Hemorrhagic Stroke and health issues

I am not a medical doctor nor have any degree in the medical field. I have my experience of a hemorrhagic stroke and what I have learned by having day to day effects of the stroke. I will not explain everything but to give you awareness as to what can happen when a person does not take care of themselves, like I did.

Strokes affect approximately 795,000 a year, new and re-occurring, 1 in every 18 deaths are because of a stroke, in America alone.
"It's the No. 3 cause of death behind diseases of the heart and cancer" in America. (statistic from the American Heart Association - http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/123/4/e18) For more statistics see website journal or American Heart/Stroke Association.

There are two types of strokes, Ischemic (blood clots) and Hemorrhagic (bleed - ruptured blood vessel). Even among the types there are several ways the stroke can happen as there are many blood vessels in the brain leading to different parts of the brain.
So I had a stroke, November 25, 2009, that is classified as a bleed (Hemorrhagic) but even more so the bleed was deep. *another statistic "Hemorrhagic stroke accounts for about 13 percent of stroke cases." 13% - not that many if looking at the whole picture.
The bleed as I was told was deep and there was nothing they could do without creating more damage to me to make it stop. However, I was lucky! My bleed stopped before I had my CT Scan (Computerized axial tomography) done and the bleed was not constant but boy did that do more damage then your normal cut.
In my last update post I asked if anyone had a question. Most have replied to blog about daily things. I will have to think as I really lead a boring life.
I walk to A - B and sometimes C and D. *chuckles*

Clint from Lyrics of Love and Lore writes: Is there medication that can help prevent strokes like you have experienced?

No and yes - No if you are healthy and have no need for medicine and your doctor has given you a low risk. Strokes affect any age, male or female, healthy or unhealthy, does not discriminate even if medical field puts age limits. But the healthier the better chance to not have a stroke or any other health illness.Yes, medication if there are health issues that need to improve. Improving your health helps to lower your risk for a stroke.

For my stroke, High Blood Pressure was the culprit. I did not keep up with my blood pressure nor did I have money or insurance for many years to keep my health in check. So yes, medicine would have helped my chances if my blood pressure was monitored. My blood pressure was so high at the time of my stroke that there was no measurement for me. By the end of all that went on in the first two months after my stroke, I was on four blood pressure medicines. 4!! Ouch! For the last 8 months I have been on three and more stable but still need to be monitored.

If you have not been to a doctor in the last year or have regular check ups, I urge you to have a complete physical and blood work done and know your numbers. Blood Sugar, Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Weight etc. If you do not have insurance look around for free tests and doctors/clinics or ones that have pay plans. Just get checked!

I am improving but still limited use of right hand/arm and right leg. It's not fun and not anything I would want you all to go through.

I forgot to mention last update that my husband and I have started Weight Watchers. I cannot exercise that much so watching what I eat is so important especially if I am going to lose weight.
I hate to admit what a weigh but I started at 235 last Sunday but I am at 226 for the first week. We both did well and are really having fun counting our points and holding each other to this plan of eating healthier.

Time for dinner so I better go for now. Thanks for reading. Hope you are having a great week. God bless you!