My story begins March 7, 2005. I got up and got dressed in the morning. I went and sat down at the computer of my friend I lived with at the time. I was online, looking for a job in my field of Special Education.

I got up after a while, and found myself having balance problems. At about 5 p.m., I spoke to my girlfriend in Canada on the phone. Yes, I too am female. I am lesbian but have been with and have known my girlfriend for about 4 years now. Anyhow, I told her what was going on. She said when my friend got home from work, to go to the hospital close by. I did not want to go because I was not insured at the time. They both urged me to go...saying a hospital cannot refuse you, if you need 1. So, I went. It was the best move I'd made to date. When I WAS seen in the ER,turned out my blood pressure was sky high. It was over 220 for the top #, and 140 was the bottom #. Well they took me inside- further back. I undressed and they hooked me up to a blood pressure monitor and a heart machine, I think.

Don't remember much after that. All I know is I finally woke up like 3 days later in I.C.U.. My friend told me, I'd had a stroke and a seizure afterwards, I think it was her who told me. They figured it out finally. They had no clue at first. They had done 2 MRI's and saw it on the second 1. They induced a coma until then. They also were trying to figure out which medications worked to control the high blood pressure. They also put me on an anti-seizure drug, in case. I only had the seizure due to the stroke...never before or since. As it stands now I'm on 4 prescriptions for my high blood pressure, plus a low dose asprin and the anti-seizure drug still- until I go see a neurologist.

My right side does not work very well. I can't use my right hand and my right foot is dropped, though I walk ok, but slowly. Lucky for me my dominant sie is my left side, otherwise I'd be worse off.

Please everyoe, get your blood pressure checked regularly. If I had, I might not be disabled today. High blood pressure is a killer and caused my stroke. My life is different than it should be. I'm different....and I hate it.....
Take Care all....and check your BP!
Stacey

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