MY CEDARS-SINAI STAY

This one will be short and sweet. (And please forgive any mistakes. I’m half asleep as I write this, and have been though a lot in the past eleven days.)

The reason there’s not a more interesting column today, as originally planned, is because I’m a “guest” of Cedars-Sinai Hospital here in Los Angeles.

This is the only good news. Look at that blood pressure number, on the right. Mike drop. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I have actually tried to make it as fun for everyone around me as possible, but several professionals around here have pointed-out what a serious issue I’m experiencing. I would usually keep something like this a bit more private, but I’m telling you about it so that you’ll know what to do if you’re in the same situation, which I would seriously never wish on my worst enemy.

I suffered a TIA last Saturday, which some of the docs have also called a “mini-stroke.” I’m just calling it a “stroke wannabe.” I’ll save the whole gory story for another day, but when it happened, I knew right away that I should go to the emergency room, but it stopped right before we were leaving the house, so I chose not to go. After all, I didn’t want to bother anybody.

I worried all week, but couldn’t get an appointment with my basic doctor right away, and then I had to wait for the main test until just this past Friday night.

My doc called on Saturday morning, as I was getting ready to go to a trio of fun events, and told me they got the results, and I needed to go straight to the emergency room at Cedars. Needless to say, I was terrified, and very shallowly, super disappointed to be missing my events. (Of course, I hadn’t put make-up on yet, so this entire staff has seen me at very worst. More fun for me. And them!)

I got MY Halloween costume! Miserable selfie by Karen Salkin.

They had to admit me, and here I am. (I had begged to go home by tonight, because I must see the Mets in the World Series on my own big screen, with all my own juju possessions. I had just finished re-polishing my Mets nails when I got the bad news to come here. So, at least I’ve had that going for me all week-end.) And, guess what? It appears I’ll get my wish, knock on wood.

So, for now, I want to thank all the docs who’ve helped me, but I’m sorry if I misspelled any last names: Art Lipper, Rachel Gordon, Kenneth Corre, Nick Szumski, Mani Nezhad, Aaron Chiang, Harish Babu, Konrad Schlick. And especially the nursing and testing personnel: Sylvia, Maria, Marisa, Joji, Vilma, Rachel, Jo, Alexandra, Mindy, Melissa, Isa, Taryn, Mary Jane, Ramon, Brenda, Lionel, Bobby, Billy, Van, Nicole, Niaz, and Joel. It’s an unbelievably wonderful staff.

And I can’t tell you what it’s meant to me that I have pals who’ve called, written, left Facebook comments, etc. It’s helped Mr. X and me feel not so alone in this hard situation.

My big breakfast. At least I should be losing weight in here! Photo by Karen Salkin.

On the frivolous side, if you’ve been following me on Facebook or Twitter, you already know what I think of the food, but there will be more to come down the line. Right now, as several of the staff have suggested to me, I’m just grateful to still be alive. And I really thank my guardian angels.

But this is all to beg everyone to not fool around when you have stroke symptoms. Don’t be like me, who was embarrassed to “make a fuss” by going to a hospital. This is what you have to do: Call 911, and tell them you’re having stroke symptoms. That way, they’ll know which hospital to take you to, and will have a team all set-up for you. They all hope it’s nothing, but will welcome you with open arms, either way. The life you save may be your own.