Here's my story and I'm sticking to it!!! LOL

On New's Year Day, I was watching the parade on TV. A little of 1:00 PM I was tired, having been up late New Year's Eve so went to lay down in my bed. I woke up at 4:00 PM and noticed my left arm floppy like I had slept wrong on it. I got up and went out to my recliner to watch some TV until it felt better, My sister took my grand nephews home after spending the night while their parents went out. When she came back, I told her that my arm felt the same so we took my BP and it was175/107. I asked her to take me to the VA Hospital in DC. When we got there they checked my BP and it was still high but had come down slightly. The EKG came out clear. They took me into the ER and checked me out more. They said that I had had a mini-stroke on my left side that had effected my left arm and leg. My speech and brain are unaffected (let the smart ass comments commence) LOL They said that they did not expect any long term problems. I was released late Friday afternoon the 8th. I spent 2 hours short of 7 full days in the hospital.

Any veteran who goes into the DC VA Hospital can expect the best doctors, nurses and medical team care available anywhere! Out of about 20 meals served to me, I only had 1 meal that I did NOT like. After eating the beef stew over mashed potatoes one day at lunch, I told my nurse that it was so good that if she could promise that I would have that again the next day, I'd go out in the hall and fall down! She laughed and said "Please don't, you can not imagine the amount of paperwork she would have."

I ended up in the hospital due to MY stupidity. I stopped taking my medications and watching my diet....I feel fine I told myself. I got a very LOUD WAKE UP CALL!!! Please let this be YOUR wake up call.....I was lucky....you may NOT wake up!!!

Ray