As seen in the Spring 2009 Issue of Stay Healthy Magazine
A little mouse first alerted Bertie Spagna that something wasn’t right. While working at her computer this past January, Bertie was having a problem printing out her work, and her husband had to assist her. After getting her job printed, she went to the kitchen, poured herself a cup of coffee and waited for her friend to arrive for their daily chat.
“I felt OK, but my friend immediately recognized something wasn’t right and called my husband into the kitchen,” explained 65-year-old Bertie. After asking Bertie a couple of questions and getting somewhat inappropriate responses, her husband, Gerald, called 911.
Bertie’s friend had a co-worker who had recently suffered a stroke, and she was well acquainted with the early signs, one of which is a problem thinking of or the inability to say the right word. In retrospect, Bertie realizes that the problem she was having with her computer’s printer was actually the first sign of a stroke. She was aiming her mouse at the print button, but was not actually clicking on the button to complete the command. She couldn’t think how to do it.
Bertie was rushed to the Valparaiso Hospital Campus where the ER doctor immediately contacted neurologist Virgil DiBiase, MD. After performing a neurological exam and ordering blood work, an MRI and a CT, all results indicated Bertie had suffered a stroke. Because the stroke was caught and identifed quickly, Bertie was a candidate for the clot-busting drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) If administered within the first three hours of the onset of a stroke, tPA can significantly reduce the effects of stroke and reduce permanent disability. “Within about 45 minutes my head cleared, and I had sort of a good feeling all over,” said Bertie. “I told Gerald ‘I’m OK’ and he about fainted.”
She went on to say, “I’m so thankful my friend knew I was in trouble, and that I got to the hospital in time for them to use tPA.” After one day in intensive care and three days for additional testing and observation, Bertie was released. Dr. DiBiase prescribed some medication and encouraged her to adopt a Mediterranean diet. “I’m doing just what Dr. DiBiase says and I feel great,” Bertie shared.
With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, making early intervention critical. Had Bertie waited to see if her symptoms disappeared, she might have missed the three-hour window for receiving the intravenous infusion of the life-saving tPA drug.
Act Fast. Know These Common Symptoms of Stroke:
- Loss of (or abnormal) sensations in the arm, leg or on one side of the body
- Weakness or paralysis of an arm or leg or on one side of the body
- Partial loss of vision or hearing
- Double vision
- Dizziness
- Slurred speech
- Problems thinking of or saying the right word
- Inability to recognize parts of the body
- Imbalance and falling