Personal Note – 11-9-25

On Friday, while at work, I had a brief period of aphasia, in my case for a period of 30 minutes to an hour I had problems speaking coherent thoughts. My supervisor was concerned and I was transported to the emergency room by ambulance. I was well aware that sudden onset aphasia like that is frequently a sign of a stroke, though I had no other stroke-like symptoms, so I did not object.

After spending the evening in the emergency room, I was admitted to the hospital overnight for observation. After a whole series of tests, poking, and prodding where no brain bleeds or blockages were detected, I was diagnosed with a possible Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). However, I had also been in the early stages of a migraine attack when the aphasia occurred, so there was a possibility that this could have just been a new phase in my lovely migraine experiences. I was put on a blood thinner for 21 days and warned to watch for any other potential signs of a stroke.

Strokes and dementia are the two illnesses of old age that concern me the most. I have been taking an enteric aspirin for years and frequently do a standard self-diagnostic test (smile, laugh, and recite a stanza of the Jabberwocky; learned some new ones this weekend) for the signs of a stroke. Not much that I can do about dementia, besides staying mentally active, my writing helps there.

I got home late yesterday afternoon and rested up (though I did watch the Bama game, ROLL TIDE); you do not actually get much rest in the hospital. Staying home today on the advice of doctor and family, but I will take that time to get caught up on my standard weekend writing fare; that still counts as taking it easy in my mind.