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Stroke and irregular heart beat

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:31 pm
by Lunchcutter
hi Guys, havent visited the forum for a week or so because my life has been turnd upside down over the last week and I thought I may have been widowed at 38 years of age. Just thought I would post some interesting, if not real scary information. Last Thursday morning going to work on the bus My husband suffered a seizure (no history of this) however Joe was 160KG and 198cm tall. He was taken by abulance to the RAH where he suffered a grand mal seizure at approximately 11am. Because of his size, during this seconed seizure his airways closed and he stopped breathing. The emergency resuss team worked on him and thankfully managed to open up his airways and get him breathing again. After an initial CT scan we were told Joe had an irregular heart beat (which can lead to blod clots) and had a blod clot at the base of his brain. apprently there are three drainage points for the brain fluid to drain into the spinal cord and he had developed a clot in one of these drainage points.... luckily the other two drainage holes were operating, hence why the seizure instead of a full on stroke. I am writing this post to give others a warning (but like us, perhaps it's only when something serious happens we are jolted into action).... because of his size, Joe denied himself medical treatment (as he was unable to fit into the MRI machine and as such had to undergo a lumbar puncture to ensure his brain was not bleeding. The neuros tell us we are very lucky, if that clot had lodged any where else in the brain, it would have most definitely stroked him out and he would have lost neurological functions. Moving a week plus down the track, Joe is now to be on blood thinner medications for the rest of his life and will need to take anti seizure medications for some time (of course this means no driving for 6months to 1 year).... needless to say, we are now looking forward to living a much more healthier lifestyle which means making healthier choices. He has lost 5kg in the last week (still eating three meals a day, just no rubbish foods) and we are looking forward to walking the road to recovery together.... i guess my message is this folks over-indulging is ok but definitely deneing yourself appropraite treatments is something else. The neuros tell us tha they have only treated 12 cases this year, however it has mostly been in younger (my dh is 42) obese people - my dh and me are heeding this message from above and am looking forward to our return to the RAH in six months to show them how we have achieved our goal (Joe wants to be down at least 20 kg and me too)... well that's it from a very relieved lunchcutter and dh. (dh = dear husband not the other... lol)... geez its nice to be getting back to some normality (posting on this forum) after a week of 16 hour stays in the hospital. :)

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:39 pm
by GWW
Good to hear your hubby is ok, best wishes for his recovery :D

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:40 pm
by Wedgie
Lunchcutter, thanks for sharing that with us, I hope Joe recovers well.
Ive had an irregular heart beat every now and then and have a history of heart attacks in my family and I occasionaly think to myself that I should perhaps change my lifestyle, even if not for myself for my kids.
Posts like yours just add to that and I thank you.
Once again, all the best, I hope yourself and Joe live a long and healthy life and things work out well.

Thanks GWW

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:41 pm
by Lunchcutter
:D

thanks wedgie for your well wishes

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:43 pm
by Lunchcutter
:D

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:59 am
by Thiele
All the best for your husband recovery hope he is feeling well soon :)

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:00 pm
by Coorong
Lunchy, at 56 and still pretty damn healthy (thankfully) my symathies to you and Joe on the real scare you must have had. However if you look anything like your avitar, therein lies the prob.****

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:51 pm
by mighty_tiger_79
thats scarey shite!!!!!!!!

good luck in the road to recovery and in your search for a healthier diet.

i suggest you ask MAL what to eat!!!!!!!!!

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:32 pm
by Mickyj
All the best to Mr Lunchcutter.
As someone who was 127 kilos upto may 2005 and now weighs 105 kilos(could be lessIm sure Ive lost more kilos) and was having various health problems including the heart .Hang in there my cardiologist (spelling sorry) assurred me that if I cut down my food intake by a 1/4 I would lose weight . That was of course after a very lenghty and heated lecture about having a heart attack and getting diabetes, seeing the same week I was diagnosed as glucose intoleranet(a form of diabetes controlled by diet) I decided it was time to act .Like your hubby I may be on heart drugs etc for life but healthy living is the way to go !!
Just remember the hardest thing to do is to say no to junk food because like smokes it is so damn addictive!! One day at a time and it gets easier belive me !!

And I may not be totally healthy but I am feeling a lot better ,so all the best Mr Lunchcutter and like they say in that ad just say no !!

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 3:08 pm
by magpie in the 80's
ALL THE BEST TO MR. LUNCHCUTTER, AND MRS. LUNCHCUTTER, MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE MALS ADVICE AND JOIN OUR WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM FOR XMAS :D

thanks chaps

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:43 pm
by Lunchcutter
i really appreciate the thoughts and well wishes from my safooty cyber friends. will keep you all updated on the loss and yes we too, are going to donate to Mand M foundation.