Thursday, November 8, 2012

New, Scary Symptom

The problem happens while I sleep. It's happened 5 times in the last few months. I wake up in the middle of the night, and my entire left side is completely paralyzed. This includes the left side of my face and my eye, my left arm and left leg. The first time, I thought it was a stroke. It lasts a few minutes, then, very gradually, I can start to move, with much effort. First, my fingers come back, and my toes. I work on moving them as much as possible, and gradually it all comes back. Maybe 10 minutes for the whole episode. But it scares me soooo much.

My only guess on the cause is that some nerves in my neck are getting compressed while I sleep.  I plan on sleeping in my Aspen collar every night until surgery from now on.  I can't stand for this to happen again.

In other news, the intensity of my daily headache has decreased again, from an 8/9 to a 5/6.  It's not great, but significantly less bothersome.  Considering surgery in the early spring, if things continue like this.

Thanks so much for following my progress and the encouragement along the way.

P.S. I am not considering a second opinion or surgery with any doctor other than Dr. B.