Kristi Scoggins
May 5, 2003
On 3/7/2003 I injured my shoulder carrying my laptop from the car to the house. I went to the Urgent Care Clinic the next day and was told I had a pinched nerve and was experiencing muscle spasms. They gave me some meds & sent me on my way.
The following Monday, 3/10, I went to see my regular MD for a follow up. She did an X-Ray and told me not to take the meds anymore since I was covered in a rash. During work that week I was in so much pain so on the advice of a co-worker, I went to see a Chiropractor, her Chiro to be exact. About all I can say was what I said when I came out of there - "the woman tried to rip my head off!".
Shortly after, I started having dizzy spells & flashers in my eyes and the numbness in my arms & fingers got worse. I called my MD back and told her the pain was worse and that I had been dizzy so she referred me to and Orthopedic dr.
I went to him on the 19th - one week AFTER the Chiropractor. He felt that I might have a Herniated Cervical Disk but at that point, diagnosed a Cervical Strain because I hadn't had an MRI.
He wanted me to do therapy 3 times a week for 4-6 weeks. (Never made it to therapy...) Another week went by and the pain seemed to be subsiding so I thought nothing of it when I went to be on Tuesday night (the 25th) and at 3:00am I woke with a horrible ringing in my ears, I couldn't walk or talk correctly and felt like I was going to vomit if I moved.
Somehow I made it to my oldest daughters room (hubby works nights) and woke her up and she helped me back to my room to call 911. I know she is only 11 but somehow it helped me knowing she was there with me. By this time my 7yr. old was awake and the paramedics were on their way. They got there and the 911 operator called my husband at work and told
whoever answered the phone that they believe I had had a stroke. The paramedics asked me if I was drunk...uh, I don't drink and it is 3:00am...duh! Then asked if I could be pregnant...uh...not. I said "I have had kids and never did being pregnant feel like this". The paramedic replies "but ma'am, you have girls"...Uh, so, and you have personally had a baby boy and YOU know that this is different???? What the heck was this MORON thinking?? (Sorry, working on anger management
over here...LOL)
The other paramedic said, "you could have an inner ear
infection". Send these guys BACK TO SCHOOL!!! Needless to say, they did not take me to the hospital...they said they could but all they would do is give me IV fluids.
The next morning, my husband took me to my MD, she referred me to a neurologist that afternoon and he admitted me to the hospital that evening.
I was there for 4 days but it seemed like FOREVER not being here for my girls. The MRI & MRA showed that I had two cerebullar(sp?) strokes (simultaniously) and both the right an
left arteries are dissected. The right, 5 cm & left 2 cm.
The Neurologist said I was very lucky to be alive and very lucky that I have had no major physical damage. I have a constant
numbness/tingling/burning feeling in my right hand & occasional tingiling in other parts (feet, right arm, right hand) and I have a hard time hanging on to things with my left hand.
My kids tell me "it's okay Mom, we drop things too" or "we are klumzy too"...thank God for their support.
I have constant headaches and pressure in my ears as well as
dizziness. I have been to my MD and Neurologist and they can't give me an answer...can anyone here tell me if this is normal and might go away eventually? Anyway, I have been released to go back to work on the 12th and I am scared to death.
Okay, I have rambled on enough. I look forward to meeting you all and reading your stories!
Hugs~
Kristi S.
