little surprises for you.