David Macdonald
Tuesday, 3/19/02, 2:45 PM
I was a healthy,albeit overweight, white male, aged 53 who went to a chiropractor, in good faith, for an
adjustment. I had a sore back and neck and my wife just got new insurance that covered Chiropractors. So
I figured, what the heck, why not try to get some relief.
I was Managing a Liquor Store and was working 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. I was on my feet all the
time, so I was pretty sore all over. The first few visits were X-Rays and Questionaires to fill out.
The third visit, I actually saw the Chiropractor. My back was manipulated for most of the visit. Then,
just before I left, my neck was manipulated or as I like to say, my head was cracked. You could actually
hear the cracking noise. Well, anyway, I went back to work at the Liquor Store. As the day wore on, I
developed a wicked headache. It got so bad, that near closing I called my wife and told her that I loved
her and that I felt like I was going to die because the pain in my head was so bad. As a matter of fact,
it was so bad that I laid on the floor.
Somehow, I managed to get home. Meanwhile, the wife got in touch with the Chiropractor. I was told to
take a couple of Excedrin and to lay down. For some reason I felt better and went to bed thinking all
was well. The next morning I was awakened with a call from the Chiropractor, and was told to come right
in. When I got there, I went right in. The first thing was to take my BP, which was 280/115. The
Chiropractor then decided to crack my head again. That done, my BP was taken again. This time it was
270/110, going down slightly.
I was told to make an appointment with my GP ASAP and check out that BP. I managed to get in for that
afternoon, so I went back to the store in the meantime. I still had a headache, but, for some reason,
it wasn't unbearable. I left work at 3:30 for my 4 O'Clock appointmnt with my GP. He took my BP and it
had gone down to 175/100, not too bad, right. He told me to come back to see him the next day and he'd
check it again.
I went home thinking all was well. Well, when I was having supper with my wife, all of a sudden I
grabbed my head, mumbled something about Pain and fell to the kitchen floor. I was throwing up like no
tomorrow and my wife called 911. All the time she kept screaming to stay awake. I remember the
Paramedics taking me away and that's about it.
It turns out that both of my Carotid Arteries were blocked. One had a blood clot and the other was
dissected. I, because of the blockage, suffered 2 Strokes, one of the right side of my brain and the
other was a brain-stem stroke. I spent the next five weeks in the ICU. When I was transferred to a
Rehab Hospital.
I couldn't even lift my head off of the pillow and because of the Brain Stroke, I was paralysed on the
left side of my body. On top of that, due to the Brain-Stem Stroke, I was paralysed on the right side
of my face and my throat. Thus, I couldn't eat or talk. After 6 long, hard weeks of rehabilitation, I
was transferred to a Rehab Old Folks Home. I still couldn't eat, but I tried to talk as good as I could
considering the paralysis of my throat. In my opinion, I sounded like I was retarded. I was also deaf
in my right ear from the paralysis which added to my speaking problems.
I did manage to get around a little bit with the help of a hemi-walker. I, finally got to go home, after
3 months of being away. Come to find out that I died twice in the OR on different Operations and that
they had to use the Paddles on me both times, when I was in the ICU.
I, of course, don't remember any of that. When I finally got home I had Visiting Nurses come for the
first 6 weeks.
I then, entered serious Rehab at a Hospital for 3 months. It was here that I learned how to walk with a
regular cane and got my left arm and hand moving. They don't really work, but they move somewhat. I,
also, learned to speak a little better, too slow though. Dave, Massachusets,USA.
April 30, 2002
Eight months out of Rehab
I exercise six days a week, three days on my Legs and three days on my Arms, alternating days. I
practice walking seven days a week.
I always walk [hobble]. Through all of this exercise, I have increased the range of motion of my
affected [left] arm and I can hobble faster. I haven't improved that much, but I hope to. I haven't
thrown in the towel yet.
The one thing, and there are many, that bothers me is the fact that I can't swallow. I haven't eaten in
524 Days and counting. I have already had one Operation on my Throat. It didn't work. I am going under
the knife again in June or July, most likely the latter. The Surgeon is really busy, so I get to get fed
through a Feeding Tube for at least a few more months. Then there is the Rehab that goes with it.
I live in a wheelchair 24/7, except when I'm exercising or sleeping. And I need a hand getting in and
out of bed. I, also, can't shower without the wife. She has to help me into my Special Seat, turn the
water on and off. Yes, I have a Hand Held Shower and I can wash myself, but when I'm done I need help.
My Wife has to dry me off, or at least most of me. Then, She has to help me get dressed, as it is
impossible to bend over with the Feeding Tube.
Also, because of the fact that I only get Liquids, I have to get an Enema every other day. We call that
day SILVER BULLET DAY. We have to do this to stay regular. If we don't, then Constipation sets in. And
that is really a pain, literally.
I lead a pretty dull life. I can't drive until I can walk, so I am stuck in the house unless my
wonderful wife takes me somewhere. And the places I can go are limited by my immobility and the fact
that I don't eat. I am getting a tiny bit better every day.
With the encouagement of Ram and the other members of the VAD Club, I'll keep on keeping on until I
fully recover. And I have no doubt that I will recover, it's just going to take time. And I have a lot
of that, God willing.
Did I mention the Itch? The right side of my Face itches like crazy. I take Neurotin at every feeding
and it helps somewhat. Although I'm on maximum dosage allowable, my face still itches, especially around
my eye and nose.
Also, I just remembered, I have no sensitivity to Heat or Cold on the Left Side of my body, which makes
for interesting showers. So does anyone know if the itching ever stops and will I ever be sensitive to
Temperature again?
That's about all I can think of, just hanging in there, I guess.LOL
Thanks Ram, for letting me, firstly, join the VAD, and Secondly, for letting me tell my story. Putting
it on paper is a way of Venting. If you think I'm at all negative now, imagine what I'd be like without
you guys to bounce my story off of. Anyway, I will chat with you soon. I'm sorry it took me so long to
finish. See ya mate.
DaveMac
Your thankful Mate,
Dave
