So since June 20 post, DH had a birthday.  He turned 72 Wed.  We had first follow up visit with stroke clinic since his initial stroke/strokes that same day - happy birthday, huh?  Hey, he is still kicking.  I use plural strokes, because 2 sides of his brain showed damage after the event.  I will backtrack...

On May 1st, he had an accident with a handgun.  Was cleaning it, discharged it into his abdomen.  He has an intrathecal pump in his abdomen.  The bullet hit the pump and destroyed its function, but the bullet was prevented from traveling further into his abdomen.  Now the pump does not work.  He had it implanted for severe low back pain.  Due to the complication of the pump being hit/right where the bullet was, the surgeon at ER elected not to remove it.  May 4th, he became disoriented, restless, confused and fell.  Later he displayed left side weakness and that's when I got him to ER for the first stroke/multiple strokes event.  Since then he is either having more strokes/TIAs or seizures.  I will document that eventually...

On May 4 they did CT scan, but could not (never will again be able to) do MRI due to the bullet staying in his abdomen.  He was in hospital 4 days and then rehab hospital 2 more weeks.  He came home May 21st.  At first, he seemed to be doing well.  Went from not being able to use left leg and arm, to walking with a walker.  Then a cane.  Quickly he was walking slowly without the cane.  

Since initial event, he has had a couple of incidents where his blood pressure spikes and he is aphasic, or cannot put words together.  He can say words, they are just in an order that does not make sense.  So back to the hospital on May 26.  They literally just gave him saline and monitored his vitals and repeated CT scan - no new findings.  Sent him home 3 days later - no diagnosis and no follow up with neuro, just PCP (primary care physician).  His blood pressure normalized.  PCP really pushing to be sure his bleeding ulcer is resolved, so we can possibly someday get that bullet operated on.  

So, we had a side track to the gastro, do upper scope, meds for that...yada yada yada.  Now, that seems to have resolved.

Since end of May has done this couple more times being aphasic, the worst one was EARLY Friday and I struggled with taking him back to hospital, but did not because he was so MAD May 26 when I called 911.  REALLY REALLY mad.  

So this last time I agonized over it, because he seemed even worse cognitively, but this time his vitals were all really good!  So, I tended to him best I could and waited it out.  Is it crazy that I was so relieved it happened over the weekend?!  But all I did was change sheets, mop floors, clean him...etc.  I was mentally and physically exhausted.  Back to work for me on Monday.  

At least I work at home.  By late Sunday, he was walking, talking and way less confused.  His vitals remained strong and his blood sugar is doing really well.  I have only given him one insulin shot in the last week!  

The meals, medication, keeping the house clean, caring for the dogs, mowing the yard...I like busy, I like tasks.  Its all the unknown that is really hard for me.  More on that later, wanted to write down the stroke background.  More on the developing situation later.  It's a lot.  

A couple of people asked about help.  We do not have children.  I have a sister who is breadwinner full time working, an hour away and he has 2 brothers 3 hours away and a sister nearby - more on that later.  It is so devastating the lack of empathy, that I am still processing that.  So, no - no help.  I am currently looking to hire help.  Will document that too.  

Have a wonderful 250th birthday to America, if I don't get back here before - stay safe.