So -- had my first old-age ambulance ride to the hospital on Wednesday. I'd apparently been acting odd outside in our garden area so the friend I was talking to called 911. I don't remember any of this, but she told me that the EMTs weren't sure what was going on, suspected it could be a stroke and weren't going to leave me here. I doubt that I resisted, though again, I don't know. Long story short, in ER I had bloodwork and an MRI to evaluate my old brain for a stroke. All tests were clear.
The first thing I remember from all this is being in my room on the Observation Deck where I spent the night, and another friend here coming into the room. She's my local 'go-to' person at the building office, to be called in case of emergency. She has relevant contact phone numbers, copies of my DNR and cremation contract, etc. She gave me some info, but I was still hazy. I know I stayed awake until after midnight, which is not my general wont. Slept fitfully, awake early. Typical hospital stuff. Had another blood draw, plus a physical therapist who had me do some stuff, walk around the ward, balance tests, etc. I passed all those just fine.
Eventually he hospitalist Doctor came in and after some conversation and having seen all test results, said they were going to send me home, recommended I stop one of the meds I'm taking. A nurse from my doctor's office called this morning to set up an appointment there, told me I shouldn't drive yet until I see the doc on Tuesday. Otherwise, keep on keeping on.
Also spoke with the neighbor I was talking to in the garden. Memories of the last week are vague, but I had some memories of wanting to transplant a perennial in my garden and wearing my rain pants out there because it would be a messy job with wet soils. I even vaguely remembered moving my car so I could unload the two bags of soil I'd purchased. Wasn't sure when all that happened. Receipts tell me I bought the soil on Tuesday, and it was Wednesday that I was out there trying to do the job before it rained again. It seems that I walked over to my friend, who was at her car, asking about someone who might want some of that perennial. I'm pretty sure I never unloaded the soil or moved the plant, because my rain pants were clean. But I moved my car back to its spot and parked head-in, which I never do. I don't remember doing that, or anything that came after that until later in the day when my other friend arrived.
All they can say is that it's some kind of transient memory loss, sometimes happens in older people, and isn't likely to happen again, and they told my friend at the hospital that I wasn't likely to remember any of what was happening, so in that sense this is normal.
Other than being tired, I've been OK since I've been home. Got a good shower right away, as I felt grungy. Watched more TV, dozing a couple of times in the process. Had some decent sleep. Just had lunch and enjoyed that. Even spent some time with the NYT Spelling Bee game this morning and reached genius level, and that's a good cognitive sign. But -- then I tried to put a new duvet cover on my new down comforter, and found out that while everything seems normal, my brain wasn't up to that task. I put it away until tomorrow. It was rather funny, really.
I am glad to be home, and hope I don't make a habit of this. Old age sucks, and certainly isn't for sissies.
