I was at my camp at Sandlin for the last month. Fishing was good but almost took my last trip. The wife and I were driving from Gilmer to our camp and she said I hit the brakes, turned and looked at her, rolled my eyes in my head, and went out for the 10 count! She managed to think quick and grabbed the shift and put the truck in park then jumped out and got on the drivers side and pushed me over and turned around and raced to ETM center in Pittsburg. When they got me on the table they put a nitro pill under my tounge and gave me a shot. My blood preasure was 220 over 123. As soon as it came down I came to. The said I had a mini stroke, and said thank goodness my wife reacted quick. I stayed a couple days in the hospital and took several test. I have lost the use of half my right hand and half my upper lip so now its therapy time. I blame myself for what happened, I had not been taking my blood preasure pills regular and I'm up to 262, I was 235 this time last year. I weigh way too much for a 5'9" guy with high blood preasure. So beware you guys with blood preasure problems, it sure hits you quick, if you start having sudden headaches and stay real tired, go get checked. Thank goodness I wasn't in my boat because I mostly fish alone and fish without a life jacket, tomorrow I plan on ordering a Mustang life jacket.

Glad to hear you are ok James...first and foremost take care of yourself.

Sounds like you were flirting with disaster!

Glad to hear ya made it out ok. A buddy of mine was only 40 and was a bit overweight. Never really had any health issues that he knew of. He had a heart attack and didn't get a second chance. Guess it's time to thank the lord he gave you a second chance and time to take care of your health and get into shape. It might not turn out so good the next time. Take care.

Joe

I am glad you are still alive. It is a good thing you wife was thinking fast as you described. I hope you make a full recovery and it may be possible. I have seen some strange things happen to people who have had stroke and were thought to never recover. Just stay positive and work hard.

A few other signs to watch out for in addition to headache, fatigue are vision changes (seeing spots/floaters) loss of balance, limb weakness on one side only, nose bleeds when you don't normally have them.

Glad you are ok

Good luck

Scott

Wow! That's a scary situation, glad you are here to tell us your story. I wish you a short and successful theraphy experience. Get that blood pressure controlled. Maybe your story will make someone else think about fishing alone with no lifejacket. We all do that and don't think it can be serious. If you have a medical episode of the nature you did it could prove to be fatal. Guess we all need the type of life jacket that uses the CO2 charges, they inflate on their own if you hit the water and are easy to wear in any weather. I guess that is the type you are ordering.

Again, glad you are here to tell us your story.

Just James, glad to see you made it "WAKEUP CALL!!!). Have to stay away from all that cracklin and boudin. Tell my buddy Gil Cormier the Willis Cajun said hi.

Man, close call. Glad you're OK. I am on blood pressure medicine myself. You HAVE to remember to take it. I can sure tell when I miss a dose. I lost my dad in '96. I was living with him, going thru a divorce, and came home and found him dead. Not a pleasent memory but one that I try to learn from. He had high blood pressure and all the complications that come with it. He was only 56. They say he had a massive stroke.
So count your blessings and take your medicine.

When I found out I had high blood presure I was 205/120. Not good. I take my meds every morning. Yes I am over weight. I was having nose bleeds, tierd, chest hurt all the syptoms. Went and see a cariologist all the testing and said my heat is fine. I don't feel good most of the time. I passed out about two months ago and they said I have vertigo.

Glad to hear you are doing fine. We all need to take better care of our self. I wear one of those CO2 life jackets everytime i'm on the water.

Take care of yourself.

Jigfish/Legend Boats

thanks guys, I,m ordering a new Mustang brand sospender life vest. I have a Souspender brand but never could keep it uncharged, it would inflate sitting in the rod locker, the co. told me it was because of the high humidity here in south la. so they sent me a kit to convert it to manual, I stopped using it because i didn't see a benifit in manual mode, but i understand the Mustang dosent self inflate accidentally due to humidity. Big aggrevation is I crank my reel with the hand I can't feel half of, so got to do phisical therapy on it, a man has to fish to stay sane!! LOL.

I'm glad the man above was watching over you!

I had a second TIA (mini-stroke) on Lake Athens the day the Columbia blew up over our heads. Since then I wear an auto SOSpenders whenever I'm on the water - alone or otherwise.

I am also a strong proponent of a safety boarding ladder on your bass boat. It'll take more than two hands for a whopper.

Incidentally, one can get a little blood pressure machine either digital or manual for under 30 smackers. Last but not least, take your pills.

Goes to show you it is good to have people around you that love and care about you (Including the man above).

Good luck and God be with you on the rest of your recovery.

I bought one of those blood pressure machines last week, really neat, just push a button and it does the rest. OLDGRINGO-- did you have a stoke because the shuttle scared you or was it just ttime? LOL My biggest gripe is I can't crank a reel and my wife won't let me take my boat out. BUMMER

I don't think the shuttle had anything to do with it; however, it was spectacular.

I had a previous event one Sunday before church. As we we're leaving the house, my wife said I turned to her and did about what you did: eyes rolled, staggered and fell to the floor. Never been in an ambulance before that.

Fortunately, I've had no lasting effects - I've since had carotid artery surgery and take Lipitor daily. The Doc says I'm as good as new but what does he know?

Take care.

I too am glad things worked out and you were not alone. All the more reason to enjoy life and loved ones while you are still here. Take care.