A few months ago I had an MRI performed of my head at the request of my ENT. I had been referred to the ENT due to a significant loss of hearing in my left ear. What was found was a surprise. I had suffered a cerebellum infarct to my left cerebellum due to a dissection of the left vertebral artery. The stroke was not recent but after consulting with a doctor of the Inova Vascular and Vein Center and a Doctor of the Neurology Center of Fairfax, it appears that the stroke very likely occurred as a result of the ACDF surgery I had on June 7, 2017. After I woke up in the hospital room, I was at first able to walk unassisted however, later that night I began experiencing extreme vertigo, headache and projectile vomiting. This continued after I was discharged the next day. Once home, I was unable to walk unassisted, and fell and hit my head the first night home. My husband called the emergency number and was told not to worry it was just a reaction to the drugs. I was only able to walk with assistance. Gradually over the next few days I was able to start using a borrowed walker and gradually regained the ability to walk without assistance.

It was frightening to me that the stroke likely occurred while I was hospitalized. My General Practitioner told me that even if I had been taken to the Emergency room the first night I was home, they would have likely not diagnosed the stroke. Using a walker and a lot of support from my husband and friends I have recovered most of my physical abilities. I still get dizzy with certain motions. The vascular Dr. feels that this is probably due to the blood flow within the brain. I also have the Cerebellar tremor in my left side.

However, I have struggled to find Doctors that understand the Cerebellum. Most seem to still think it is only for body coordination. Nothing cognitive. I was finally able to schedule neurological testing at Johns Hopkins. This testing will occur the later half of March this year. I want to find a baseline of where I am now and perhaps be able to develop a plan for regaining some of what I have lost. Looking back over the last year and a half I can see changes in my cognition. My short term memory is shot. I search for words when having a conversation. Sometimes I forget a word even after using it 5 minutes before. Most of the time it is not like I have forgotten something, I just forgot how to access the information in my brain. I also have experienced depression.

I feel I dodged a cannon ball and didn't even know when it when it passed. Part of me is angry that the medical staff missed the signs. I spent much of the time since the stroke blaming myself for issues I was having. Hopefully, after the testing at Johns Hopkins I will have a solid plan for my recovery.