Monday, December 26, 2011

Ambien For Treating Strokes?

I was watching Rock Center With Brian Williams this evening and happened to catch an interesting story about a man named Sam Goddard who suffered 8 strokes. Yes, you heard me, 8. His family was told that he would be a vegetable but little did they know that Sam was in there! He was unable to speak but Sam's fiance, did her research. Sally used Ambien to treat her fiance after hearing he would most likely have the mental capacity of a child.

Against the doctors advice, Sally gave her fiance Ambien and the results were remarkable. His speech slurred but he was talking! That is AMAZING!!! The Ambien only lasts in hour increments but wow! It's his miracle drug. No one in their hometown is willing to help Sally and Sam with the Ambien dosage. I guess they don't want to get sued but why wouldn't anyone want to get in on this? Look at the evidence! Zolpidem is the active part of the Ambien that seems to be helping stroke victims with communication. I wonder if they are isolating this chemical and seeing if this can be made into a drug by itself. This is mind boggling (no pun intended). It makes me so happy. Watching the segment tonight made my heart smile.

Imagine, you're in a coma, you can't speak but you understand and hear everything that is going on around you....Imagine someone telling you you'll never speak again and there is a slight possibility you can. Wow.

Click here to watch Sam Goddard's Story

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Those Stroke Meds Commercials

I wish there was a commercial featuring young people instead of older folks.

Healthy Careers

As a stroke survivor, or any kind of survivor, one must wonder what a healthy career is for someone recovering?

It certainly can't be in finance or anything in sales or marketing....
Mm...with teaching, kids can get on your nerves and kill you....
You can't be a food server because you probably can't lift anything due to meds.

I'm guessing the only career is lottery winner.

Well that was easy!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Reminders

Overpriced yet healing light fixture 
This post is for an avid reader who reminded me that I haven't posted in far too long, shame on me!

I ran into a childhood friend this evening on the corner. We spoke about life and how time passes so quickly and then, like most our age, we talked about stress. When I was younger, I never thought I would be one of those people who spoke constantly about health and medicine. It seemed like such an "old person" thing to do. This reminded me again that we can't stress out or we'll stroke out! I like that, I may coin that phrase. You heard it here first haha.

When I was in jail aka stuck at home recovering, I did a ton of online shopping. Although not always sensible, it did make me feel like I was accomplishing something outside of sitting in front of the TV watching Maury and over thinking the possibility of a second stroke.

One of the things I purchased was a light fixture from Anthropologie. Let me rephrase that, a very expensive light fixture from Anthropologie! This was part of the re-modeling of the kitchen I thought was so necessary at the time since I spent so many hours staring at the wall. Often times I look to the wall, like today and am reminded to not let things get to me. This week was really stressful and I know that I can't let myself stress out, not anymore. I look at this light fixture and I think of where I was and where I am now. I told my friend this and advised her to look at something from a year ago and think how far she's come.

Maybe we should all do that and reflect especially with the year coming to a close? This can be a subtle reminder to not stress out for a healthier 2012. I have to say this to myself too....nothing is worth your health, nothing.

:)