Stroke Survivor and Caregiver for father with CHF/COPD and also stroke survivor
At the age of 43 my life was turned upside down.In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated our city in Ms. 2 weeks after while cleaning up debris I started having problems with my speech and left sided weakness with drop foot. I got this incredible headache. The next morning my speech was worse and my brother came over and took me to the ER. They did a CT and found out I had a stroke in my parietal and occipital lobe. Because I didn't go to the hospital the day before they couldn't give me the tips drug. I was admitted for 4 days. They started me on Coumadin. They ran so many test and couldn't find out what caused the strokes. I spent 11/2 years in therapy. I attended everyday. In 2010, five years later I had a TIA that affected my left arm only. I went to PT for 6 months with great results. Three years after my 2 strokes I was sent to a Hemotologist. They ran extensive test and found out that I had Anti-thrombin III deficiency. So that meant I have to take Coumadin for the rest of my life and check my blood every two weeks. I should feel lucky that the residual isn't that bad now but I'm just so scared I'm going to have a bad stroke that I can't come back from. I now suffer from depression. Mixed emotions day to day. I lost my mother 2 years ago which devastated me. I am currently taking care of my 78 year old father. He has CHF/COPD and also suffered a mild stroke in 2012. Since then he has been diagnosed with mod dementia. It is like fighting and arguing with a child almost all the time. I am so sensitive that my feelings get hurt very easy. I am just exhausted. I have some help from my husband but he works every day so he is tired when he comes home. I have 5 other siblings which don't help out. Don't get me wrong I love my father dearly and I would do anything for him. I guess I'm just tired and need help.
