I love this quote. It doesn’t mean life no longer gets scary, it means we focus on what we can do about it.
A few weeks ago Andy had been sleeping and I was still in the kitchen cleaning up. He came out and asked if I could drive him to the emergency room. I said sure, and started quickly putting things away. He said there was no hurry, we could wait to see if the problem went away. He had gotten up to go to the bathroom and his legs gave way… he fell to the floor. He wasn’t hurt, the floor is carpeted and he didn’t bang into anything, but it was disconcerting.
It was clearly connected to symptoms he had been having during the day from time to time, but he could tell ahead of time when it was going to happen so just sat down until things were normal again. He did stop taking his daily walk until the snow mostly melted…he didn’t want to have to sit down in the snow. But this was the first time it happened in the middle of the night after he had been sleeping.
Anyway, we chatted while we waited. What were the chances the ER could do anything if he went in? They wouldn’t know what was going on, so they would either send him home and tell him to contact his doctor the next day or they would put him the hospital for observation. So we got out the bag we had packed for him after he had been hospitalized for a brain bleed almost three years ago. Then we talked about what could be causing the symptoms. He had mentioned them to his neurologist who said they were probably not neurological, they sounded more circulatory. OK, what about side effects of medications? We know statins can cause muscular weakness, but he’s been taking them for years now. What about Keppra? He’s been taking half of the lowest dose of that for a while to stop the tingling and numbness in his arm and hand. But we read the side effects and decided that might be the problem. He had been put on it for only two weeks after his brain bleed, but the neurologist had put Andy on it indefinitely after the more recent problem. By now Andy felt back to normal, and he decided to experiment with stopping the Keppra, tell our doctor what he’s doing, and went back to bed and back to sleep.
He did tell our GP, who said she would contact the neurologist to let him know, and so far the leg weakness has gone away and the tingling/numbness in his arm and fingers hasn’t come back. Fingers crossed.
Curious minds in relaxed bodies are a powerful combination.
March 25, 2021
I know you two know best, but these are also signs of dehydration!! Could it be? Just saying
Thanks for the suggestion, but that doesn’t apply to Andy. He drinks a lot of liquids every day, and he hasn’t changed that.
Andy just came home and I mentioned it to him. He not only drinks a lot of fluids, he says he drinks way too much. He’s always having to go to the bathroom. 😀
You both did so good diagnosing!!! Information and logic kind of saved the day. Keep us posted on if he has any more of these episodes.
I will keep you posted. 🙂
P.S. I forgot to add that this qoute is perfect for your story!
I’ve always loved that quote. 🙂
I hate when you can’t figure out what is causing something like that.
The human body is complicated, so we understand why doctors have trouble figuring things out.
I do hope this solves the problem!
Thank you! 🙂
My ship is on a new course, and the journey is just under way – time will tell if the new course should be altered to another or for me to just go back. I don’t think it will mean back to the old course, but again time will tell…
More new fuel for my ship arrived today, and already loving one of the cereals – took a little for lunch, different grains!
Yes, the main thing is to be flexible and creative rather than feeling helpless. Good luck!
WOW Monk.
I am even More mindful now about falling and taking precautions.
I wish he might stay home from going to the land so often until he feels it’s totally stabalized.
I love the way you Both worked through it with a shared calm sensibility!
I know he’s like the Marine. it’s useless to ask him not to go to the land if he wants to. still… just a few days might make a difference.
and I LOVE the quote! it’s a great one.
and Everything is crossed here for the Two of You!!! love. XOXO
He stayed home yesterday because of the snow, and today he skipped his usual walk and instead worked inside on his electronics, so he’s being very sensible. “Doing the best we can with what we have left.” I don’t worry because he wears his Garmin and can call for help.
Good luck to you, too!
I had an incident recently when we made our first visit to a big box store in a year and I became disoriented and weak in the legs. I found a place to sit down and then a big jar of peanut M&Ms to munch on in the parking lot and I was soon okay. We put it down to not drinking enough water and perhaps setting out without a decent breakfast. My friends, Old Age Is Hell! But wisdom can help us get through it.
So Anni may have been right about dehydration in your case. I used to have problems with hypoglycemia when I was younger, so I always had emergency snacks in my pocket when I went out.
I’m afraid I’m with Andy Rooney:
So what if we do have one foot in the grave and another on a banana peel, that’s no reason not to enjoy life as long as we can.
I’m glad to hear that the weakness has gone. You’re right about the ER, they would probably have sent him home and told him to call his doctor.
It’s only a couple of blocks away, so it was nice it was there in case the symptoms got worse.
this so odd. I just read my daily news letter from WebMD, i get one every morning in email. the gist of it was your body gives you warnings. Pay attention to them, one of the warnings was falling for no reason. it means something is not right. Pay attention, which is what you did. you are right about the ER. unless it is happening while there they can’t find it.. i hope the meds is the reason. its so scary when there is no apparent reason and so many reasonns to choose from. Glad he is better, keep watching the signs…
He’s being careful and aware, and so far so good.
Your closing sentence … gospel! I’ve nailed the curiosity, but my relaxation techniques still need work.
I used to believe hospitalists possessed magical properties. Oh sure, diagnostics and healing still takes place — but they’re human, just like the rest of us.
I’ve been listening to a lot of audible books written by doctors. Diagnoses can be tricky, and unless you have something well-known mistakes can easily happen. I’m a lot more cautious now than when I was younger.
I wish I could have a relaxed mind in a curious body. 🙂
When Dave’s father fell at night it turned out to be his thyroid out of whack. Just something to consider.
So far the symptoms have gone away, and he gets his thyroid checked for his semi-annual physicals. Thanks for the information, though.
Yes, fingers crossed Andy is okay now and the worrying symptoms have disappeared.
They disappeared a couple of weeks ago, so hopefully the problem has been solved for now.